News-Patiala
New Delhi, 30 December
A war of words has erupted between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of illegal immigrants in the capital ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. The Bhagwan Party has accused AAP of using illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingyas as voter base and harboring them for electoral gains. On the other hand, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has hit back over the alleged deletion of names from the electoral roll and deteriorating law and order. 
Earlier this month, a BJP delegation met the Election Commission of India to present evidence of fake votes cast by Rohingyas and Bangladeshis allegedly living illegally in the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party was alleging that the saffron party is trying to delete thousands of names from the electoral rolls ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025. Kejriwal claimed that BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ has been going on since December 15 in his New Delhi assembly constituency.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has criticized the national convener of AAP. He said that it would be better for democracy if the names of Rohingyas are removed from the voter list. After this, a war of words has started between Kejriwal and Puri. When asked about Puri’s statement, Kejriwal said that the Union Minister has all the data about where and how he has settled the Rohingyas.
Kejriwal alleged that Puri had helped Rohingyas settle in Delhi during his tenure as Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister in the previous government.