Former BJP man throws ink at Kejriwal in Delhi press conference

New Delhi: A former BJP worker from Maharashtra, Nachiketa Vaghrekar, today threw ink at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and his associate Manish Sisodia at a press conference here. He was immediately taken into custody and interrogated by police. Late in the night, Kejriwal tweeted to say that he had forgotten the assailant. He tweeted: "I forgive Nachiketa. I have no ill will against him. He seems to have some misconceptions abt us"Nachiketa shouted Anna Hazare Zindabad soon after throwing ink. He said he was a BJP worker from Ahmednagar and he did this because, according to him, Kejriwal betrayed Anna Hazare by misusing the money that Anna gave him. "I am here in Delhi for the last two months and Anna is my guru", said Nachiketa. Kejriwal said, the donations received from the anti-corruption movement were not being spent on AAP's election campaign. He said, Anna had asked him whether the movement's money was spent on elections. "I told Anna that he was free to check the entire donations received during the movement and not a single penny was spent on elections. If the charge is proved I will not contest elections."Another AAP leader and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said, AAP was ready to face any probe, and the government was already carrying out its investigation. Nachiketa Vaghrekar, who claimed to be BJP general secretary of Ahmednagar unit in Maharashtra and that he reveres Anna Hazare, accused Kejriwal of "betraying Hazare and betraying people".Shouting 'Anna Hazare Zindabad', he entered the press conference venue and threw a can of black ink on Kejriwal. Some ink also splashed on his colleagues Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, lawyers Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan who were also present at the media conference.Kejriwal was addressing the media to refute allegations labelled against him that AAP's campaign for Delhi assembly elections was being run unfairly with unaccounted-for money.AAP activists present there immediately pulled Vaghrekar, out of the conference hall.Kejriwal, without naming any party, said "it was done by those whose vested interests were being hit due to AAP's growing popularity."AAP leader Kumar Vishwas termed it as an act by BJP out of "frustration" while BJP said it was "low-grade" politics."This is an act of BJP which is frustrated with AAP's growing popularity in Delhi. It is sending such type of people to disrupt our programmes," he said.Though BJP in Delhi immediately distanced itself from Nachiketa, Maharashtra BJP leader Vinod Tawde admitted that Nachiketa worked in their IT cell. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said it was "low grade politics" and she does not believe the "story" as it has to be looked into whether it had any connection with Congress or AAP."Nachiketa was a former BJP member and was working with our IT cell some three years ago. Since then, he has been active with the Anna movement and 'India Against Corruption' for the last two years and is currently not a Maharashtra IT cell member," Meenakshi Lekhi said in a statement."He is from Anna Hazare's Tehsil and has contested an election against a BJP official candidate", she said adding "we condemn such acts," she added.Another party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman earlier said the attacker was BJP IT Cell Tehsil in- charge, Tehsil Parner (Dist Ahmadnagar). However, she retracted her statement later.Kejriwal demanded an independent and open probe into its accounts and donations from Anna Hazare who had written him on Sunday that he was getting reports of misuse of funds and his name in the Delhi elections.Hazare had earlier written to Kejriwal after receiving complaints that money for the Lokpal Andolan held in 2011 was being used by Kejriwal to fund the AAP election campaign.Kejriwal said he has already informed Anna he did not spend any Lokpal Andolan money to fund campaign and is ready to be probed to prove his innocence."I would request Annaji to conduct a through probe by anyone he wants like Justice (retd) Santosh Hedge or anyone else and the report should be made public within 48 hours, so neither Congress nor BJP could raise suspicion over funds," Kejriwal said, adding "if I am found guilty I would not contest elections"."But if I come clean, then Anna Hazare will have to come and campaign for our party," he said.After the heckling incident, Kejriwal said he has no ill will against Nachiket. "I forgive Nachiketa. I have no ill will against him," Kejriwal tweeted.

Former BJP man throws ink at Kejriwal in Delhi press conference

New Delhi: A former BJP worker from Maharashtra, Nachiketa Vaghrekar, today threw ink at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and his associate Manish Sisodia at a press conference here. He was immediately taken into

Top News

RBI MPC LIVE Updates: RBI holds repo rate at 5.25%, raises FY27 inflation projection by 50 bps

Ramalinga Reddy, Karnataka minister, resigns: How his exit could reshape Siddaramaiah-DK equation

Sachin Pilot in focus as Congress eyes changes in Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab: What prompts the revamp

Gullak Season 5 Series Review: Mishra family bonds remain intact with new 'Annu bhaiya'