AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday challenged BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to an open debate on issues concerning the people of Varanasi and said the Gujarat Chief Minister had been avoiding discussion on “matters related to the the common man”.
Kejriwal requested Modi to choose the venue and time of his convenience and let the debate happen in front of the public so that people could ask both candidates about their agenda and vision. Varanasi is witnessing a high-voltage fight between Modi, Kejriwal and the Congress’ Ajay Rai.
Alleging that Modi and the BJP have been avoiding public debate on issues and questions raised by the AAP, Kejriwal said: “Whether it be the falsehoods about the so-called faulty development model of Gujarat or the issues concerning the people of Varanasi, Modi and his party have been running away from any debate or discussion, since they are afraid of being exposed.”
According to the party, the BJP has been consistently indulging in attacks on the AAP leaders and volunteers with the sole aim of trying to silence the critics. The former Delhi Chief Minister said the top BJP leaders had landed in the city as they were nervous and doubtful about Modi’s win.
“BJP top brass landed in Kashi. It shows their nervousness. Will they be able to save Modiji from defeat?” he said on twitter.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission refused permission for a Modi rally in the city, citing security concerns, but gave the nod to “Ganga Aarti” late on Wednesday evening.
The BJP, however, cancelled Ganga Arti saying the clearance came very late. And Modi tweeted an apology to “Ganga Maa” for not being able to perform the special prayers.
The BJP held a sit-in outside Banaras Hindu University protesting against the denail of permission to hold the rally. A clash between BJP and AAP supporters was also reported at the site after some AAP supporters came there with brooms, shouting slogans in favour of Kejriwal.
Criticising the BJP for “politicising” Ganga Arti, the AAP leader said any individual could participate in the holy event and the BJP had unnecessarily politicised the issue to create a controversy.