EC Issues Notice To BJP MP Parvesh Verma For Calling Arvind Kejriwal 'Terrorist'

The Election Commission on Thursday issued a show cause notice to BJP MP Parvesh Verma for allegedly calling Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "terrorist". He has been given time till 5 pm on Friday to respond. The notice came on a day when he was barred from campaigning for 96 hours (four days) for making controversial remarks at a poll meet recently. The EC has also ordered his removal from the BJP's list of star campaigners. The notice said the AAP had approached the Delhi chief electoral officer with a complaint.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit back at the BJP over the "terrorist" remark by Verma. He said he would leave that up to Delhi to decide... "am I their son, their brother or a terrorist".

Addressing reporters at a brief but emotional press conference, Kejriwal asked of Delhi's voters: "How have I become a terrorist? I've arranged for medicines... did so much for the needy. I've never thought of myself or my family... am ready to give my life for the nation".

"I am a diabetes patient. I take insulin four times a day. Doctors said no to my joining politics... they said I would not live," the Chief Minister said, also recounting his history of anti-corruption activism.

Kejriwal said if he had wanted to he could have gone abroad but gave up his job to serve people.

"Does a terrorist do all this?" Kejriwal asked adding, "I leave this up to Delhi to decide... am I their son, their brother or a terrorist".