Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. (Source: PTI) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. (Source: PTI)

A war of words broke out between AAP and BJP on Wednesday when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s two-day visit to Gujarat was cancelled after organisers called off his event in Surat on July 10. While AAP alleged that Surat traders dropped the function following pressure from the Anandiben Patel government, BJP circulated a letter by the organiser, stating that it was called off “willingly”.

Kejriwal was invited as the chief guest to an All Gujarat Traders’ Meet on July 10 to celebrate the 10th year of Surat Vividh Vepari Mahamandal. The function was to be held at the convention hall of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Surat.

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Delhi MLA and AAP’s Gujarat affairs in-charge Gulab Singh Yadav told reporters in Ahmedabad that the traders’ body dropped the event as the venue was abruptly cancelled because of “pressure from the state government and BJP”.

Kejriwal was scheduled to visit Somnath on July 9 and then head to Surat, where he had plans to meet jailed Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel.

The AAP convener’s visit to Surat was seen as the party’s attempt to woo the influential Patidar community and also kickstart its campaign for the 2017 Assembly elections.

In a press conference, Yadav alleged that the “BJP and CM Anandiben Patel were feeling nervous due to AAP’s increasing popularity and the next assembly polls drawing closer”.

In another press meet, he released two sting videos — one purportedly showing a VNSGU officer saying “if Kejriwal is coming, the booking will be cancelled”. The booking was done on June 17.

However, VNSGU vice-chancellor Dakshesh Thaker said, “The organisers had personally sent handwritten letter for cancellation of the event to us on Tuesday.”

Calling it “AAP ni nautanki”, BJP spokesperson Harshad Patel refuted the allegations and circulated a handwritten letter by Jay Lal, president of Vividh Vepari Mahamandal. He said: “There are 12 more days left and the city has a lot more venues. The event has been cancelled by Vepari Mahamandal, why is the AAP creating a fuss? Let them hold another event in the party’s name.”

The letter (dated June 28), addressed to VNSGU registrar, which Lal confirmed he had written, stated: “We hereby cancel our above noted booking because of the willingly postponement of our All Gujarat Traders Meet.”

Lal later said: “Due to short notice, we could not reach out to all business sectors and so we cancelled the programme. We will organise another programme in coming months, though we are not sure we will invite Arvind Kejriwal again.”

Kejriwal would now complete his Goa visit and then proceed to Punjab.

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