Parvesh Verma giving cash to voters, claims AAP; helping women from slums, he counters

NEW DELHI: A fierce political clash erupted in Delhi on Wednesday when BJP's Parvesh Verma handed out Rs 1,100 to women in the New Delhi constituency. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal labelled him a "traitor" while chief minister Atishi called for his immediate arrest.
Kejriwal, the AAP candidate from New Delhi in the upcoming Assembly polls, claimed Verma was BJP's chief ministerial face in the elections, and asked Delhiites if they wanted such a CM.
"These people are giving Rs 1,100 to every voter and asking them to vote for their party. Are you helping the needy or openly buying votes? Your father must be ashamed of a traitor son like you," the former CM posted on X.
Hitting back, Verma said that by calling him a traitor, Kejriwal had called the entire Jat community traitors. "My father, Dr Sahib Singh Verma, always helped people. I am also helping people. Delhi's rural areas will never forgive Kejriwal," he said.
Verma announced his initiative to provide women with Rs 1,100 in financial aid through Rashtriya Swabhiman, an organisation established by his father. He said unlike Kejriwal, he was offering "genuine assistance" to people rather than distributing alcohol.
Kejriwal, in a series of over a dozen posts on X, hit out at Verma: "According to sources, BJP is going to declare Parvesh Verma as its CM face. Do Delhi people wish for such a person to be their CM?"
The AAP supremo also claimed that he visited many areas in New Delhi where people told him they were being offered Rs 1,100. He requested women in Delhi to visit Verma's house and demand the money from him.
In a press conference, Atishi said Rs 1,100 each was given to women from slum clusters at Verma's residence at Windsor Place and their voter ID details were taken. Demanding his arrest, she said, "I ask Delhi Police, CBI and ED to conduct raids at the bungalow where crores of rupees are kept." She added that AAP will make formal complaints to police and Election Commission.
Verma, who could be fielded by BJP against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, said, "In the past 11 days, I have seen the agony of women, something Kejriwal did not see in 11 years. They were hassled, I saw their pain. Then I decided that we will give them Rs 1,100 per month. At least I am not distributing liquor as Kejriwal was doing. I'm happy I am helping people."
Verma said Rashtriya Swabhiman has been involved in helping people and redeveloped two villages devastated by an earthquake in Gujarat and four villages in Odisha that were destroyed in a cyclone. The organisation also spent crores of rupees saving the lives of people during the pandemic, providing oxygen concentrators and opening a care centre in west Delhi, he added.
Verma said Kejriwal and Atishi "could make all the noise", but he would continue to help women and none would return empty-handed from his residence. He said payments of Rs 1,100 per month will continue till the polls are announced in Delhi.
The Delhi Assembly elections are likely to be held in Feb.