By – Rohit Dwivedi
As Delhi braces for the upcoming assembly elections, the political heat between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is intensifying. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, along with Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and other party leaders, released a charge sheet against the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Monday, accusing them of numerous failures over the past decade. The charge sheet comes amid a rising electoral atmosphere where both parties are targeting each other.
Thakur Accuses Kejriwal Government of Pollution and Broken Promises
Addressing the media, Anurag Thakur slammed the Kejriwal government for its inability to address the severe pollution crisis in Delhi, which continues to be one of the city’s most pressing issues. He specifically targeted the state of the Yamuna River, which has been heavily polluted under the AAP government. He claimed the river had become so toxic and dirty that it had turned into a foul-smelling, foamy, and hazardous water body.
Recalling a statement from Kejriwal in 2022, Thakur pointed out that the Delhi CM had promised to take a dip in the Yamuna with the people before the 2025 elections, as a symbol of cleaning the river. However, with only 10 days left for the 2025 elections, Thakur questioned whether the river had been cleaned or not.
Further criticizing Kejriwal, Thakur reminded the public that many AAP leaders, including Kejriwal himself, had faced criminal charges and legal trouble. He emphasized that despite these serious allegations, Kejriwal had refused to step down from his position, citing his earlier claims that he would imprison leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Sheila Dikshit.
Virendra Sachdeva Accuses Kejriwal of Corruption and Encouraging Violence
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva leveled even more serious charges against Kejriwal, accusing him of involvement in the liquor scam while diverting attention away from the promises of education and healthcare. He also alleged that Kejriwal was indirectly responsible for the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, particularly pointing out the involvement of AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the killing of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the violence. Sachdeva said the scars of the riots still haunted the residents of Delhi.
BJP to Take Charge Sheet to Every Household in Delhi
Vijender Gupta, Chairman of the Charge Sheet Committee and a senior BJP leader, revealed that the charge sheet would be distributed to every household in Delhi, especially focusing on areas where AAP won in the last election. The BJP has also prepared separate charge sheets for the 62 constituencies where AAP emerged victorious, accusing Kejriwal’s government of undermining the education system.
Gupta specifically accused Kejriwal’s government of causing a massive failure in education, where 1.5 lakh students were failed every year to artificially boost the performance records of Delhi’s government schools. He also pointed out the severe water crisis, with thousands of families still relying on water tankers for supply.
Key Allegations in the BJP’s Charge Sheet
The BJP’s charge sheet listed several grave accusations against the AAP government. Among the major claims were:
- Two lakh children in Delhi remain deprived of education.
- Delhi government has failed to provide ration cards to the city’s residents in 10 years.
- The central Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme was not implemented in Delhi, preventing citizens from accessing free healthcare worth up to ₹5 lakh.
- Air pollution has reduced the life expectancy of Delhiites by up to 17 years.
- Lack of proper drainage systems has resulted in flooding, causing tragic student deaths.
- The AAP government has allegedly provided financial support to anti-national organizations.
- Allegations of meeting with individuals involved in anti-India campaigns and defending those convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack.
Additionally, the BJP accused AAP of increasing taxes, which they claim directly contributed to rising costs of living and inflation in the city.
With Delhi elections around the corner, this charge sheet marks another step in the ongoing battle between the BJP and AAP, as both parties gear up to face the electorate in 2025.