AAP wants BJP legislator to apologise to Aggarwal community

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sushil Gupta, a Rajya Sabha MP from Delhi, on Thursday demanded an apology from Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislator Vijender Gupta for allegedly insulting the Aggarwal community.

“BJP leader Vijender Gupta’s remarks on Arvind Kejriwal, his father and his family is an insult to the whole Aggarwal community. It is shocking because Vijender Gupta himself belongs to the Aggarwal community,” the Rajya Sabha MP said in a press briefing at the AAP head office in central Delhi on Thursday.

Sushil Gupta also belongs to the Aggarwal community, which is an influential vote bank in the city.

The AAP MP said that Vijender’s comments have hurt the sentiments of people belonging to the Aggarwal community across the country.

“Even during the Vidhan Sabha elections in 2015, the BJP had called Aggarwals a troublemaking community. I demand that Vijender issues an apology not only to Arvind Kejriwal, but the whole Aggarwal community,” he said.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Vijender Gupta had said, “From Kejriwal’s actions, it becomes apparent what kind of a community he belongs to.”

Responding to the BJP leader’s comments, Kejriwal had tweeted: “Your fight is with me. whatever you have to say, say it to me but do not abuse my community. I belong to the Aggarwal community and I am proud of it. They have played major role in the development of the nation. Please do not drag the Aggarwal community in your dirty politics.”

Vijender Gupta on Thursday said, “The question of an apology does not arise. Both Arvind Kejriwal and Sushil Gupta are blots on the Aggarwal community. Who has given them the right to act as leaders of the community? As a member of the community, I am myself ashamed of them and there are thousands like me. I appeal to residents of Delhi to boycott them.”

First Published: Mar 15, 2019 09:52 IST