Don't let AAP make backdoor entry this time: Irani

New Delhi, Jan 30: In a scathing attack on AAP, Union Minister Smriti Irani today asked the people of Delhi not to let the party, which has "now itself become a problem" make a "backdoor entry" in the upcoming election, "You people must show the same enthusiasm as you had shown during the Lok Sabha elections and give us a full majority to make the government in Delhi...Do not allow the Aam Aadmi Party to a make a backdoor entry this time," Irani said.

She was making an apparent reference to the AAP government formed with the support of Congress in December 2013, which lasted for 49 days. "AAP itself has become a problem, so we need a solution. If BJP comes to power, it would be not be just an economic solution,but also a social one," she said at a rally in Reghar Pura in Karol Bagh constituency in support of party's candidate Yogender Chandolia, currently Mayor of North Delhi.

Irani, in her brief speech, also launched an offensive against the Congress by recalling the midnight crackdown by the then UPA government on a group of anti-corruption protesters at the Ramlila Maidan, a couple of years ago.

"The then Congress had issued lathicharge orders on unarmed people in the middle of the night. And, one Raj Bala even died after suffering injuries in the incident. The Congress government then tried to appease the family by offering a compensation, but it was refused," she said. "The Congress government could not even assure safety of women in the streets. Do you still want to vote for that party," she asked the gathering.

In a veiled attack on Congress and AAP, she said, "Jo tijori ko saaf nahin kar sake, wo ab jhadoo se saaf karna chahte hain (Those who couldn't clear the treasure chest, are now using a broom to clean it)."

"A well known Congress leader had said that when Rs 1 travels from the top, only 10-20 paisa reaches the beneficiary at the bottom, but our PM has ensured that through Jan Dhan Yojana even the poorest and the most disadvantaged has a bank account...Till January 26, we have opened 12 crore accounts amounting to Rs 10,000 crore," she said. "So, you know, if you want development, where to push the button this polls," she said. PTI