Clashes between AAP and BJP on Wednesday
The Aam Aadmi Party-BJP battle seems set to escalate after a series of confrontations in the past two days over Arvind Kejriwal's tour of Narendra Modi's Gujarat. (
Read: Chaos in heart of Delhi as AAP clashes with BJP)
A day after Mr Kejriwal was booked for violating the election code of conduct in Kutch, AAP has complained to the Election Commission that its leaders are being targeted in Gujarat and that there is a "concerted attempt by the BJP to attack and intimidate" them. (
Arvind Kejriwal on detention in Gujarat, AAP-BJP clashes: Highlights)
In a letter, AAP has alleged that Mr Kejriwal is being harassed by the Gujarat police. The party also asked the commission for an independent inquiry into violence by the BJP in clashes on Wednesday between the two parties after AAP protested against Mr Kejriwal's brief detention during a roadshow.
(Read full letter)In Ahmedabad today, BJP workers are protesting at the venue of Mr Kejriwal's press conference.
An FIR or First Information Report was filed against the AAP chief after he used loudspeakers and microphones in Gandhidham in Kutch on Thursday, allegedly without permission, which is a violation of the code of conduct for next month's national election.
The Election Commission had earlier said Mr Kejriwal had violated the code by not taking police permission for his road-show. He was stopped on Wednesday at a police station in the western town of Radhanpur where he was asked to explain why he had not got clearances for his large convoy. (
Read here)
His detention triggered street battles in Delhi and Lucknow where his party workers gathered at BJP offices to protest. Several AAP leaders were booked for rioting and 14 were arrested. The police have blamed AAP for instigating the violence, an accusation that the party has rejected. (
Police report blames AAP for instigating Delhi violence)
Mr Kejriwal, 45, says he is in Gujarat to check on the claims of outstanding development brandished by Mr Modi, the BJP's candidate for prime minister, who has governed the state since 2001. So far, the AAP leader says he has seen no evidence of the governance that Mr Modi offers as his main qualification for running the country.