New Delhi/Sonipat: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari on Monday came under fire from the Aam Aadmi Party for playing cricket in neighbouring Haryana by crossing the “borders sealed” due to the COVID-19 and allegedly violating lockdown norms. Tiwari, however, asserted he did not break any law.
He hit back at the AAP for raising the issue to “divert attention” of media from allegations of corruption against its MLA Prakash Jarwal who is currently behind the bars.
“I did not violate any norm. As per MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) orders on lockdown 4.0, sports grounds and stadiums have been opened without an audience. I had proper permission to travel to Haryana,” Tiwari said.
On an invitation from the owner of a stadium, the Delhi BJP president visited Ganaur in Haryana’s Sonipat, 30 km from here, on Sunday and played cricket there. A video of Tiwari playing cricket and also singing went viral on social media, inviting flak from various quarters.
Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh attacked Tiwari, saying it was “utterly insensitive act” on the part of the Delhi BJP president, also an MP, to visit another state to play cricket by “violating” COVID-19 lockdown norms.
“The BJP-ruled Khattar government in Haryana is stopping doctors and nurses of Delhi who live in the state. The BJP government has closed all roads connecting Delhi and Haryana. But it did not stop Tiwari who went there to play cricket,” Singh charged. (PTI)
