India
‘Anti-national…questionable background’: How BJP, Congress reacted to Atishi’s ascension as next Delhi CM | India News – Times of India
Arvind Kejriwal, national coordinator of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Tuesday resigned as Delhi chief minister and the newly elected leader of the legislative party Atishi has claimed to form the new government.
Atishi came out of the LG Secretariat and said, “Today Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation. This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi. At the same time, the people of Delhi have decided to appoint Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister again. Till the elections are held, I will take care of Delhi and we have staked our claim to form the government.”
Atishi is expected to assume office in the coming days, but her inauguration has drawn strong reactions from the opposition BJP and Congress parties.
Anti-national, claims BJP
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and party leader Virendra Sachdeva called Atishi an ‘anti-nationalist’ and alleged that her parents had filed a mercy petition with the President of India to quash the death sentence of Afzal Guru.
“They have appointed Atishi as CM. We welcome her but her background is questionable. Both her parents had written a mercy petition for Afzal Guru to the President of India. Atishi herself supports those who are trying to insult India. You can imagine what would happen if such a person becomes CM,” BJP MP Manoj Tiwari told PTI.
Delhi BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva said, “Arvind Kejriwal has driven Delhi towards anarchy after publicising Atishi’s name. There is a reason behind it… A mercy petition was submitted to the President for Afzal Guru and her parents signed it. Now, not just a corrupt government but an anti-national government will operate in Delhi.”
You can change the face but not the character of the party, Sachdeva said, adding that the people of Delhi know that Kejriwal, who proposed her name as his successor, “has looted Delhi”. “They have indulged in corruption in every department and now the people will give them an answer for that corruption,” Sachdeva added.
“Chehara badalane se AAP ka charitra nahi badalega (Changing the face does not change the character of AAP)… Considering Kejriwal’s 10 years of corruption, the CM will have to tell the people how they have robbed the people of Delhi,” Sachdeva said.
He added that AAP is undergoing a revamp but that will not remove the stain of corruption.
BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said, “I think Atishi was a safe bet for them. This is another tactic of Arvind Kejriwal. He could have done this five months ago.”
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said, “I congratulate Atishi for her party choosing her as the next CM. But I am disheartened by her statements. She said Delhi has only one CM, Arvind Kejriwal. Does it mean she will only get the designation and not the responsibilities of a CM? Does it mean Arvind Kejriwal will enjoy power without any responsibilities?… I request the people of Delhi to elect the BJP government in the coming elections…”
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also attacked Atishi, saying her parents had written mercy petitions seeking reversal of the death sentence of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The AAP leader called Atishi a “Dummy CM” and said, “May God protect Delhi”.
She also shared a purported letter, which she claimed was a mercy plea written by Atishi’s parents.
Election trick, says BSP supremo Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Tuesday termed the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an “election stunt and political manoeuvre”. Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday afternoon and AAP leader Atishi, chosen by the party as his successor, claimed to form a new government.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Mayawati had said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation as Delhi Chief Minister is an election stunt and a political manoeuvre to avoid public interest. But what about the myriad inconveniences and problems the people of Delhi are facing due to his long stay in jail?”
“It would be better if the political struggle between the ruling party and the opposition is not so bitter as to amount to hostility, so that the country and public interest are not harmed,” she wrote in the Hindi message.
Meanwhile, Delhi Congress leader Devendra Yadav said Atishi had been appointed as CM for only three months and the move had “exposed” the AAP.
“I wish the new chief minister all the best and hope that the problems of the public of Delhi are resolved. The AAP government cannot run away from the promises they made after forming their government… They have been the chief minister for only three months. AAP has been exposed before the public, Congress will form their chief minister in 2025,” Yadav told ANI.
Congratulating Atishi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “She becomes the third woman CM of Delhi and I congratulate her on this. I hope she will work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi. As a fellow woman politician, I wish her all the success.”
Atishi came out of the LG Secretariat and said, “Today Arvind Kejriwal has submitted his resignation. This is an emotional moment for the party and the people of Delhi. At the same time, the people of Delhi have decided to appoint Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister again. Till the elections are held, I will take care of Delhi and we have staked our claim to form the government.”
Atishi is expected to assume office in the coming days, but her inauguration has drawn strong reactions from the opposition BJP and Congress parties.
Anti-national, claims BJP
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and party leader Virendra Sachdeva called Atishi an ‘anti-nationalist’ and alleged that her parents had filed a mercy petition with the President of India to quash the death sentence of Afzal Guru.
“They have appointed Atishi as CM. We welcome her but her background is questionable. Both her parents had written a mercy petition for Afzal Guru to the President of India. Atishi herself supports those who are trying to insult India. You can imagine what would happen if such a person becomes CM,” BJP MP Manoj Tiwari told PTI.
Delhi BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva said, “Arvind Kejriwal has driven Delhi towards anarchy after publicising Atishi’s name. There is a reason behind it… A mercy petition was submitted to the President for Afzal Guru and her parents signed it. Now, not just a corrupt government but an anti-national government will operate in Delhi.”
You can change the face but not the character of the party, Sachdeva said, adding that the people of Delhi know that Kejriwal, who proposed her name as his successor, “has looted Delhi”. “They have indulged in corruption in every department and now the people will give them an answer for that corruption,” Sachdeva added.
“Chehara badalane se AAP ka charitra nahi badalega (Changing the face does not change the character of AAP)… Considering Kejriwal’s 10 years of corruption, the CM will have to tell the people how they have robbed the people of Delhi,” Sachdeva said.
He added that AAP is undergoing a revamp but that will not remove the stain of corruption.
BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said, “I think Atishi was a safe bet for them. This is another tactic of Arvind Kejriwal. He could have done this five months ago.”
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said, “I congratulate Atishi for her party choosing her as the next CM. But I am disheartened by her statements. She said Delhi has only one CM, Arvind Kejriwal. Does it mean she will only get the designation and not the responsibilities of a CM? Does it mean Arvind Kejriwal will enjoy power without any responsibilities?… I request the people of Delhi to elect the BJP government in the coming elections…”
AAP MP Maliwal attacks minister-designate
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also attacked Atishi, saying her parents had written mercy petitions seeking reversal of the death sentence of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The AAP leader called Atishi a “Dummy CM” and said, “May God protect Delhi”.
She also shared a purported letter, which she claimed was a mercy plea written by Atishi’s parents.
Election trick, says BSP supremo Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Tuesday termed the resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an “election stunt and political manoeuvre”. Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister on Tuesday afternoon and AAP leader Atishi, chosen by the party as his successor, claimed to form a new government.
In a post on X earlier in the day, Mayawati had said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation as Delhi Chief Minister is an election stunt and a political manoeuvre to avoid public interest. But what about the myriad inconveniences and problems the people of Delhi are facing due to his long stay in jail?”
“It would be better if the political struggle between the ruling party and the opposition is not so bitter as to amount to hostility, so that the country and public interest are not harmed,” she wrote in the Hindi message.
AAP exposed, says Congress
Meanwhile, Delhi Congress leader Devendra Yadav said Atishi had been appointed as CM for only three months and the move had “exposed” the AAP.
“I wish the new chief minister all the best and hope that the problems of the public of Delhi are resolved. The AAP government cannot run away from the promises they made after forming their government… They have been the chief minister for only three months. AAP has been exposed before the public, Congress will form their chief minister in 2025,” Yadav told ANI.
Congratulating Atishi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “She becomes the third woman CM of Delhi and I congratulate her on this. I hope she will work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi. As a fellow woman politician, I wish her all the success.”
