Arvind Kejriwal fears more attacks, says he might be killed

Zee Media Bureau/ Manisha Singh and Ajith Vijay Kumar

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that there may be more attacks on him in future and that he might also get killed. Talking to the media in the national capital, he questioned as to why only he was being attacked and wondered as to who was the mastermind behind them. “In coming days I apprehend more attacks on me. I might also be killed,” he said. However, he added that he had forgiven all those who had attacked him. “The solution is in talks, not in violence.” He maintained that complaint is not needed from his side for the police to find out as to who was behind repeated attacks on him. “The police if it wants can investigate on its own. The police knows everything,” he said. He also said that attacks on him may be due to the fact that he had disturbed the setting of the BJP and the Congress. Hours before campaigning was to end in Delhi, the AAP was once again in the news after an auto driver slapped Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in the city on Tuesday. The AAP leader then sat in silent prayer at Mahatma Gandhi`s samadhi Rajghat, where his supporters equated the repeated attacks on him with the killing of Mahatma Gandhi with Nathuram Godse. The attacker was reportedly upset with Kejriwal for going back on promises and abandoning the Delhi government after 49 days in power. Kejriwal was campaigning for party heavyweight Rakhi Birla in Sultanpuri in Northwest Delhi, when the attacker climbed up his jeep under the guise of wanting to garland him. The attacker did garland Kejriwal but then, suddenly, slapped him with full force. Unconfirmed reports identified the attacker as an autorickshaw driver named Lalli, resident of Aman Vihar in Delhi. Ironically, autorickshaw drivers are said to be a key support base of the AAP and had campaigned extensively for the party in the Delhi polls. The attacker was cornered by AAP supporters and thrashed before handing over to the police. While the party appears disinclined to press charges against him the police may go ahead and book him under the IPC. Kejriwal had faced a similar attack while campaigning in south Delhi, last week. Kejriwal has famously avoided security cover and claimed that he faces threat from none. However, he does enjoy a cordon of security by the Delhi Police. Reports now claim, quoting sources in the police, that Kejriwal routinely breaches the security cordon against their advice. After the last incident in Dakshinpuri, Kejriwal had accused the opposition parties, especially the BJP of orchestrating attacks on him. The attacker was later identified as Abdul Wahid, a resident of Jamia Nagar in south Delhi. Wahid told the police that he was unhappy over Kejriwal’s silence on Muzaffarnagar riots. However, opposition leader alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is planning these attacks himself to gain sympathy from voters who are upset with him for resigning as Delhi CM after just 49 days in power. On March 28, he was attacked by a man, who claimed to be a supporter of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, during his election rally in Haryana. He was also targeted in Gujarat, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.