NEW DELHI: Hours after former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain was sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, a political war of words broke out between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party, with Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleging that Hussain was “indirectly working for the BJP” and rejecting the ruling party’s attempt to link the 2020 riots to AAP.Bharadwaj said Hussain had political links with the BJP before the violence and claimed the AAP had expelled him immediately after an FIR was registered in connection with Ankit Sharma’s murder.He alleged that while the AAP acted against Hussain, the BJP had continued to support leaders facing serious allegations in other riot-related cases and was now attempting to shift the blame onto the opposition party.The remarks came after Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra said Hussain’s conviction proved that senior AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, had extended “protection” to him during the riots.“Today, a court sentenced AAP leader Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment in the case of inciting riots and the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. The true face of the Aam Aadmi Party has been revealed,” Malhotra said.Responding to the allegation, Bharadwaj claimed BJP minister Kapil Mishra had helped Hussain secure a councillor ticket, enabling his rise in local politics.He further alleged that the premises from where stones and weapons were allegedly recovered during the 2020 riots had earlier housed Mishra’s office.Pointing out that Hussain later contested the Mustafabad assembly election on an AIMIM ticket “as part of a strategy to benefit the BJP electorally”, the Delhi AAP president alleged that the councillor campaigned in the constituency and delivered speeches without the required permission.(With PTI inputs)
