Why are you scared of me, Ashu asks Kejri

Lashing out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal for saying that if Ashu becomes an MLA, he cannot do anything since he will be in the Opposition, Punjab Congress Working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Wednesday alleged that AAP had dictatorial streak in its DNA which did not allow the Opposition to work.

Ashu said it proved that the AAP had no faith in democracy and they did not tolerate any opposition. Besides, he added, it was the admission of defeat on part of AAP. “This is a desperate cry saying beware of voting for Ashu, lest none of your work will be done,” he said.

The Cong leader said: “Such desperate cries like those of a street bully come out only when you realise that you have been defeated”.

He asked Kejriwal why he was so scared of him that he recites his (Ashu’s) name hundred times, more than he mentions his own party candidate’s name. He pointed out there are many more candidates in the fray but Kejriwal only mentions his name.

“That is why I am saying, with all humility and modesty, that the entire AAP leadership, led by Kejriwal, is mortally scared of me,” he said, adding, their fears would definitely come true on June 23 when votes will be counted.

Addressing a public meeting, he said: “Our opponents cannot think of anything else other than wondering how to defeat Ashu.”

The Congress candidate asked with what authority did Kejriwal say that he (Ashu) would not be able to do anything. “That means he is controlling and dictating the government. He has only vindicated what all Punjabis know that this government is run directly by the people from Delhi,” he said.

Replying to a question about one of the former councillors joining AAP, Ashu said he had been threatened with an FIR. “You think that by intimidating people and forcing them to join your party, they will support and vote for you,” he asked AAP leaders while expressing confidence that all those who were forcibly being made to join AAP would return on June 19. They would not even wait for the results to be officially declared, he added.

After facing defeat in Delhi, AAP team creating havoc in Punjab: Khera

Congress' national spokesperson Pawan Khera, who came to the city to campaign for the Congress candidate in the Ludhiana West byelection, said the state now wants freedom from those who do politics of lies. Without taking the name of Kejriwal, calling him a poisonous snake, Khera said the people of the West segment would take the first step towards eliminating the poison by voting in favour of Ashu. After the defeat in Delhi, farmers, youth and businessmen of Punjab have to bear the burden of expenses of the people who have come out on bail from Delhi's jails due to the closure of AAP's fraud shop. The Punjab Chief Minister has mortgaged the honour of the state to the people of Delhi.