Ahead of Kejriwal's rally, banners show him as 'Pak hero'

Ahmedabad: Ahead of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal's October 16 rally in Gujarat, posters carrying his photographs along with Burhan Wani, Hafiz Saeed and Osama bin Laden, terming them as "heroes of Pakistan", have appeared in Surat city. The Delhi Chief Minister is scheduled to address a public rally at Varachha in Surat on Sunday evening. While AAP accused the ruling BJP of being responsible for the "defamatory" posters, the saffron party claimed that common people had put them up as they were "deeply hurt" after Kejriwal demanded proof of the Army's surgical strikes across LoC. Surat AAP spokesperson Yogesh Jadvani said, "We know that it is a tactic by BJP to defame Kejriwal and AAP ahead of the rally. BJP workers are given rewards for putting the most defamatory poster. But, we are not bothered by such negative politics." He also expressed confidence that over one lakh people would attend the rally. However, BJP said "anti-Kejriwal" people were coming forward to vent their anger against AAP and its leaders. "Kejriwal is known for doing such drama. We are least bothered even if he visits Gujarat thrice in a year or in a week. These posters are a natural reaction of people against Kejriwal's anti-national stand. He would receive such welcome at any place in India. However, he would get a red-carpet welcome in Pakistan," Gujarat BJP convener Harshad Patel said. "I am sure that if something goes wrong in his rally, he will blame our leaders, saying that it was done at the behest of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. He must have kept his script ready if things do not go down as per their plans," he said. Earlier, banners showing "dubious" track record of several ministers in the AAP-led Delhi government had surfaced in Surat. In some societies of Varachha area, dominated by Patels, banners warning Kejriwal from entering the premises were also put up a few days ago.