AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), demanding urgent intervention over attacks on his party’s volunteers in the New Delhi Assembly Constituency.
Citing multiple incidents of illegal detentions and coercion ahead of the elections, the AAP Chief warned that AAP workers could be targeted en masse on polling day to cripple their campaign. Demanding urgent intervention, he called for an independent observer, security for AAP workers, and strict action against police officers acting under political pressure.
Addressing CEC Rajiv Kumar, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “I am writing to express my grave concern over the intimidation and harassment being meted out to our grass-root volunteers in the New Delhi Assembly Constituency at the hands of BJP workers and Delhi Police in the run-up to the election day.”
Noting incidents, the AAP Supremo wrote, “Yesterday, our senior volunteer Chetan (Resident of Princess Park Part-2) was unlawfully detained and booked under section 126 of BNSS, 2023 at Tilak Marg Police Station, on the baseless and fictitious grounds that he has previous cases registered against him, while there are none.”
“He was brazenly charged with actions that he had never committed. He was also subjected to severe physical abuse by the Police officials to a point that he had fainted and subsequently rushed to Lady Harding Hospital. Later on, after a lot of struggle, he has produced before the Return Officer/ SDM concerned and granted bail, in a matter in which he was brazenly framed,” he mentioned.
Arvund Kejriwal shared that in another similar incident, our senior volunteer Om Prakash (Resident of Jodhpur Mess, Pandara Road) received a call from Tilak Marg Police Station and was asked to be present at the police station as SHO wanted to speak to him. On arrival at the police station he was unlawfully detained and booked under section 126 of BNSS, 2023 on the baseless and fictitious grounds that he has previous cases registered against him, while there are none. Later on, after a lot of struggle, he has produced before the Return Officer/ SDM concerned and granted bail, in a matter in which he was brazenly and visibly framed.
The AAP Chief further mentioned, “This is not an isolated incident, over the last month several of our volunteers, while they were canvassing, were threatened, detained and even assaulted by the BJP workers. BJP workers have gone to the extent of threatening the families of our volunteers and even threatening to destroy their homes and shops.
Following are some cases of threats and violence by BJP workers that have come to our notice:
- Threat to our volunteer Sonam On the evening of 27th January, Sonam received threats from an individual named one Mr. Dabas from Mundka. This incident happened in Kidwai Nagar (East) Slums.
- Illegal detention of our volunteer Bunty Our senior volunteer Bunty was threatened at BR Camp by a BJP worker, who identified himself as Mr. Anil Soni, who warned him that he would be “picked up” and false cases would be filed against him. Subsequently, he was illegally detained and kept in police custody for a day, necessitating the intervention of AAP MP Sanjay Singh for his release.
- Assault on our volunteer Raja – Our volunteer Raja was slapped in Kidwai Nagar East Slums, the same area where Sonam was threatened. His pamphlets were forcibly snatched by an attacker who was accompanied by 4-5 other individuals in a black vehicle.
4. Threat to our booth president Umesh – Umesh, our booth president of Tughlak Lane Slums, was threatened and warned: “We will deal with you after the elections, you have created an enmity (Chunav ke baad dekh lenge tujhe, dushmani kar li tune).”
5. Threat by BJP member on Raju Matiala – BJP member who identified himself as one Raju Matiala issued threats to AAP volunteers at C-32 Slums, Kali Bari Marg.
6. Intimidation at slum behind Le Meridien – A group of 4-5 BJP workers in a black Scorpio threatened residents, warning them: “If you are seen with any AAP volunteer, we will break your hands and legs.”
7. Incident at booth number 73 (T-Huts) – An individual named Rohan, arrived in a black Ciaz, snatched pamphlets from AAP volunteers and called the police to have them arrested.
8. Threats to business owners at Sangli Mess – Owners of small shops in Sangli Mess have refused to engage with AAP volunteers as they have been threatened by BJP works to do so, and due to the presence of BJP-affiliated goons who warned have repeatedly them: “We will get your shop demolished (Teri dukan tudwa denge).”
9. Attack on my convoy – Even my convoy was attacked by goons on 18 Jan 2025 when I went to campaign in Lal Bahadur Sadan, Sector 2, DIZ Area, Gole Market.
Moreover, what is more disturbing is that even the Delhi Police is targeting our volunteers by arbitrarily detaining, questioning, and harassing them, some are even wrongfully booked under various sections of BNS,” he stated
The AAP Supremo wrote, “We are witnessing a systematic effort to suppress our party’s grassroot level workers through unlawful detentions and threats, allegedly at the behest of BJP, to discourage them from participating in election-related activities. These actions appear to be a deliberate strategy to undermine and suppress our party’s campaign.”
Citing these incidents, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “Given the current scenario, we fear that on the night before the election and the morning of the election day, these intimidation tactics may escalate further to prevent our volunteers from working on polling day thereby disrupting our party’s election operations. There is serious apprehension that our key volunteers may be unfairly targeted by Delhi Police and BJP workers on the eve of polling, as has been evident in the last few days. We are concerned that our senior volunteers may be illegally detained, taken away, threatened and even assaulted to prevent them from supporting the party.”
The AAP Chief stated, “In the light of these concerns, I urge your immediate intervention to prevent the blatant misuse of law enforcement agencies for political purposes and ensure a free and fair election:
- Deployment of Independent Observers: Special election observers should be deployed to monitor police activity on the night before polling day and prevent any unlawful detentions, especially in the sensitive areas. Any unlawful activity identified by such Independent Observers be immediately highlighted to your office for strict action. I am enclosing a list of such sensitive booths where such incidents are most likely to occur.
- Protection for Our Volunteers: Directions must be issued to the Delhi Police to ensure that our volunteers can work freely on election day without fear of harassment or wrongful detention. I am enclosing a list of our key grass-root volunteers who should be provided police protection, as they have been targeted by the BJP workers and Delhi Police in recent days. We urge that they should be provided protection of law enforcement agencies other than Delhi Police.
- Accountability for Misuse of Police Powers: We demand that the police officers who have brazenly acted in this unconstitutional and illegal manner, and in total disregard of their duties, be suspended immediately. Election Commission should set an example by taking strict action against the law enforcement officials found acting under political pressure to intimidate or suppress our volunteers.
- Strict Action Against BJP Workers Involved in Violence: Individuals involved in the attacking and threatening of our volunteers must be arrested and prosecuted under Sections 170 and 171 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and other relevant provisions of election laws.”
“These orchestrated attacks on our volunteers are a direct assault on the democratic process and must be addressed immediately to safeguard the integrity of the elections. I urge the Election Commission’s urgent intervention to ensure that our volunteers can perform their election duties without fear or obstruction,” concludes the letter.
