AAP a party of pathological liars, says an angry Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: BJP leader Arun Jaitley hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday, calling them a bunch of 'pathological liars' even as party workers belonging to both AAP and BJP engaged in a bizarre protest face off.

Scores of AAP workers on Tuesday staged a protest outside Jaitley's residence in Kailash Colony, a day after AAP accused Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley of trying to topple the Delhi government.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley. AFP

BJP activists soon launched a counter-protest at the same spot, alleging that AAP was just protesting with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In addition to calling AAP a party of 'pathological liars', Jaitley tweeted on Monday, saying "Rubbish claims by AAP. AAP's alternative politics includes a fundamental right to falsehood and lies".

The sentiment was echoed by other BJP leaders. Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman in particular lashed out at the party, saying that their idea of a 'political alternative' was nothing more than getting publicity at any cost, and slandering political opponents without any basis.

At Kailash colony meanwhile, as both parties protested at the same place, there were heated arguments between their workers.

Police, which had beefed up security outside Jaitley's house, had to divide them by putting barricades.

AAP had on Monday accused Modi and Jaitley of trying to topple the Kejriwal government, claiming that they are behind moves to lure MLAs to split the ruling party.

AAP MLA Madan Lal had alleged a person close to Modi had offered him Rs 20 crore to split the party and promised to make him Chief Minister if he could do so.

"Two persons met me around 10-12 day ago. One of them told me that his name is Sanjoy Singh and he has come from Gujarat. He said he is close to Narendra Modi. Singh told me that Modiji wanted me to get the support of around 10 (AAP) MLAs," he had said without producing any proof to substantiate the allegations.

The Kasturba Nagar MLA had alleged that the person told him that if he succeeded in getting 10 MLAs to leave AAP, then he would be made the CM and his cabinet ministers would be paid Rs 10 crore each.

Lal had also claimed that on midnight of 7 December, an unidentified person had telephoned him, saying a prominent leader wanted to talk to him.

"When I asked him who wanted to talk to me, he said Arun Jaitley. After hearing Jaitley's name, I cut the phone. I could not make a call back on the unknown number," he had said.

 

PTI