AAP accuses BJP of abducting councillor; BJP denies allegations

New Delhi 1 September 2024 : The political landscape in Delhi has been thrown into turmoil as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “kidnapping” its councillor, Ram Chander, from Ward No 28. The BJP has strongly denied these allegations, which have intensified political tensions ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) zonal ward committee elections scheduled for September 4. According to AAP leaders, Ram Chander, who had recently defected to the BJP along with four other councillors, was allegedly abducted and taken to the BJP headquarters. There, Chander claims he was threatened with being framed in cases involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Chander later returned home and reiterated these claims in a video message shared by AAP.

In his video message, Chander recounted that he experienced a change of heart after dreaming about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, leading him to decide to rejoin AAP. However, he alleged that upon his return, BJP members targeted him with threats. . My son, Akash, reached out to the police helpline, and our senior party leaders contacted the police commissioner. When the BJP became aware of the situation, they returned me to my home,” Chander stated. The allegations gained further momentum when AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh shared a video featuring Chander’s son, Akash. In the video, Akash alleged that his father was seized by a group of four to five individuals who threatened to frame him in cases involving the ED and CBI. AAP senior leader Manish Sisodia and MLA Durgesh Pathak have echoed Chander’s accusations, with Pathak condemning the BJP for “making a mockery of law and order” in Delhi. He warned that if Chander was not returned promptly, AAP would stage a large-scale protest against the BJP.

In response, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor dismissed the allegations as “lies” and “sensationalism.” Kapoor took to social media platform X, asserting that the BJP had no interest in Chander’s party affiliation and claimed that Chander was at his residence, contrary to AAP’s statements. This episode highlights the intense rivalry between AAP and BJP as they both vie for control in the upcoming municipal elections. The accusations and counterclaims reflect the high-stakes nature of political maneuvers in the run-up to the election, with both parties accusing each other of attempting to poach members.