‘Was Metro started for profits?’ Convention to mark AAP foundation day
KEJRIWAL ON GOOGLE Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal takes on Centre over hike in Metro fares in a Google Hangout session, says his government ready to share losses, if any
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday pledged to continue his fight against the recent hike in the Delhi metro fares, saying that the hike has “has angered the public”.
“Why was the metro train started? To provide a comfortable and eco-friendly means of transport or to make profits? After the hike in fares, the purpose of the metro is defeated as the lower middle class, as I am told, has stopped using the services,” Kejriwal said in a Google Hangout address to the public and supporters.
Amid the central and state government spar over the hike in metro fares that came into effect on October 10, the Centre recently agreed to Kejriwal’s demand for an independent expert group to review all the issues concerning the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), including its income and expenditure. Kejriwal had demanded an audit of the DMRC accounts while opposing the hike.
“I don’t know why the Centre is adamant. We gave them suggestions and wrote letters. The fight will continue. I fight for you, for the people of Delhi. The Centre says that the metro would be in losses if the fares were not increased. We are ready to share the losses, if any,” Kejriwal said in the 15-minute speech.
Kejriwal said demonetisation and subsequent Goods and Services Tax (GST) had hit the economy and his government was making efforts to help the unemployed youth by providing skills training.
“Taxing has been complicated. Due to GST and demonetisation, people in small sectors have lost their jobs. I know people who had to shut factories. In industrial areas like Bhawana and Wazirabad, 25% of the people have lost their jobs. Unemployment leads to law and order situation,” he said.
On the government’s efforts for skill training, Kejriwal said that 70 skill centres will come up in Delhi by 2018. He added that these centres would train 70,000 youth who have studied up to Class 12 and make them employable. “This year, 25 skill centres will each train 1,000 youth,” he said. NEWDELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will commemorate its fifth foundation day by organising its first national convention in Delhi on November 26.
“All the ups and downs, successes and failures will be remembered at the event,” said Gopal Rai, party’s senior leader and national executive convener, during an interaction with party workers on Google Hangout with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday.
Kejriwal ,along with other activists of the then India Against Corruption (IAC), had launched the party on November 26, 2012, on the occasion of Constitution Day, following differences with Anna Hazare who led the anti-graft movement.
“We have shortlisted three venues (for the convention) and will decide the final venue soon. The event will start at 12 noon and we have to make sure that many Delhi residents attend it,” Rai said.
The convention will be the party’s first on a national level. It might as well be the party’s show of strength ahead of the assembly polls in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, and the general elections in 2019. The AAP, which is in power in Delhi and is the principal opposition in Punjab, currently has four MPS, 86 MLAS and 52 councillors. It polled 6.3% votes in the Goa assembly elections in February this year. It is also testing waters in local bodies’ polls in Uttar Pradesh.
The party has already started mobilising public support for the event. It held one event in Talkatora Stadium in April, 2015 after coming to power in Delhi for the second time.
In August 2014, the party, in a show of strength, organised a rally at Jantar Mantar soon after Arvind Kejriwal quit as the Delhi chief minister after the 49-day stint.
Apart from the general meetings with workers, the party has divided Delhi into two regions based on the Lok Sabha segments as a communication strategy. Two Whatsapp numbers — one for east, north-east, Chandni Chowk and New Delhi parliamentary constituencies, and another for west, northwest and south parliamentary constituencies — have been circulated among workers for the purpose.
“The two numbers will be distributed among the mandal (block)-level workers of all the Lok Sabha areas. They have to make sure that they add these numbers in their Whatsapp list and send a ‘hello’ message. All the messages from the party received from these numbers have to be shared with other Whatsapp groups and contacts to spread the message across,” Rai said.
Why was the Metro started? To provide a comfortable means of transport or to make profits? Lower middle class, as I am told, has stopped using it.