Delhi Tourism Minister and AAP leader Kapil Mishra taunted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asking whether it would form Government with the Peoples Democratic Party in Jammu & Kashmir if its president Mehbooba Mufti did not raise ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan. The Aam Aadmi Party downplayed Mishra’s comments, saying it was his “personal opinion” even though it asked the BJP to “clear its stand” on the issue.
In an open letter to BJP president Amit Shah, the AAP leader posed four queries attacking the BJP-PDP coalition whose “cost” will have to be “borne” by the country in the near future, he said. “Does Mehbooa Mufti believe in Bharat Mata ki JaiIJ If not, will the BJP form Government with herIJ Will she raise slogans saying Afzal Guru was a terroristIJ If not, then what is the compulsion for you (BJP) to form a Government with herIJ” Mishra asked in his letter.
When contacted, AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said Mishra has written the letter purely in “personal capacity” and that it should be confused with the party’s stand. However, Bajpai said, “AAP would like BJP to clear its stand, otherwise it reflects their doublespeak.” Mishra also criticised the upcoming visit of the Pakistani Joint Investigation Team to India to carry out a probe into the Pathankot terror attack.