A BJP delegation on Saturday called on the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to demand “strict legal action” against what it alleged was yet another attempt by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders to “spread religious frenzy” from social media platforms in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Led by Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Vijender Gupta, the delegation alleged “misuse” of Twitter handles and social media platforms by Mr. Kejriwal and other AAP leaders with the “intention of scaring one community” and “provoking another community” just for the “sake of few votes.” Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari issued a statement condemning the said tweet.

“It is clear from their anti-social actions that they want religious polarisation to serve their political interests... CM Kejriwal, through his official Twitter handle, has shared a video of an incident of thrashing in Haryana’s Gurugram to attempt provocation,” Mr. Gupta alleged.

Quoting Mr. Kejriwal’s tweet, which said: “Ye Video Dekhiye. Hamare Kaun se Granth mein likha hai Musalmano ko maro? Geeta mein ? Ramayan Mein? Hanuman Chalisa mein ? Ye Log Hindu nahi hain, Hinduon ke vesh mein gunde hain. Inki party luchhe, lafange, gundon ki fauj hai. Inse Desh aur Hindu dharm dono ko bachana har Bharatwasi ka farz hai [sic.]”, Mr. Gupta accused the Chief Minister of “misusing” the incident.

“An incident of thrashing, against which appropriate action has been taken by the District Administration of Gurugram has been misused by Mr. Kejriwal to give it a religious colour to provoke the feelings of the two communities and such reactions can also be seen on Twitter,” Mr. Gupta argued.

The Rohini legislator further stated that this tweet had followed another “controversial” one which consisted of a picture that showed a figurine with a broom running after the Swastik symbol to beat it. “This tweet and its subject matter show the insensitivity of Mr. Kejriwal and also violates the Election Commission Code of Conduct,” he alleged.

The delegation requested the Delhi CEO to ensure “strict legal action” for “creating cracks in the society” with their statements. The way in which he has given a “communal colour to a fight over a cricket match in Gurugram” was “not expected from the Chief Minister of any State”, argued Mr. Tiwari.

“Mr. Kejriwal has forgotten that this is the new India in which the people will give their mandate not on the basis of religion but on the development of the country and nationalism... It has become his habit to demean Hinduism. While the Modi government is going to contest the Lok Sabha elections on the issue of development, Mr. Kejriwal is hatching a conspiracy to mislead the people,” Mr. Tiwari added.