Chilli powder thrown at Kejriwal inside Sectt

Attacker detained; AAP blames BJP; Saffron party calls for probe

New Delhi, November 20

A man threw chilli powder at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside his office in the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, an attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) described as “politically motivated” while asserting that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy in collusion with Delhi Police to attack the CM.

Even as the man behind the attack --- Anil Kumar Sharma--- was detained, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said his party would not be “cowed down” by these “petty tactics” by the BJP.

The police said 40-year-old Sharma, a resident of Naraina, has been detained for questioning.

While the AAP blamed the BJP for the attack, the Delhi chief of the saffron party Manoj Tiwari said such incidents “cannot be tolerated or justified by anybody” and called for a high-level probe.

Officials said Kumar was targeting the bespectacled CM’s eyes. Kejriwal’s spectacles broke, but his eyes seemed to have been spared any damage, they added. Kumar, whose Aadhaar card has been recovered, brought the chilli powder to the secretariat in packets of ‘khaini’, or chewing tobacco, they said. After throwing red pepper powder on Kejriwal, Kumar threatened to shoot him after he comes out of jail, an official recounted.

The attack took place outside the CM’s chamber on the third floor when he was leaving for lunch.

AAP’s national spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who was behind Kejriwal when the incident took place tweeted, “Was right behind CM @ArvindKejriwal at the Secretariat when he was suddenly attacked, on 3rd floor right outside his office. Shocking lapse of security. Is this Delhi Police’s incompetent effort to protect an elected CM?”

“While today just the CM’s glasses fell to the floor and broke, an unacceptable security lapse nonetheless. Imagine if attacker were to be wielding a more dangerous weapon. Who were to have prevented a tragedy from occurring?”

Sisodia told reporters that the attack surprisingly took place in a high-security area. “Recently, BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari reached near stage during the inauguration of Signature Bridge. The BJP in collusion with Delhi Police is hatching a conspiracy to attack the CM,” he said. “We are not going to be cowed down by BJP’s petty tactics.”

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj accused the BJP for the attack. According to Bhardwaj, the attack happened at the CM’s office, which is a “high-security” zone. He said it was a serious matter and termed the attack “politically motivated”. “The BJP is behind the attack and the accused are being aided by the Modi government,” he alleged.

Officials close to Kejriwal accused the Delhi Police of being lax in providing him security and alleged that this was the third attempt to harm him in less than a month.

Delhi Police, in a statement, said the incident took place around 2.25 pm on the third floor of Delhi Secretariat. “When CM was coming out of his chamber, one person later identified as Anil tried to hand over his complaint to the CM who in turn passed it on to a staff member,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, Anil bowed down to touch the feet of Kejriwal. The CM’s security tried to take him away, but in the process Kejriwal’s spectacles fell, it said. “Subsequently security personnel removed him aside and found him carrying a pouch in his hand, which got torn and apparently containing chilli powder.

“Sharma was visiting the Secretariat with reference of some staff. He has been detained for further questioning,” the statement added. PTI