Arvind Kejriwal's Punjab visit for vipassana stirs 'luxury' row

NEW DELHI: BJP and Congress launched a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioning scale of the security convoy that accompanied him on Tuesday as he arrived in Hoshiarpur in Punjab for a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat and his continued access to privileges even as he holds no office.

AAP returned fire alleging that BJP was engaging in an "unnecessary slander campaign" and claimed that Kejriwal was accompanied by security as per the Z plus security cover approved by the ministry of home affairs. Hoshiarpur SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik said Kejriwal was Z-plus protectee and the security cover was provided to him accordingly.

Since losing Delhi polls, this is the first time Kejriwal has left Delhi and his decision to choose Punjab for Vipasanna meditation has yet again given rise to speculations of whether he is now looking at a bigger role in Punjab.

Last week, the surprise announcement by AAP of its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora's candidature for contesting the yet to be notified bypoll for Ludhiana West constituency in Punjab on Wednesday triggered speculation that the vacancy in Upper House was being created to eventually make way for Kejriwal's entry to Parliament. AAP leadership rejected the claim.

A fresh controversy broke out when a video showing Kejriwal's 21-vehicle cavalcade went viral online on Wednesday as it entered the forest rest house in Chauhal, Hoshiarpur, on Tuesday night. Another video of him going to a vipassana centre in Anandgarh village, 12 km from Hoshiarpur, emerged in which the vehicle count was close to two dozen.

"After losing the election, he is now looking for a Rajya Sabha seat because he is addicted to a luxurious lifestyle. Vipassana is just an excuse, the real reason for his presence in Punjab is the turmoil in AAP's Punjab unit," Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva alleged as he spoke to PTI Videos.

Congress too stepped up its attack on AAP with Punjab leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and other representatives alleging that Punjab's resources were being blatantly misused while AAP had no qualms in flaunting VVIP culture. They highlighted that when AAP formed a government in Punjab, Kejriwal and Mann said that those who demand security should leave politics.


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