PTI
NEW DELHI, JANuary 18
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to the people to accept money doled out by both the Congress and the BJP but cast their votes in favour of the AAP in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
“It’s election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don’t refuse, accept... some have looted money from 2G, some from coal (scam).
“And if any party does not show up go to its office and take the amount saying we were waiting but you didn’t come,” Mr. Kejriwal said. In his 25-minute speech, the AAP Chief once again attacked BJP state president Satish Upadhyay alleging a nexus between him and the power discoms.“Ask BJP who installed the fast running meters? I won’t name him as they have already filed several cases against me but you people very well know. Even the Congress people are a part of this nexus,” Mr. Kejriwal said, holding up documents in the air as “proof”.
He alleged that BJP was “friends” with many top industrialists because of which it was unable to bring down power tariff in the capital.
The former Chief Minister promised to bring down electricity tariff if voted to power, repeatedly accusing BJP of having “wrong intentions”.
“They know how to bring the tariff down but they won’t. The point is their very intention is wrong in the first place,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
Accusing the saffron party of demolishing slums after coming to power at the Centre, the AAP leader alleged that the land of the poor was being handed over to big business houses.
“BJP has demolished slums in Rangpuri, Wazirpur, Vasant Kunj and Okhla promising to build puccahouses. People are being forced to sleep out in the open in this inclement weather. Should they wait for seven more years and sleep on the streets till they get pucca houses?” he asked. Mr. Kejriwal also sought to clarify on why he resigned as the Delhi Chief Minister last year after running the government for a mere 49-days. “I resigned because BJP and Congress ganged up against the government in the Assembly and did not allow us to pass any law. Congress would meddle in every affair. “I admit that I made a mistake. I should have gone to the people asking them whether I should resign or not. But little did I know that President’s rule will be imposed for so long,” Mr. Kejriwal, who had formed the government with the outside support of Congress, said. Seeking full majority in the upcoming polls, he said that AAP is the only party that is competent to usher in good governance by putting an end to bribery, corruption, inflation.
He also promised to bring back e-rickshaws if voted back to power.
Congress wants apology
Reacting to Mr. Kejriwal’s remarks, Congress on Sunday demanded that he should seek an apology from the people of Delhi for his controversial remark.
AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken told reporters that the party would seek legal opinion to approach the Election Commission against Mr. Kejriwal for “insulting” the people of Delhi.
“Making such statements is illegal. It is like offering money to the people,” Mr. Maken, who is campaign committee chief of the party in Delhi, said.
The Congress leader said that AAP was much ahead than its rivals in putting up posters and giant hoardings as also round-the-clock advertisements on the FM radio. “This all has happened not through love and respect of AAP but because of the party shelling out lot of money for the purpose”, he said, taking a dig at AAP.
