AAP sharpens attack against Modi, rakes up Haren Pandya murder

The Reliance gas pricing issue is likely to find a place in the Aam Aadmi Party's manifesto as the new party has already indicated that it will be among the major issues to target the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in the Lok Sabha election.

Also, with the BJP and the AAP both trying to occupy the political space created by a weakened Congress, the party will launch more fervent attacks on the saffron party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the coming days.

"Arvind (Kejriwal) has been targeting both the BJP and the Congress. The party will make this a major poll issue with which it can target both the parties over the corruption issue. The party will also add this in its poll manifesto," said a party leader.

"Just see how Arvind (Kejriwal) and the party raise the issue after April 1 when the new rates for the gas will be implemented. This is an issue with a pan-national appeal. We will make it more difficult for both the BJP and Congress," another party leader added.

Before the AAP-led government resigned, it had ordered Delhi police’s Anti-Corruption Branch to register an FIR against Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily over irregularities in pricing of gas from Krishna-Godavari basin.

Kejriwal had even alleged that the BJP and the Congress had colluded to bring down his government after he registered an FIR against Ambani. The former Delhi chief minister has also written letters to Modi and Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi, asking them to come clean over the issue.

"The party has been more careful about the words used in the letters to both Modi and Gandhi. It reads like Kejriwal is asking questions over the gas issue, but also covers a host of other pricking issues like party funds," a party source said.

Attacking Modi will also be a major strategy for the party.

"The Congress is a not a force in Delhi anymore, but we have to counter the BJP here," a party leader said. In states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, the BJP is strong and we are trying to make inroads there. Hitting out at Modi can help us bag those anti-Congress votes, which can go to the BJP," he said.

The party too has launched an all out attack on Modi on all fronts -- right from the party leaders' speeches to social media.

Interestingly, the AAP has been attacking the Gujarat chief minister over the issue of corruption and governance.

The party has been slamming Modi for retaining "tainted and corrupt" ministers in his cabinet and supporting former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, a staunch Modi supporter who recently rejoined the party.

Even senior party leader Yogendra Yadav had launched an attack on Modi over the killing of former home minister Haren Pandya.

"Who killed BJP leader Haren Pandya, Gujarat's ex-home minister? Will his family ever get justice after a 11 year wait,” he asked.

“The high court overturned the conviction of those framed by Gujarat police. Why has there been no reinvestigation so far? Who killed Pandya,” he had said.

“Haren Pandya assassination: Guj HC passed strictures against shoddy investigation. No Re-Inquiry yet. Who is afraid of the truth coming out?" Yadav had said in a series of tweets on February 19.