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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said it is for the people of Delhi to decide whether they consider him their son, brother, or a terrorist even as his party demanded that Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tiwari be barred from campaigning for assembly polls for their remarks against the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor..
BJP MP Parvesh Verma, addressing an election meeting in Madipur Assembly constituency, had reportedly said, "Kejriwal jaise natwarlal, Kejriwal jaise atankwadi is desh mein chhupe baithe hain (Natwarlals and terrorists like Kejriwal are hiding in this country)."
The AAP alleged that Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari also called the Delhi chief minister a 'terrorist'.
Reacting, Kejriwal said it is for the people of Delhi to decide whether they consider him their son, brother, or a terrorist.
"Today I'm leaving this decision to the people of Delhi, whether they consider me as a son, consider me their brother, or consider me a terrorist," he told reporters.
Recalling his journey on 'serving' the nation, Kejriwal said he has sacrificed a lot for the country.
"Since the formation of our government in the last five years, I have considered every child as my own while providing good education to them. Does that make me a terrorist? I have arranged for better treatment and medicines to the people of every household in Delhi. Does that make me a terrorist?" he asked.
Kejriwal further said he has tried to take care of the families of the martyrs in Delhi.
"Does that make me a terrorist? I have never asked for anything for myself or my family. I have always tried to be of service to the people with all my heart and soul, I will sacrifice my life for the nation if need be," he said.
"IIT Kharagpur is one of the most reputable institutions in the nation. I was a bright student who attained good marks, I would have gone to a foreign nation like my peers.
"But I chose to stay because I thought that it is only us who can work for and improve the nation. I left a job as the income tax commissioner, to take part in the nation's biggest movement against corruption. Are these the steps that a terrorist would take?" asked Kejriwal.
He said he has 'exposed' some of the most powerful and eminent people in cases of corruption, because of which he had to suffer through a lot.
"Would a terrorist do that? I am a diabetic, I take insulin four times a day. If a patient of diabetes does not consume something every three-four hours, he or she might collapse due to low blood sugar levels.
"Despite being on such a high risk of life, I sat on a protest against corruption twice, once of 10 days and once for 15 days. Doctors would advise me against it. I risked my life for the nation," he said.
Soon after Kejriwal's comments, senior AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Pankaj Gupta, along with some of their supporters, sat on a protest outside the Election Commission office over Verma's remarks.
They were holding placards reading 'Delhi ke bete Kejriwal ko aatankwadi kahne wale par karwayee karo (take action against those who called Delhi's son Kejriwal a terrorist)'.
They were also demanding registration of an FIR against Verma.
The AAP leaders later submitted a complaint to the Election Commission demanding lodging of an FIR against Verma and Tiwari and campaigning ban on them during the duration of the Delhi polls.
Later, the EC issued a show cause notice to Verma for his remark against the CM. He has been given time till 5 pm on Friday to respond.
The notice came on a day when he was barred from campaigning for 96 hours (four days) for making controversial remarks at a poll meet recently.
The poll panel has also ordered his removal from the BJP's list of star campaigners.
The notice said the AAP had approached the Delhi chief electoral officer with a complaint.
'AAP complaint alleged that you have cast vitriolic aspersions on the chief minister of Delhi referring to him as terrorist,' the notice said.
It reminded that model code states that criticism of parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortions shall be avoided.
Kejriwal, while addressing people at a public meeting in Babarpur Thursday evening, said, "When you go to vote on February 8, when you press the button, if you consider me your son, then give the vote for jhaadu (broom, AAP election symbol), if you consider me a terrorist, then vote for kamal (lotus, BJP election symbol)."
Kejriwal gets EC notice for promising mohalla clinics on court premises
The Election Commission on Thursday issued a show cause notice to Kejriwal for promising to set up mohalla clinics on court premises in the city at a time when the model code of conduct is in place.
He has been asked to respond before 5 pm Friday.
A BJP leader had approached the Commission alleging that addressing members of the Delhi Bar Association on January 13, Kejriwal had said the government was ready to open mohalla clinics in bars and court premises provided space is allocated.
The Delhi Chief Electoral Office had confirmed that Kejriwal had 'made a promise'.
The notice referred to part VII of the Model Code dealing with party in power.
'The party in power...shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign and sub-clause(c) of clause (vi) thereof provides that from the time elections are announced by the Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc,' the notice said.
The EC said it is of the opinion that Kejriwal has violated the Model Code provision by making the promise.