At ‘Janta ki Adalat’, Kejriwal vows to make Delhi full state
At the second ‘Janta ki Adalat’ at Chhatrasal Stadium, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP for its anti-poor policies, highlighting the termination of bus marshals and data entry operators, as well as the suspension of home guards’ salaries in the Capital. He accused the Delhi Government of being undemocratic, asserting that the city is effectively governed by Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena.
Distributes packets of six ‘revdis’ among people
Showing a packet of ‘revdis’, AAP’s Kejriwal claimed that if the BJP was voted to power in the Delhi Assembly polls in February, free services like electricity, water, bus ride for women and pilgrimage of the elderly would end. “I am a halvai (confectioner). I mixed sugar, sesame, ghee and cardamom of the people and gave it back to them as revdi. This is not my revdi, this is God’s prasad,” he said holding aloft the packet. AAP volunteers distributed packets of ‘revdi’, each containing six pieces symbolising free services and facilities provided by the AAP government in Delhi.
‘No democracy, There’s L-G raaj in Delhi’
There is no democracy in Delhi — it is L-G ‘raaj’. People in other states have the right to choose their government, but the people of Delhi do not have that power. — Arvind Kejriwal
“There is no democracy in Delhi; it is L-G ‘raaj’. People in other states have the right to choose their government, but the people of Delhi do not have that power,” Kejriwal declared.
He questioned Saxena’s authority to remove bus marshals and halt essential services, asking, “Does he have the power to stop medicine and free electricity supply?”
Reiterating his commitment to make Delhi a “full state”, Kejriwal emphasised the need to reduce the influence of the Lieutenant-Governor in local governance. “Today, I am going with an oath that in this life, I will make Delhi a full state; I will make Delhi free from L-G,” he stated.
Kejriwal challenged PM Narendra Modi to provide free electricity in all NDA-ruled states before the Delhi Assembly elections, stating that he would campaign for the BJP if this demand is fulfilled.
He criticised the BJP’s “double-engine” governments, predicting their ouster from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the crowd, Kejriwal said, “Today I say, let’s do at least one thing: Before the Delhi elections in February, provide free electricity in all 22 NDA-ruled states and I will campaign for Modi ji in the Delhi elections.”
“People are saying that after 10 years of Modi’s rule, nothing significant has been done,” Kejriwal said. “When he retires, people will wonder what he accomplished. If he manages to deliver even one promise this year, they might think something was done during his tenure,” he added.
He referred to the “double engine” model as “double loot and double corruption”, asserting that the BJP’s governance has led to inflation, unemployment and corruption.
He said, “I was watching TV yesterday evening as exit polls came in. The BJP’s double-engine governments are facing rejection in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. The double engine has failed in this country. The first engine failed in June when they secured 240 seats, and the second engine will also gradually fail in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. People have understood that a double-engine government leads to inflation, unemployment and corruption.”
In a direct attack on Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal accused him of torturing him during his imprisonment by denying him insulin for 15 days despite being diabetic.
“I want to ask Shah: You tortured me in jail and stopped my insulin. My kidney could have failed and I could have died. Was this your intention? You also have diabetes. Were you denied insulin during your four months in jail in Gujarat in 2010?” he questioned.
The former Chief Minister also blamed the BJP for the rising crime rate in the Capital. “The law and order situation in Delhi is terrible. It is similar to how underworld gangs ruled Mumbai in the 90s; today, Delhi faces the same situation. The Delhi Police is complicit. What is the BJP doing while such incidents are taking place?” Kejriwal questioned.
He expressed concern over the removal of bus marshals, emphasising their role in ensuring safety on public transport. “I have lived in slums, and I have seen how much trouble a woman faces if she doesn’t get a seat on the bus. One of our bus marshals had even prevented the kidnapping of a child,” he recalled. “You are unable to protect the people of Delhi, and when we try to do so, you hinder our efforts,” he added.
AAP, BJP...
