Posters emerged at several places in Gujarat equating Kejriwal with terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Hafiz Saeed and Burhan Wani, ahead of his arrival in the state.
The posters, which read ‘Pakistan’s Heroes’, were noticed at prominent places in and around Unjha and Mehsana towns of north Gujarat, where Kejriwal is scheduled to meet family members of those killed during the Patidar agitation. They were soon removed by AAP members.
The Gujarat government first delayed giving permission to Kejriwal to hold a rally on Sunday. The Gujarat High Court finally gave the green signals.
Blaming the ruling BJP for the poster campaign, AAP's Gujarat convenor Gulab Singh Yadav said:
It’s their handiwork. The miscreants who earlier targeted our bike rally on 9 October turned out to be associates of Amit Shah. And now this. It clearly shows that the BJP is rattled.
Earlier, Delhi Police had obtained a non-bailable warrant against Gulab Singh, provoking Kejriwal to ask on twitter if the Delhi legislator would be arrested ahead of the Sunday rally.
Gulab Singh has been camping in Gujarat for months, building up AAP’s presence in the state as it goes to the polls next year.
Kejriwal Takes on Amit Shah for ‘Trying to Disrupt’ AAP Rally
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Gujarat on Friday evening to a tumultuous welcome - and noisy protests - and alleged that BJP President Amit Shah was trying to scuttle his Surat rally on Sunday.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader spoke to reporters outside the airport where both pro and anti-Kejriwal crowds had gathered and said:
We have come to know that Amit Shah and the BJP are trying to disrupt our rally in Surat. But this is not my rally. This is a rally of the people of Gujarat. So I hope that Amit Shah and the BJP won’t disrupt it.
Amid the sloganeering and jostling, the police provided security as Kejriwal addressed the reporters and left the airport with party colleague Sanjay Singh and other AAP leaders of Gujarat accompanying him.
A huge crowd of AAP supporters, including women, held placards welcoming Kejriwal on his four-day trip to Gujarat. Some tried to present him bouquets. There were also anti-Kejriwal slogans.
The AAP is said to be getting the backing of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti led by 23-year-old Hardik Patel. Surat has a significant presence of the Patel community.
Hardik Patel has been ordered by a court to remain out of Gujarat for six months after being granted bail in sedition cases in July.
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