Nadda’s dig at AAP’s education model over Satyendar Jain’s leaked jail videos: ‘Turned rapist into therapist’

Taking a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the leaked videos of jailed Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, BJP’s national president JP Nadda said on Friday that the party’s “education model” has turned a “rapist” into a “therapist”. Nadda’s ‘rapist’ dig is referred to reports that Jain was given massage service in jail by a rape accused.

“They have even arranged massage inside the jail. They have worked so well in the education sector that they made a ‘rapist’ a ‘therapist’. Manish Sisodia (Delhi’s education minister and deputy CM) should be ashamed,” Nadda was quoted as saying by ANI.

Also Read | ‘Fake videos’: Manish Sisodia’s swipe at BJP over jailed minister Satyendar Jain

The AAP and the BJP have been at loggerheads since two videos of Jain getting massage, and being served “outside food” inside his cell at Delhi’s Tihar Jail leaked online. Later, the BJP hit out at the rival party citing Tihar officials saying that the person, who was offering the massage service to Jain, is a rape accused.

The AAP, including party boss and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, have countered the allegations and cited “physiotherapy” as the reason behind Jain getting massage inside his jail cell.

Also Read | On Satyendar Jain’s leaked jail videos, AAP’s Gujarat CM candidate blames BJP: ‘This will go on…’

To add steam to the matter, Jain then moved a Delhi court, alleging he was not being provided “proper food” as per his religious beliefs and medical checkups by Tihar Jail authorities. Via his counsel Rahul Mehra, the minister submitted to the court that even terrorist and 26/11 accused Ajmal Kasab had received better treatment during his prison days. The advocate also claimed that Jain has lost 28kg in jail.

Also Read | Satyendar Jain must buy fasting diet from jail canteen, jail authorities tell Delhi court

Earlier on Tuesday, days after the massage video leaked, Mehra alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is leaking sensitive information to media. The federal agency’s advocate Zohaib Hossain, however, denied the allegations and said there has not been a single leak from their side.

Jain’s team moved an application in a special court seeking its direction to restrain media from broadcasting CCTV footage associated with him at Tihar. This was, however, withdrawn on Thursday with Mehra saying that they will move the Delhi high court instead.

The videos pertaining to Jain are the latest flashpoint between the BJP and AAP amid the ongoing controversy over the Delhi liquor policy case. The developments come with only days left for the crucial Delhi MCD polls to take place. The BJP, which has been ruling the MCDs for 15 years now, is looking to make a return, with Kejriwal’s AAP being their biggest competitor.

The Congress party, Maywati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), JD(U), CPI(M) and AIMIM have also fielded candidates for the 250 wards of the Delhi MCDs. The election will be held on December 4 and the result will be announced on December 7.