'Political & social intolerance growing in India': Kejriwal finds unusual support in BJP ally Shiv Sena

Kejriwal is not ready to accept the fact that New Delhi, being the national capital, has be put under Union Home Ministry as far as security matters are concerned, it said.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was slapped by a man during a roadshow in Moti Nagar, New Delhi, Saturday, May 4, 2019. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai: Arvind Kejriwal has found an usual support in BJP-ally Shiv Sena which has connected the “social intolerance” in India with the attack on the Delhi chief minister. The saffron party in its mouthpiece Saamna condemned the latest attack on Kejriwal and said there should be no laxity in his security. Sena said the Kejriwal-led AAP government has done some good work in the fields of education and health. Kejriwal was travelling in an open jeep through the Moti Nagar locality when a man in a red T-shirt lunged at his vehicle and slapped him before he was pulled away by AAP supporters. Deputy commissioner of police (West) Monika Bhardwaj said the attacker was Suresh, a 33-year-old dealer in spare parts. The Sena said, "Political and social intolerance is growing in India. But acts such as throwing ink or hurling shoes (at politicians) is not going to solve problems." It looks like the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader has set a record of sorts in facing such assaults after becoming the chief minister of the city-state, the Marathi daily said. He has faced nearly a dozen such attacks, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. "Such acts of insulting senior politicians in the country should be stopped at once," said the saffron party. Kejriwal is not ready to accept the fact that New Delhi, being the national capital, has be put under Union Home Ministry as far as security matters are concerned, it said. The local government cannot have its own security force, the Sena organ said. Kejriwal's government has done some good work in education and health, which has been lauded widely. But in the meantime, the AAP leader also started dreaming about becoming the prime minister and making false claims and allegations, the Sena said. "We do not agree with such acts. There should not be any lapse in Kejriwal's security," said the party. Sena commending Kejriwal comes at a time when the BJP and AAP are both going hammers and tongs at each other for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the Delhi. Hailing Kejriwal's development works by the Sena could also come as a rude shock to the BJP which may not have expected its recalcitrant ally to fraternize with its biggest political rival in the national capital. This was the second time bureaucrat-turned-politician has been slapped in a public rally. Kejriwal had also been attacked with ink and spices earlier. He has says it the handiwork of the BJP. (With additional information from PTI)