Kejriwal compares security deployment for polls with personal Punjab Police security

Ahmedabad: Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned the deployment of eight companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) from Gujarat for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections in order to justify exploiting Punjab Police for personal security.

The SRPF companies reached Delhi on January 13 as per the order of the Election Commission (EC), Commandant SRPF, Bhachau, Tejas Patel said on Saturday.

Kejriwal in a post on X on Saturday shared a circular issued by the office of the Additional Director General of Police (DGP), Armed Unit, regarding deployment of SRPF for Delhi election.

"Read this order of Gujarat Police. Election Commission has removed Punjab Police from Delhi and deployed Gujarat Police. What is going on?" the former Delhi chief minister asked.

BJP accused Kejriwal of trying to spread misinformation as a face-saving exercise after he was caught misusing Punjab Police for personal security and gain. 

Sharing the details of companies being called from other states on X, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "This is a standard practice by ECI of deploying extra force during elections."

झूठ बोलना बंद कर! https://t.co/S7ZMsRqu7a pic.twitter.com/n55OA6Lab9

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) January 25, 2025

Kejriwal's post came a day after the Punjab Police personnel deployed for his personal security were withdrawn, which he claimed was "pure politics".

There should not be any politics at least over personal safety and security, he added.

Punjab's Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the state police component deployed for Kejriwal's security was withdrawn following directions from the Delhi Police and the EC.

Polling for all 70 assembly seats in Delhi will be held on February 5 and the votes will be counted on February 8.