delhi

Updated: Jan 18, 2016 15:40 IST

The Aam Aadmi Party said on Monday that an ink attack on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was a rehearsal of an assassination attempt on him and the perpetrators may use a gun or bomb the next time.

At a press conference, senior AAP leader Ashutosh blamed the police for alleged lapses in security at a function in north Delhi on Sunday, when a woman threw ink at Kejriwal alleging that a “CNG scam” was afoot in the recently-concluded odd-even scheme in the Capital.

“We are questioning the lapse in security and whether responsibility will be fixed. Sunday’s ink attack on Arvind Kejriwal seems like the rehearsal of an assassination attempt,” Ashutosh said.

He said the party had never asked for extra security for the CM but insisted it was the police’s responsibility to ensure his safety.

“Yesterday it was ink, tomorrow it could be a bomb or a gun,” said Dilip Pandey.

Ink attack on Kejriwal: Bassi refutes AAP’s ‘security lapse’ allegation

The party has already trained its guns at the Centre, saying the BJP was behind the attack as it couldn’t digest the success of the odd-even road rationing plan.

But the Centre and the Delhi Police have refuted the charges, with a spokesperson confirming enhanced security arrangements were made.

“Certain allegations have been leveled against Delhi Police by some functionaries of AAP and even by Deputy CM Delhi. These are misconceived and unfounded. Appropriate law and order arrangements were made,” said Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson.

A senior officer said an assistant commissioner of police from the north west district, four inspectors, the local station house officer along with around 250 constables to sub-inspector rank officials were present at the stadium. Authorities have registered a case against the woman.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju also criticised the AAP.

CNG scam behind odd-even plan, alleges woman who threw ink at Kejriwal

“Just because of one incident, how can you(AAP) make an allegation that it was orchestrated and instigated by the BJP? This statement is very unbecoming. AAP keeps telling on people to protest in an ugly manner,” Rijiju told ANI.

As soon as Kejriwal started speaking at the function on Sunday, the woman, identified as Bhavna Arora, started shouting about a “CNG scam” - an alleged nexus of false CNG stickers distributed to diesel vehicles in the city so that they could flout the odd-even scheme restrictions. Cars running on CNG were exempt during the 15-day trial period.

She then threw a set of CDs and some papers on the stage, before hurling ink at Kejriwal. Sources said she claimed to be a member of the Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Sena, an AAP splinter group.