Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met BJP stalwart L.K. Advani on Monday evening at the latter’s residence. A similar meeting was fixed in June but Mr. Advani had at the last moment turned it down saying “he was busy”.
The fact that Mr Kejriwal went to meet the BJP leader clearly indicates that the CM is trying to garner support against the Central Government and convince him and other BJP old guard that the Modi-led government is not letting the AAP government work. On the 40th anniversary of Emergency, the senior BJP leader had courted a controversy when he had said “the forces to destroy democracy are even stronger today.” This was seen as the BJP leader’s dissent against the Modi-led government.
Sources said the meeting sends a message across sections of the society who are unhappy with the Modi government. “Advani’s remark was for Modi’s governance style. This meeting after such a remark is symbolic enough and people can see him as someone willing to stand up against the Prime Minister,” said an AAP leader.
A day after Mr. Advani in an interview to an English daily said an Emergency-like situation cannot be ruled out, Mr. Kejriwal had sought an appointment with the BJP veteran only to be snubbed later. Sources said Mr Kejriwal never got a confirmation of the appointment “but he assumed that the BJP leader will be willing to meet him. Today, the BJP leader met him for tea.” Sources said Mr Kejriwal discussed how the Centre was interfering in their work through the Lieutenant-Governor and the Delhi Police. “He (Kejriwal) had gone to convince the octogenarian leader and make him agree with his demand of full statehood for Delhi. If Mr. Advani agrees, then it will be an embarrassing situation for the Centre,” said sources.
Commenting on the meeting, BJP leaders said it was good that Kejriwal was drawing inspiration from Mr. Advani. “Like many party men in the BJP who draw inspiration from Mr. Advani, I think Mr. Kejriwal too wanted to do so,” said Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition.
