PM Narendra Modi with BJP Chief Amit Shah and former top cop Kiran Bedi in New Delhi (Press Trust of India photo)
The Aam Aadmi Party today intensified its attack on the BJP over the induction of former IPS officer and activist
Kiran Bedi into the party, saying it was done to save Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face in the event of a defeat for the party in the upcoming assembly election in Delhi.
"Kiran Bedi will act as a cushion between Modi and Kejriwal because BJP was projecting the two leaders to be in a direct fight in the upcoming elections. The BJP wants to shield Modi and save him from embarrassment in the event of the party's defeat," AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told a news conference.
Ms Bedi, 65, had joined the BJP on Friday, praising the leadership of PM Modi.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said the former top cop was inducted into the BJP as none of its earlier tactics had worked in Delhi.
"The BJP had started rallies in Delhi by its 300 MPs where nobody came... then they brought their ministers, nobody turned up there, too. And then the PM himself addressed a rally which was a flop show.
"Now they have brought Kiran Bedi. The BJP is a sinking ship. Will she be able to save it?" Mr Kejriwal said at a rally in Adarsh Nagar assembly constituency in Delhi.
AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh also accused the BJP of doing a 'U-turn' on the issue of statehood for Delhi.
On Friday, Kiran Bedi, a former member of Team Anna, said full statehood for Delhi was not the "central" issue even as she stressed on the need for ensuring women's security and cleanliness in the national capital.
"The BJP in its manifestos of Assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections had promised reduction of electricity tariff by 30 per cent and granting statehood to Delhi," Mr Ashutosh said.
AAP also asked Ms Bedi to come clean on issues such as bringing political parties under the ambit of the Right to Information, which she was in favour of previously.