The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday alleged that its sitting MLA from north-west Delhi’s Rithala, Mohinder Goyal, who is seeking re-election, was assaulted by BJP workers while he was interacting with residents of Pocket H in Rohini’s Sector 11.
The Delhi police said there was a “scuffle” between the MLA and some residents and that, as per his medical report, Mr. Goyal was “not injured in the incident”.
“The AAP MLA was showing to some people an old video of a resident who had passed away. When the family members of the deceased learnt about it, they raised objections, which later led to an argument and escalated into a scuffle,” a senior police officer said.
Around 5 p.m., Mr. Goyal, sporting a bandage around his forehead and his right arm in a sling, joined AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal at a rally in the constituency.
Addressing the event, the AAP chief reiterated his claim about the “law and order collapse” under the BJP, which is in power at the Centre. Delhi Police reports to the Union Home Ministry.
With the party MLA next to him in a wheelchair, Mr. Kejriwal said, “I feel like crying after seeing Mohinder Goyalji’s condition. If they [BJP] can do this to your MLA before the election, you can imagine what they could do to your family members, daughters and daughters-in-law.”
He also repeated his claim that the BJP, if elected, “will end all the subsidies offered by the AAP government”.
The BJP has denied the claims and said that “all the existing welfare schemes will continue”.
Civic issues
A little away from the stage and outside a bookstore, a person observed wryly, “I don’t think he [Mr. Goyal] has been injured much. But they are politicians.” Mr. Goyal has been representing Rithala since 2015.
The shop owner, Rajeev Jain, 45, lives in Budh Vihar Phase 1, an unauthorised colony nearby. “There is no issue with electricity, and we get water every day, but it is not drinkable, and we have to use a water purifier,” Mr. Jain said. He also complained about the state of the roads and sewerage system.
“In 2015, AAP was a new party with Kejriwal a new face. People were drawn, and there was an AAP wave. But AAP has a tough fight with BJP this time,” he opined.
Priyanka Yadav, 32, who lives in Budh Vihar Phase 2, said that water supply is the biggest issue for her. “We get water only on alternate days. Also, the drainage system is not seamless and the ground floors get flooded during rain,” she complained.
However, Ms. Yadav, a native of Uttar Pradesh, praised the Mohalla Clinics, where she gets free treatment and medicines, and the Delhi government school, where her children study.
Outside a tailor shop, Malti Devi, 60, who lives in the same area, said she is happy with the work done in the area. “Now we at least get water in taps. Five to seven years ago, we were completely dependent on water tankers. Also, there are hardly any power cuts now.”
When asked about the poll promises, she said, “I trust AAP more as we are already getting free water, electricity, and bus rides.”
Interrupting her, Renu Aggarwal, 55, who was standing nearby, said all “freebies” should stop. “There is an unemployment crisis, and the government should be addressing it rather than giving freebies,” said Ms. Aggarwal, who owns a building and has rented out a part of it.
The tailor shop owner, Rajni, 35, agreed with Ms. Aggarwal. “There shouldn’t be freebies. They [government] should give jobs and work on development. For instance, there is no public toilet for women in the market here. The government should be focusing on these things.”
Published – February 02, 2025 01:34 am IST