AAP rewards instigator of Seelampur violence with an election ticket

The naked display of orchestrated violence at Delhi’s Seelampur area last month was witnessed by the entire nation. As violent mobs to the strength of approximately 10,000 wreaked havoc on the streets, the police were forced to resort to massive lathicharge and dispersal of tear gas shells. School and DTC buses were pelted with stones, vehicles were torched and a police outpost was also aimed at for setting fire.

With Delhi going to polls on 8th February, many political parties have been trying to orchestrate large-scale violence in the national capital with the hope of hurting the BJP’s poll prospects. The Aam Aadmi Party yesterday announced all the candidates for the 70 seats which go to polls next month, and among them, is the primary accused in the Seelampur violence. 

Abdul Rehman, who currently faces charges of leading the violent mobs of Seelampur and then encouraging them for resorting to violence, has now been given a ticket from Seelampur. Former Congress MLA Mateen Ahmed has also been named in the FIR for promoting violence on December 17th. 

For AAP to field a primary accused in the Seelampur violence as a candidate for the constituency goes on to prove how the party has sold its soul for petty vote bank politics (if at all it ever had one). It also further reveals how the Congress and AAP are in cahoots to fan violent protests in the national capital. Amid reports of Kejriwal selling tickets to candidates for crores of rupees, his decision to grant a ticket to Abdul Rehman seems like a prize for the individual’s sincere efforts in stoking violence in the national capital.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to congratulate all the candidates and urged them to work very hard towards a victory. Work hard how, Mr Chief Minister? By stoking violence and actively participating in the same?

This move of Kejriwal is nothing more than an attempt to win over a certain community which plays a deciding factor in Seelampur. For Kejriwal to give tickets to individuals accused of large-scale violence portrays his confidence of winning over a certain section of the demography in the area. As the Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal has sent a clear message that he does not give two hoots about Delhi’s safety, as instead of treating the Seelampur violence as an affront to his rule, he has instead shown interest in reaping political benefit from all that violence that gripped the capital in December.

If Abdul Rehman manages to win from Seelampur, it will be an electoral vindication for him, as the voters would then have put across their message that they have no problem with a rioter and arsonist leading them in the Assembly. The AAP has not condemned the Seelampur violence, leave alone act against Rehman. Instead, they have decided to award him.