Delhi: Rival parties resorting to 'cheap tactics' to deter us, says AAP

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday accused rival parties of resorting to "cheap tactics" of damaging their hoardings in the city while also alleging that autorickshaw drivers displaying its posters on their vehicles were being harassed by Delhi Police.

"AAP has hoardings at over 200 public utilities across the city for the Delhi Assembly polls. They were placed legally after securing all permissions.

"However, we found that the hoardings had either been torn off or damaged at more than 50 per cent of these locations.

"But similar hoardings, posters and publicity material put up by other political parties at the same locations were intact," an AAP spokesperson said.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also alleged that a campaign was on against the AAP placing posters on autorickshaws despite permission in that regard having been obtained from the Election Commission.

"We have taken all clearances for our posters to be pasted behind autorickshaws. But the autorickshaw drivers who have put AAP posters on their vehicles are being harassed by the authorities, especially Delhi Police. In many cases, these drivers were fined even though they had all their papers in order," AAP said.

In a couple of cases, autorickshaw drivers were challaned for putting AAP posters on their vehicle, AAP said, adding that volunteers of other parties, too, were harassing them.

"This is a clear violation of the directions of the Election Commission, which has clarified that autorickshaws can display AAP posters. We have also complained to EC about these cases," the spokesperson said.

There have been cases where AAP stickers pasted by people on their private vehicles were removed by police, the spokesperson further alleged.

AAP said it had received over 3,000 complaints, in person and online, from autorickshaw drivers.

"We condemn all these cheap tactics by the other political parties. They are resorting to such methods as they have nothing to present to the people of Delhi.

"AAP won't be deterred by such tactics and continue its efforts of reaching out to all people in Delhi," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, on the fourth day of AAP's 'Jhadu Chalao Yatra' today, Kejriwal toured areas of north-west Delhi along with the party's candidates.

The rally started around 10 am from Rohini and covered three Assembly constituencies Rohini, Rithala and Mangolpuri.

Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP candidates, Rajesh Garg from Rohini, Rakhi Birla from Rithala, and Harish Avasthi from Mangolpuri.

Kejriwal and the AAP candidates visited a number of colonies today and met the residents who shared their problems with them regarding poor roads and the rising prices of vegetables.

The rally concluded at Katran market in Mangolpuri.

'Jhadu Chalao Yatra', which is to run for 22-days, is to cover all the 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi by December 1.

Following today's events as part of the Yatra, Kejriwal addressed public meetings at Matiala and Vikaspuri.