New Delhi: Facing accusation over the attack by ink and egg on AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi, BJP on Tuesday said it is premature to comment before the facts are established.
"Do you clearly know who did this? I remember that earlier also ink was dropped on one of the AAP leaders here and later it turned out to be their own man," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters when asked to comment on the AAP`s allegation that the ink attack was carried out by BJP men.
She further said, "No comment on it till it is established who has done it. So it will be premature for me to comment on before the facts are established."
After ink and egg were hurled on Kejriwal today in Varanasi where he announced that he will contest against Narendra Modi, AAP accused BJP of involvement in the incident.
Asked about the AAP allegation that "Modi`s goons" were behind the attack, she said "they are saying a lot of things but everytime they say so it has been established that they are their own people. I am not willing to engage on it."
On the question of yoga guru Ramdev`s role in influencing ticket distribution in BJP, the spokesperson said "ticket distribution is decided by Central Election Committee (CEC) based on a long stretch of consultation which passes through many levels till the final list is arrived. Final candidates list is based on the state units recommendation.
"While recommendations are made at primary level, decisions are made essentially at CEC."
Asked about the claim by AAP that EC decision on gas price was due to the party`s letter to election body, she said, "It is Election Commission`s decision. Political parties approach EC with various suggestions and clearly it is the EC which decides. Now the new government will take a call."
When it was pointed out that there were not many women candidates in the BJP list, she said candidates are selected on the basis of various factors including winnability.
Winnability is a criteria which has a role in deciding the candidates, Sitharaman said.
She however said that BJP has strongly supported the women reservation bill.
"BJP has always favoured the women reservation issue. We favoured the reservation bill and because BJP got the passed in the Upper House. But ruling Congress party could not do its work and as a result it could not be brought to the Lok Sabha," she said.
