Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 11: Allegations of irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, reportedly leading to a loss of ?2,026 crore to the state exchequer, have sparked a fierce political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

BJP President J.P. Nadda criticized the AAP leadership following revelations from a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that flagged significant lapses in the policy’s implementation. Labeling the Delhi government as a “power-drunk” administration plagued by misgovernance, Nadda asserted that the findings provided irrefutable evidence of malpractice.

Referring to the alleged ?2,026 crore loss, Nadda described the excise policy controversy as “Liquorgate” and accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s government of intentionally disregarding regulations. “The CAG report exposes AAP’s AAP’DA model of governance—loot and mismanagement—even in something as sensitive as liquor,” Nadda said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The report, which has yet to be officially tabled, alleges that liquor licenses were awarded to bidders operating at a loss, with key recommendations from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office ignored. The CAG highlighted arbitrary decision-making in the allocation process, raising questions about accountability and governance.

The BJP has intensified its criticism ahead of the Delhi elections, with Nadda warning that AAP's misdeeds will soon lead to their ouster. Other BJP leaders echoed these sentiments, branding the Kejriwal government as corrupt and accusing it of betraying public trust. The party accused AAP of misusing taxpayer money, calling the alleged irregularities a “shameful act of public betrayal.”

Meanwhile, AAP has pushed back against the allegations, questioning the credibility of the report. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh dismissed the claims, arguing that the CAG report had not been officially presented. “Where is this so-called CAG report coming from? These allegations are baseless and politically motivated,” Singh said.

As the controversy unfolds, the CAG report and its alleged findings are expected to dominate the political discourse in Delhi, setting the stage for an intense electoral battle.