NEW DELHI: AAP launched a counterattack at BJP on Sunday, which had accused its minister Somnath Bharti of "racism," saying the saffron party was "supporting drug addiction and prostitution".

"(Child and women development minister) Rakhi Birla and (law minister) Somnath Bharti were fighting against prostitution, drug addiction and protection of women ... instead of backing them, it is surprising to know that BJP is supporting prostitution and drug peddling," AAP leader Sanjay Singh told a news conference here.

"This shows how BJP wants to take itself ahead and the way it opposes Aam Aadmi Party. This is their desperation," he said.

"I am surprised at his (Jaitley's) restlessness...in the city where incidents like Damini and Gudiya (gang-rape cases) occurred, where Rs 2000 was offered to Gudiya's parents to shut the matter...in the city where police enter jhuggis and behave in an indecent manner with women and take bribes," he said.

Jaitley accused Bharti of "racism" and said he has created serious problems for Africans staying in the capital.

"His approach appears to be a racist one. The party within days has become victim of its own unconventional style. Mobs can't take decisions. They can at best be populist," the BJP leader said.

He also criticized Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's threat to hold dharna outside home ministry if action was not taken against certain policemen, saying AAP was obviously more comfortable doing a dharna than working in the secretariat.

