Arvind Kejriwal 'honhaar' but inexperienced: Sheila Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Sheila Dikshit in her first acknowledgment of Aam Aadmi Party at an election rally held at DDA Ground, Dakshinpuri, in south Delhi, said the new outfit could not deliver governance as its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, lacked experience of holding public office.

She described Kejriwal as "honhaar (capable)" but inexperienced. On AAP, the three-time Delhi CM was more unequivocal. "I want to know Kejriwal and his party's political stand. They talk of corruption, but what about all the controversies surrounding funds of AAP? A Delhi court has asked the Centre to examine its funding," she said.

Congress general secretary in charge of Delhi, Shakeel Ahmad, meanwhile, conceded that the Delhi contest was triangular though he attacked BJP and AAP for having a tie-up with each other, defeating Congress and crowning BJP winner being their common agenda. He also attacked BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi indirectly, saying, "The people of Delhi are very sharp and do not respond to borrowed players from outside the capital."

"There is a newborn party (AAP). What to say of them? Their sole agenda is to see that BJP wins. The fact that Kejriwal chose to run from New Delhi constituency because he wanted to fight on a seat the Delhi CM would fight on shows the agenda. Kejriwal never said he is fighting against BJP's Vijender Gupta. Why pick only the CM?" Ahmad said.

He also criticized AAP's move in Krishna Nagar constituency. "AAP changed its Krishna Nagar candidate soon after BJP announced Harsh Vardhan, the sitting MLA at Krishna Nagar seat, as its chief ministerial candidate. AAP did this to help BJP," Ahmad said.

Dikshit flayed BJP over corruption, women's safety and price of onions. "They have been pointing fingers at me over corruption in my government. Where is the corruption? If you know of it, tell me and we will hold an inquiry," she said.

The CM also blasted the rival party for allegedly publicizing falsely through hoardings that onions cost Rs 100 a kg. "There was a crisis and we stepped in with a solution. BJP is misleading the people. The prices of onion and potatoes are down now to Rs 40/45/50," she said.

She went on to target Vardhan on women's safety though she did not mention his name. "BJP keeps saying that Delhi is not safe for women. How can they blame us when they can't even ensure the safety of women in their own houses?" Dikshit said.

The chief minister was hinting at reports of a domestic help who worked at Vardhan's house being raped 17 years ago. BJP has rubbished the allegation.