Atishi alleges intimidation against AAP volunteers

New Delhi: Chief minister Atishi on Tuesday wrote to election officials about alleged intimidation and violence towards AAP volunteers by relatives of BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri. In a letter to the returning officer of Kalkaji assembly constituency, Atishi sought action against them and requested for the deployment of paramilitary forces."Fearing defeat in Kalkaji, Ramesh Bidhuri's nephew and relatives resorted to hooliganism. Yesterday evening, BJP members intimidated, threatened and used force on AAP workers. Many women workers were also misbehaved with," Atishi, who is also fighting from Kalkaji, posted on X. Citing "an incident... in Gali no. 1, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, on Jan 20", the letter stated, "AAP volunteers, including Rekha Bassi, Sanjay Gupta, Mani Mamta, Aradhna, Sunita Pandey, Sher Singh, Hari Shankar Gupta and others, were verbally and physically threatened by some BJP workers," including Kunal Bhardwaj, Manish and Rishabh Bhiduri, the nephew of the BJP candidate. They threatened Sanjay Gupta and others, hurled abuses, grabbed him by the collar, and threatened with physical harm, she alleged. AAP workers captured a portion of the altercation on their mobile phone. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal wrote on X, "With the protection and collaboration of police, BJP members are openly resorting to ‘goondagardi' and threatening the people of Delhi." Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said several AAP ministers and senior functionaries were sensing defeat and preparing to blame BJP and EC. TNN