NEW DELHI:
AAP
kicked off its
Lok Sabha election campaign
on Saturday with national convener
Arvind Kejriwal pitching
full statehood
as the
primary poll plank
at a public meeting in Timarpur.
Kejriwal claimed that the AAP government in Delhi had done so much work that no other state government could match it, but it couldn’t do more because Delhi didn’t enjoy full statehood. “In the last four years, Modiji has obstructed every work of ours, which doesn’t befit a Prime Minister,”
Kejriwal said.
Referring to Delhi Police’s denial to allow his rally at Shakur Basti, Kejriwal said at Malkaganj in the Timarpur assembly segment, “The police told me they wouldn’t be able to take care of law and order situation. How is that possible in a gathering of just two to four thousand people?”
“The police are under BJP and BJP has asked police to cancel my rally,” he alleged. “This is because they know they are going to lose all seats in Delhi and will try their best to obstruct our rallies and road shows. They want to stop Kejriwal from meeting people but I will walk inside lanes and bylanes to meet people.”
From healthcare, housing, electricity, education, safety of women to stopping sealing, Kejriwal made a host of promises if Delhi becomes a full state, which will be possible, he claimed, if Delhi choses AAP candidates from all seven Lok Sabha seats.
While Delhi pays Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in income-tax every year, the Centre allots it only Rs 325 crore, the chief minister said. Delhi government would have made many more schools and hospitals if the Centre had allocated more funds, he added.
“Some works can’t be done till Delhi is becomes full state. Women feel unsafe and there is hooliganism everywhere because Delhi Police doesn’t listen to people,” Kejriwal said. “The police comes under the PM and no one can meet the PM.” If Delhi Police reports to Delhi government, he said, the law and order system will be such that girls will be able to go out at 11pm without any fear. Sealing will also be stopped in 24 hours, Kejriwal promised.
He also promised 85% reservation in colleges for students studying higher secondary in Delhi schools and 85% reservation for Delhi voters in Delhi government jobs. There will also be affordable housing for everyone within 10 years of Delhi becoming a full state.
“I’m an educated person, I don’t have a fake degree,” he said. “Vote for full statehood. Modiji had promised full statehood five years ago but he lied and betrayed Delhiites. Don’t vote for him again,” Kejriwal said.
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