CHANDIGARH: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national president Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of not doing any work to canvass votes from the people in the last 10 years.
He claimed there was anger against the BJP over issues of inflation and unemployment.
Addressing traders in Ludhiana, Kejriwal appealed to them to ensure victory for all 13 candidates of his party.
Stating that he has visited many places, Kejriwal said, “There is growing anger against them (BJP) especially over the issues of inflation and unemployment. Fuel prices are going up and employment is falling. People expect the Prime Minister to come up with solutions to bring down inflation and check unemployment.”
Questioning the comments made by Modi at election rallies, Kejriwal said, “We want the prime minister to show solutions to our problems. He has been the prime minister for the last 10 years but has not shown a single achievement on which to base his votes.”
Kejriwal said the party was aiming to win votes based on its activities in the national capital and Punjab.
The AAP leader said he was arrested because the saffron party does not want him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
“So, do not vote for BJP at any cost. Counter the BJP’s dictatorship by voting for AAP,” he said.
Kejriwal alleged that the ruling BJP is withholding Rs 9,000 crore of Punjab’s funds, including the Rs 5,500 crore rural development fund.
“This Rural Development Fund money was meant to be used to build roads in every village. National Health Mission funds have also been seized and this money could have been used to build more mohalla clinics. They are doing this because the BJP wants to halt the development of Punjab,” he alleged.
Kejriwal accused Home Minister Amit Shah of threatening to topple Bhagwant Mann’s government in Punjab.
Addressing an election rally in Ludhiana on Sunday, Shah appealed to the people to ensure victory for his party’s Lok Sabha candidate in Punjab and said, “After the BJP’s victory, the Bhagwant Mann government will not last for long.”
The AAP top leader further said that the BJP’s main aim is to stop the AAP government from providing free electricity.
Kejriwal said the business and industrial situation in Punjab was extremely bad before the AAP government was formed and people were leaving the state for other states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“In the last two years, the trend of industries moving out of Punjab has been halted and new industries are coming into the state. Under the Mann government, Punjab received investments worth Rs 5,600 crore. Foreign companies are also now buying industrial land in the state. After Jamshedpur, Tata Steel’s largest plant is being set up in Punjab,” he said.
The AAP leader appealed to industry and business communities to vote for the party.
“If Ahmed Ahmed’s party wins all the 13 seats, only the voice of Punjab will resonate in the Indian Lok Sabha. All our MPs will give voice to the people of Punjab and resolve all issues pertaining to the state,” Kejriwal said.
“If 13 MPs are elected from Punjab, the central government cannot stop even a single penny of the state’s funds,” he added.
Kejriwal later addressed a street speech in Pathankot in support of AAP candidate Amanshah Singh Sheri Kalsi, who is contesting from Gurdaspur constituency.
Published May 28, 2024 16:40 IST
