Kejriwal vows free pilgrimage if AAP voted to power in Gujarat

Claims 6,000 government schools for poor shut in state

AHMEDABAD: Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday promised free pilgrimage for senior citizens in AC trains to various religious places, including Ayodhya, if the AAP was voted to power in Gujarat, and accused the BJP of "failure" on multiple fronts during its nearly three-decade-old rule in the state.

He also promised free electricity, better schools and hospitals if the AAP forms the next government in Gujarat, where the Assembly polls are due by the year-end.

Addressing a rally in Rajkot city, Kejriwal accused the BJP of "failing" on education, health and employment fronts in Gujarat during its long rule in the state. Highlighting the reforms carried out in the education sector in Delhi under his chief ministership, Kejriwal accused the BJP government in Gujarat of closing down nearly 6,000 government-run schools meant for the "poor" citizens.

"Though the BJP is in power for 27 years in Gujarat, it has never sent a single person on pilgrimage. Did they send anyone to Ayodhya all these years? In Delhi, the AAP government has sent 50,000 elderly citizens on pilgrimage in just three years. We sent them to places like Mathura, Haridwar and Vrindavan under our scheme without charging anything" he said.

"If voted to power in Gujarat, we will take each and every elderly citizen to religious places for free. We will send them in air conditioned trains and arrange their stay in air conditioned hotel rooms," said Kejriwal while addressing the gathering.

The AAP leader, whose party recently formed its government in Punjab, asked the people of Gujarat to give his outfit a chance to govern the state, a BJP stronghold.