BJP demands 'public appology' from Arvind Kejriwal over DDCA row, Delhi CM hits back

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader MJ Akbar said, “You (ArvindKejriwal) have done your inquiry from all angles. Now, it is time for him to apologise to Arun Jaitley ji.”

New Delhi: Hours after a three member report on the alleged DDCA scam did not mention Union Minister's name, coming down heavily on Arvind Kejriwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Sunday that the Delhi chief minister should “publicly apologise” to Jaitely for defaming him.

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader MJ Akbar said, “You (ArvindKejriwal) have done your inquiry from all angles. Delhi Government appointed committee has not mentioned Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's name in its report on DDCA probe. It's time Delhi Chief Minister should publicly apologise to the Finance Minister, and also go to court and admit to defamation.”

He further said, “Now lame excuses (by AAP) being offered that this report was not meant to probe against any specific individual.”

Meanwhile, Kejriwal asked why Jaitley was afraid of a probe if he has done no wrong.

The chief minister said the difference between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party was that the former acted against corruption while the latter defended it.

"AAP takes strong & swift action on credible evidence. BJP defends corruption & runs away from investigation," the Delhi CM tweeted.

Thats the difference betn BJP n AAP. AAP takes strong n swift action on credible evidence. BJP defends corruption n runs away from inv

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 27, 2015

The Opposition stalled Parliament this winter session over corruption charges in Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), and Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the central government over the controversy.

Jaitley headed the DDCA for about a decade, although he was not involved in its day-to-day activities, as noted by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) that gave him a clean chit during the UPA regime.

However, the 237-page report by a three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary in Vigilance Department Chetan Sanghi has said that considering the “large number of allegations against DDCA”, the cricket body should be immediately suspended by the BCCI.

Without any mention of Jaitley anywhere in the report, the committee made host of observations about alleged irregularities by DDCA which include construction of the corporate boxes without prior approval of the authorities and complaints of forgery in age-verification certificates.

Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Admi Party leaders had earlier said the recent CBI raid at the Delhi secretariat was intended to seize the inquiry report that revealed Jaitley's role in irregularities at the DDCA.