Won’t let free power plan be junked: CM
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched the party’s campaign with the slogan “Sarkar Kejriwal Ki, Parshad Kejriwal Ka” for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections. Kejriwal, who addressed the public from an open stage under the Karol Bagh assembly constituency, urged people to vote for the AAP to win 230 out of the total 250 wards in the polls that will be held on December 4. The results of the elections will be declared on December 7.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent “revdi” or freebies culture remark, Kejriwal said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has plotted a conspiracy to stop the free electricity the people of Delhi are getting.
“A lot of residents get free electricity and they are happy with that. They want free electricity but these people call it ‘free ki revadi’... Free electricity is your right and not ‘free ki revadi’. They make a fuss about it and call it ‘free ki revadi’ because they do not want people to get free electricity… But you need not worry. As long as I am alive, your son, your brother is alive, you will continue to get free electricity,” Kejriwal said.
Meanwhile, in a blow to the Congress, former MP and Congress leader Mahabal Mishra on Sunday joined the AAP ahead of the MCD polls in the presence of Kejriwal during the public rally. Mishra’s son, Vinay, joined the AAP ahead of the 2020 assembly elections and is currently the MLA from Dwarka.
“The AAP government transformed schools, hospitals and provided water and electricity. I appeal to everyone – give a chance to the AAP if you want Delhi to be cleaned. The AAP is running Delhi’s state government; it is now time to bring the AAP’S councillors to power. I will ensure cleanliness, revamp streets and arrange for water. Delhiites gave 67 out of 70 seats to the AAP in assembly elections; now give us 230 out of 250 seats in MCD as well. If you vote for the BJP, there will be more garbage mountains in Delhi. I will not let them create more garbage mountains in Delhi at any cost,” Kejriwal said.
At the public meeting, there was an open stage which was set up at a roundabout in Paharganj. Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia walked on to the stage and used cordless mics to interact with people.
In response to a protest by a group of people, who the AAP alleged were BJP supporters, Kejriwal said: “A democracy runs on discussions and deliberations. We are here to hold a ‘Jansamvad’ with people. If those people actually wanted to talk, they could have talked peacefully. A democracy does not run on hooliganism or hurling abuses in someone else’s sabha,” Kejriwal said.
Attacking the BJP, Kejriwal said it was ruling the MCD for the past 15 years but has done nothing for this city. “Nothing good for the city was done by the BJP in the last 15 years. Whereas, in just seven years, the AAP government in Delhi improved the quality of schools and hospitals, provided free electricity and water, free bus rides for women and also installed CCTV cameras all across the national capital,” Kejriwal said.
Alleging that the sanitation services were very poor in Delhi, Kejnies. riwal said that the BJP was responsible for the garbage and poor sanitation as it controlled the civic body.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor accused the AAP of “spreading falsehoods”.
“Kejriwal has lost the faith of the people and his party is now out of reckoning in the civic elections,” he said.
The AAP has made sanitation one of its main focuses and has been frequently attacking the BJP’S management of the garbage issue. As part of its MCD campaign, the AAP on Friday flagged off “garbage campaign” vehicles to highlight the BJP’S “mismanagement”.
Launching the vans from the party headquarters, AAP minister Gopal Rai said the idea behind the campaign was to raise awareness among Delhi residents about the three garbage “mountains” in the Capital.
Deputy CM Sisodia, who was present along with Kejriwal at the public meeting, said: “Time has come to clean the garbage.”
As long as I am alive, your son, your brother is alive, you will continue to get free electricity. ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Delhi chief minister
Former Cong MP Mishra moves to AAP
Mishra, who was the Congress MP from West Delhi between 2009 and 2014, said he would work to strengthen Purvanchal society.
“His experience among people and society will aid us in taking the country forward together,” Kejriwal said.
Sisodia said Mishra’s presence will strengthen AAP’S resolve to provide world-class education and health care to every section of society and make Delhi a cleaner city.
The former Congress leader thanked Kejriwal and Sisodia for welcoming him to AAP. “I am grateful to CM Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for warmly welcoming me to the AAP; I have served society for more than three decades; now I will work to strengthen AAP in entire country, state and Purvanchal society,” Mishra said in a tweet.
Mishra may help the party grab votes from the Purvanchali community (residents of the city from Bihar and eastern UP).