Atishi on Tuesday claimed that the BJP has approached her through someone very close.The BJP’s Delhi unit has sent a defamation notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Atishi over her recent allegations that the BJP approached her with an ultimatum to either join their party or face arrest.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva told reporters today that they have officially sent the notice to Atishi and asked for a public apology for her statements.
The legal counsel for the Delhi BJP said the party has sent a defamation notice to Atishi to withdraw her statement, which he termed “false, defamatory, and concocted”. If she fails to prove her claim, they will take legal action, the lawyer said.
“This time we won’t let her escape. She has to answer and provide evidence for what she is claiming. We asked her to apologise by the evening (Tuesday). She didn’t and so we have sent her a legal notice to which she will have to reply within 15 days,” Sachdeva said.
Atishi on Tuesday claimed that the BJP has approached her through someone very close. “They have asked me to join the BJP and said this will save my political career. They have threatened that if I don’t switch over, ED (Enforcement Directorate) will arrest me within a month,” the Delhi minister alleged.
She also claimed that three other AAP leaders — Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP MP Raghav Chadha and AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak — may be arrested over the next couple of months.
The person who approached her had said the ruling party had “made up its mind on crushing everyone in AAP”, she added.
The BJP refuted her charges and dared Atishi to reveal the name of the person. Accusing Atishi of telling lies, the BJP said the party did not have any vacancy for her.
“There is no vacancy in our party for a political activist like Atishi. I don’t think any worker of the BJP will go to Atishi and say such a thing at a time when the whole party is stuck in a liquor scam. Do we need to have a headache by getting them into our party?” Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
Meanwhile, Sachdeva dared Atishi to submit her phone to an investigation agency to prove her claims.
Atishi has not yet commented on the development.