Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, alleged on Sunday that many leaders and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat covertly back his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and want their own party to lose in the next Assembly elections, news agency PTI reported.
Targeting the BJP over the posters that appeared in various Gujarat cities on Saturday, the AAP's national leader stated people behind the posters were "demons and descendants of Kans."
While addressing a rally in tribal-dominated Valsad district in Gujarat, Kejriwal stated: "Many BJP leaders and workers meet me and secretly ask me to do something to defeat the ruling party. I would like to tell all the BJP workers and leaders who want to defeat their party to work secretly for AAP."
"We have to break 27 years of their (BJP's) arrogance. I know you have your businesses, if you join us they will damage your business. You stay there, but secretly work to defeat it. Congress workers need not fear, you can leave your party and join AAP. Forget your party," Kejriwal said.
He urged citizens to vote for AAP in the approaching Gujarat election in order to "clean away the devils."
Everyone should work together to create a new Gujarat. Work for Gujarat, work for the country, he added, claiming that AAP will bring in a "new storm, new politics, new party, new faces, new ideas, and new dawn."
Slamming the BJP workers, Kejriwal said, "They go around and whisper that 'While Kejriwal is good, he will not win in Gujarat this time, but next time'. If anyone tells you so, then know that he is from the BJP. Tell him that not next time, but (Kejriwal will win this time)."
Regarding the posters calling him "anti-Hindu", he alleged, "Those who insult god are called 'rakshas' (demons). Those who insult gods are called 'Kans ki aulaad' (descendants of Kans). What would demons do in ancient times? They would enter any village, indulge in hooliganism, tease and rape women."
Kejriwal, who identified himself as a follower of Lord Hanuman, said that he was born on the day of Janmashtami and that his home nickname was Krishna.
"And Lord Krishna has blessed me and sent me with a special task to finish off these descendants of Kans. Public is god. I need you support. Will you support me to complete the work of god, to finish the demons?" he asked.
"We have to wipe out these demons for the peace of the public. We have to finish those corrupt goons, those who insult gods. Inflation has made life impossible. Price of everything rises while the salary does not," he said.
In Gujarat, Kejriwal vowed that the AAP will bring about clean government and end corruption. In addition, he cited his party's pledges to provide free power, 15 lakh jobs, and unemployment benefits in Gujarat.
(With Inputs From PTI)