AAP hits back at BJP, says its leaders are 'mentally bankrupt'

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit back at senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely for calling the party "urban Naxalism", saying that some BJP leaders were "mentally bankrupt" and need to be reminded of their own history.

The AAP said that the BJP should do some introspection as it had resorted to same ways while protesting against Indira Gandhi during the JP movement. Responding to Jaitley's statement, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said that some "BJP leaders were mentally bankrupt" and should read their own history.

"In 1975 when there was an emergency, they were with Jai Prakash Narayan for two years protesting on the roads. At that time Jana Sangh and ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student's wing of the then Jana Sangh) participated of which Arun Jaitely was a part of.

"If he terms street protests as Naxalism, he should apologise to late leader Indira Gandhi for participating in Naxalism in 1975 along with people's leader Jai Prakash Narayan," Singh said. He also lashed out at the BJP for calling the party "hired men of the Congress".

"In the street lights case during the CWG, both the Congress and the BJP are involved. Preparation of action is underway against Delhi government (then led by Congress) and MCD (led by the BJP).

We have found that both have consensus on many issues...be it coal scam in which leaders from both the parties names cropped up. Both came together during opposition of Jan Lokpal bill of the Delhi government. Similar was the case when both parties came together to stall the process of stopping the tainted ministers (contesting elections)," Singh said.

He also criticised both the parties for opposing the Janlokpal bill and said they oppose the bill as they fear their corruption cases will come to light.

"There is an Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, the Chief minister and ministers belongs to AAP and government officials, IAS officers belong to a government led by the AAP. So the Janlokpal bill is against its own government.

"Why are BJP and Congress opposing it. Are they scared that the corruption they have done would be unearthed because of Janlokpal bill," he said.