The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called out the BJP’s newfound affection for the Purvanchali community as a sham, revealing it stems from political desperation ahead of the Bihar elections. Senior AAP leader and former MLA Vinay Mishra highlighted that BJP’s hatred towards Purvanchalis is no secret — from disrupting Chhath Puja celebrations in Delhi to excluding a Purvanchali Transport Minister’s photo from DTC buses.
The former MLA emphasised that the BJP’s history is filled with contempt for Purvanchalis, recalling how its leaders once sought to block their admission in Delhi University and accused them of damaging the city’s image. “The truth is,” he said, “BJP remembers Purvanchalis only when elections are near. Otherwise, it has always wanted to drive them out of Delhi.”
Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader and former MLA Vinay Mishra stated, “The BJP’s newfound affection for Purvanchalis living in Delhi is nothing but a compulsion. With the Bihar elections around the corner, the BJP is forced to keep Purvanchalis in Delhi happy.”
He said that for years, BJP MPs, councillors, and senior leaders have repeatedly tried to disrupt the celebration of Chhath Puja in Delhi. “Through the police, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and local leaders, BJP has attempted to create hurdles during Chhath, demolished ghats, and even stopped our Purvanchali brothers and sisters from celebrating the festival. Many times, AAP MLAs had to protest to ensure Chhath could take place,” Vinay Mishra said.
Highlighting BJP’s prejudice against Purvanchalis, he pointed out, “The BJP’s hatred for the Purvanchali community runs so deep that even though the Delhi government’s Transport Minister belongs to Purvanchal, the BJP-led government has refused to display his photo on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. When the AAP was in power in Delhi, the photos of both the CM and the Transport Minister were displayed on DTC buses, but the BJP has deliberately avoided doing so. This clearly displays their hatred towards Purvanchalis.”
“The BJP keeps talking about history and makes noise about incidents from ten years ago, but they conveniently forget their own history. If one looks back at the BJP’s record, their contempt towards Purvanchalis has been evident time and again. In 1999, BJP’s Mayor in the MCD, Yogdan Ahuja, had said inside the Town Hall that people from Purvanchal tarnish Delhi’s image and pride. He had called their way of living dirty and disgraceful, claiming it spoils the capital’s appearance. He even suggested that they should be stopped from coming to Delhi and sent back on the next train. This is the kind of love BJP has for the people of Bihar,” he revealed.
Vinay Mishra further said, “From 2003 to 2008, BJP MLA from Saket, Vijay Jolly, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court in 2004 demanding that students from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states be barred from taking admission in Delhi University. Ironically, it is the same Delhi University that produced great minds like Dr. Manmohan Singh and Amartya Sen. Had students from outside not come, would that have been possible? But their mindset was that local students were getting fewer seats, so outsiders should be restricted. The issue was even discussed in the Delhi Assembly.”
Recalling another incident, the senior AAP leader added, “Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel, speaking in the country’s highest panchayat—the Rajya Sabha—had said that labourers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar should not be allowed to enter Delhi as they affect the city’s development. Every year, around six lakh people from UP and Bihar settle in the capital, and he had said they must be stopped. In response to Vijay Goel’s remarks, Aam Aadmi Party’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The truth is that BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears in the name of love for Purvanchalis. In reality, they have nothing to do with the Purvanchali community.”
Recalling BJP’s repeated interference in Chhath celebrations, Vinay Mishra said, “In 2022, BJP tried to stop Chhath Puja in the Dwarka Assembly constituency. Earlier, in the constituency of AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj, Greater Kailash, they had obstructed the construction of a Chhath ghat. Time and again, BJP has tried to disrupt Chhath Puja celebrations. Their hearts are filled with hatred towards the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is only because the Bihar elections are near that they are now suddenly remembering the Purvanchalis. The Aam Aadmi Party wants to tell BJP—stop this drama. The people of Purvanchal deeply value their identity, so do not play with their dignity.”
