In Defence Of Arun Jaitley, BJP's Strong Counter-Attack On Arvind Kejriwal

The ruling BJP has launched a strong counter-attack against Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party dismissing as "malicious" its allegation that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presided over massive corruption in Delhi's cricket body, the DDCA, as its president.

The party has accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of attempting to whip up "political hysteria" to divert attention from corruption in his office.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Jaitley said, "Delhi CM Kejriwal seems to believe in untruth and defamation, delivered in language that borders on hysteria. No personal allegation was ever made against me nor did I ever feel the need of contradicting it."

He also said, "The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), under the UPA regime, investigated and could not find a shred of evidence against me."

Mr Kejriwal immediately hit back:
 

If Jaitley ji were let off without investigations on basis of his press denial, then shud all coal n 2G accused also be similarly let off?

Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 17, 2015

Union Minister Smriti Irani said at a press conference that "no fraud has happened" under Mr Jaitley's chairmanship of the Delhi and District Cricket Association or DDCA and added, "The BJP resolutely stands behind Arun Jaitley and publicly condemns the malicious intent of AAP to deflect public attention from a corrupt officer working with Arvind Kejriwal."

That attempt, she said, "goes totally against the values of the Anna Hazare movement," from which Mr Kejriwal's political career sprang.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders held a press conference to bring in detailed charges against Arun Jaitley today (PTI photo)