NEW DELHI: A fresh political storm erupted on Thursday in the capital after Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva accused former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of “stealing” the official X handle of the Delhi chief minister’s Office (CMO).
The controversy erupted when the X handle of the Delhi CMO, which typically represents the office and not an individual, was renamed to ‘Arvind Kejriwal at work’ (@kejriwalAtWork).
Talking to reporters, Sachdeva said, ” Arvind Kejriwal changed the account of Delhi CMO and made it his own account, this is a direct loot of government money. This is digital loot. We have demanded from LG that the IT department of Delhi government should immediately file an FIR, start investigation and take strict action.”
The entire account was later deleted.
The Delhi BJP chief further expressed his anger on social media calling for action. Addressing his post to the Delhi LG VK Saxena, he said, ” I would like to draw your attention to the plunder of Delhi Government’s digital resources by the former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.”
“About a decade ago a Twitter handle (now X handle) was created in Delhi with government money and resources, whose name was “CMO Delhi” and by promoting it with government staff and resources, lakhs of people were invited to join it.
“It is unfortunate that after the defeat of the government of Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, today, on the orders of the present caretaker chief minister, the X handle of “CMO Delhi” has been made the personal post of Arvind Kejriwal,” Sachdeva added, explaining the situation, calling it “a case of digital loot by the government” and urged for an investigation.
Further slamming Kejriwal, the BJP Delhi head also said,” During his ten years in power, he committed numerous scams ranging from ration card to Sheeshmahal scam and from auto permit to liquor scam, but the new digital loot that has come to light today is unprecedented, hardly any outgoing chief minister in the country would have done something like this.”
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that after the defeat of his scam-ridden government, Arvind Kejriwal has also become a digital robber. We have demanded the Lt. Governor of Delhi to seek a report from the Delhi Government’s Social Media and IT department on changing the name of the public money funded X-post handle “CMO Delhi” and making it Arvind Kejriwal’s personal post and stop this digital loot. Lakhs of people were connected with “CMO Delhi” X considering it to be the chief minister’s X handle, but by suddenly carrying out this digital robbery, Arvind Kejriwal has also looted people’s personal information and legal action should be taken against him,” he added.