Women activists from BJP's Delhi unit protest outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence
The BJP made it clear today that it will not allow the latest controversy surrounding the Aam Aadmi Party to fade away soon, even as AAP leader Kumar Vishwas again accused it of "character assassination."
Women from the BJP's Delhi unit launched a raucous protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in the capital, shouting slogans and burning effigies as they demanded that he make his stand clear on Kumar Vishwas being summoned by the Delhi Commission for Women on the complaint of an AAP woman volunteer, who wants him to publicly deny rumours that he had an affair with her.
Mr Vishwas said he has received no summons and will not appear today before the Commission, which is headed by Barkha Shukla Singh of the Congress. Mr Vishwas alleges that rival parties, Congress and BJP are trying to malign him and his party, smarting from the stinging blow delivered to them by AAP's colossal victory in the February Delhi elections.
"If the BJP's dirty mind department think that they can get away with character assassination, they are wrong. I would like to request the women in your channels to please not let such sleazy people get away," Mr Vishwas said to reporters this morning.
The Commission said it has summoned Mr Vishwas and his wife to appear before it on the AAP volunteer's complaint. The woman alleges that her reputation has been damaged and her husband has abandoned her after rumours surfaced that she had an affair with Mr Vishwas while campaigning for him in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, for the general elections.
She alleged that Kumar Vishwas has not made a public denial despite her repeated requests.
"This is our duty to help her and we will help her for sure. People are getting what is the truth of AAP. Kumar Vishwas should come and meet us because this matter needs to be solved," said the women's panel chief Barkha Shukla Singh.
The Congress has demanded an investigation.