Arvind Kejriwal is "Agent AK 49" in BJP's film offensive
A day after Narendra Modi mocked Arvind Kejriwal as "AK 49" and an agent of Pakistan, the BJP called the media to screen a short film dedicated to the alleged blunders of "Agent AK 49."
Reporters were shown a montage of visuals and comments that highlight controversies linked to Mr Kejriwal and lampoon his Aam Aadmi Party or AAP as "Arvind Apna Propaganda" party.
The BJP had avoided any direct attack on Mr Kejriwal till he announced on Tuesday that he would contest against Mr Modi from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in next month's national election. The film, which has been posted online, is a neon sign that the party is not taking the AAP leader's challenge to its prime ministerial candidate lightly.
Mr Modi gave the cue at a rally in Jammu yesterday, where he said, "Three AKs are helping Pakistan. One is AK-47 which has been used to cause bloodshed in Kashmir. The second is AK Antony, who informs Parliament that people in Pakistan army uniform beheaded our soldiers when our army says they were Pakistanis. The third AK, which is AK-49 who has just given birth to a new party."
"49" refers to the number of days Mr Kejriwal was chief minister in Delhi.
In around three-and-a-half minutes, the BJP's film plays out Mr Modi's allegations against AAP leaders and the "evidence."
It shows Mr Modi tearing into AAP's Prashant Bhushan for advocating the secession of Kashmir. Then cuts to Mr Bhushan saying, "In my view, if they want plebiscite then we should allow it."
This is followed by a clip of Mr Kejriwal declaring, "I am an anarchist."
An AAP spokesperson, refuting the allegations by BJP, said "Never has the map of India been shown on the AAP website as alleged. AAP stand on Kashmir is amply clear. This is nothing but an attempt by the BJP to make frivolous claims after Kejriwal made public Modi government's letter to the Centre saying gas price should be increased to 14.2 dollars."
Mr Kejriwal had yesterday hit back at Mr Modi saying the language that he used was unbecoming of a man who aspired to be prime minister.