Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader-turned BJP candidate from Model Town Assembly constituency, Kapil Mishra, termed the ongoing protest against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh as mini Pakistan while his senior party colleagues dubbed Shaheen Bagh “shame bagh” and likened the protesters to anarchists.
In a series of provocative tweets, the BJP's candidate from Model Town also said Pakistani rioters have taken over the streets of Delhi. He made no specific mention of the movement against the CAA but sharply attacked the protest at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.
"Pakistan has made its entry in Shaheen Bagh. Many mini Pakistans are being formed in Delhi. Indian law is not not being followed in Shaheen Bagh, Chandbagh, Indralok," Mishra tweeted.
"Pakistan rioters have encroached on the roads of Delhi (Pakistan ki entry Shaheen Bagh mein ho chuki hain. Delhi mein chhote chhote Pakistan Banaye ja rahe hain. Shaheen Bagh, Chand Bagh, Indralok mein desk ka kanoon nahi mana jaa raha hain. Pakistani dangayiyo ka Delhi ki sadko pe kabza)," he tweeted.
Later, at a Press conference, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the ruling party over the Shaheen Bagh protest, saying that the anarchist stands with anarchist.
"Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has given a statement that he stands with Shaheen Bagh. I want to say anarchists stands with anarchists...At Shaheen Bagh, grand confusion is being spread (about CAA)," Patra said.
Patra alleged that AAP leaders are inciting violence in the national Capital."Being the Chief Minister of Delhi, why didn't Kejriwal and Sisodia go to Shaheen Bagh to appeal protestors to call off their protest and not to abuse the Prime Minister? They (AAP) are doing politics of appeasement," the BJP spokesperson said.
Patra sought to know why the Chief Minister doesn't see the problems of residents living near Shaheen Bagh and listed Sarita Vihar, Jasola and Madangir Khadar. "Ambulances don't go to these areas due to protests against the CAA and people have been facing a lot of problems," the BJP leader said.
Hitting hard at the AAP, Vijay Goel, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP said that the AAP is running away from its responsibilities. "Why haven't AAP leaders gone to Shaheen Bagh yet?...Shaheen Bagh has become Shame Bagh," said Goel. He also said the CAA does not take away anyone's citizenship rights.
"Some people are sitting in protest against CAA but not a single Congress leader has condemned it, that is their character...," said BJP President J P Nadda at a public meeting in Palam.
In a veiled attack on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who told a TV channel that he stood with the Shaheen Bagh protesters, Nadda added, "Vote comes first for them and country later. For us, country is important not the vote."
Meanwhile, taking a swipe at Mishra's contest remark, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh asked, "Has he joined BCCI? I had no idea."
