Tuesday, April 7, 2026
ADVT 
India

Arvind Kejriwal Flays 'Gujarat Model', Modi Government

The Canadian Press, 27 Apr, 2016 10:41 AM
    Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the central government of trying to fail development work in Delhi and said people have been "cheated in the name of Gujarat model".
     
    Addressing the National Council of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal made one of his most scathing attacks on the Narendra Modi government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
     
    "The world is appreciating the AAP government whereas the central government is trying its best to scuttle our efforts (to develop Delhi)," he said. 
     
    "But still, we are moving ahead and working for the people of Delhi."
     
    He detailed the achievements of the AAP government since taking power in February 2015 including providing "cheapest" and uninterrupted electricity.
     
    "Our opponents said we won't be able to supply uninterrupted power, that too on cheapest rates.
     
    "We are also providing 20,000 liters of water to each family for free. And in fact Delhi is saving huge amount of water."
     
    He said his government had waived off water bills totalling Rs.2,500 crore and would build 8,000 new classrooms within two months. 
     
    He said Delhi's 'Mohalla Clinics' of model clinics had brought free medicines and tests to people's doorsteps. Every clinic was built in just Rs.20 lakh. 
     
    "Even the US says they need to learn from Mohalla Clinics. By now, we have 100. The number will be 1,000 by year-end."
     
    Claiming no government had done in 10-15 years what his government had achieved in just over a year, he said: "This is happening because there is an honest government in Delhi. We are saving money in each project."
     
     
    In contrast, he accused the central government of building a flyover in Bihar for Rs.3,000 crore when its cost estimate was Rs.509 crore. This, he said, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
     
    Kejriwal said he visited Gujarat and found schools and healthcare there in a bad shape. 
     
    "Now everyone knows what the Gujarat model is. People have been cheated in the name of Gujarat model.
     
    "There is a Delhi model of governance and the Gujarat model. We invite everyone to compare the two models."
     
    The AAP leader accused the BJP and its allied groups of doing "gundagardi" in the name of making people say "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and threatening to beat up those who did not raise the slogan. 
     
    He said the tens of thousands who thronged the Ramlila Maidan here during Gandhian Anna Hazare's protest in 2011 chanted "Bharat Mata ki Jai" from their heart.
     
    "See what they are doing in Kashmir," he said, in an obvious reference to the clashes between Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri students at the National Institute of Technology in Srinagar. 
     
    He said the people of Delhi "are so happy that if elections happen today, 
    they won't win even a single seat".
     
    But he quickly added that the AAP's aim was not just to win elections.
     
    "We are here to change the system. We will fight to win. 
     
    "We will fight elections but before that we have to work hard. We have to fight to win 90 seats out of 100.
     
    "We will fight elections to make governments and change the system," he said, without outlining the AAP's long-term electoral plans beyond Punjab.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Art Icon M.F. Husain: Forgotten On Birth Centenary!

    Art Icon M.F. Husain: Forgotten On Birth Centenary!
    One of India's greatest painters of modern times, the snowy-haired and bearded, barefoot Maqbool Fida Husain -- who died in self-exile in London four years ago -- is a forgotten figure on his birth centenary on Thursday

    Art Icon M.F. Husain: Forgotten On Birth Centenary!

    Saudi Diplomat Accused Of Rape Leaves India

    Saudi Diplomat Accused Of Rape Leaves India
    The Saudi Arabian diplomat accused of rape by two Nepalese women has left India, an official said on Wednesday.

    Saudi Diplomat Accused Of Rape Leaves India

    Dengue Kills Three More In Delhi, Kejriwal Government Caps Tests At Rs.600

    Dengue Kills Three More In Delhi, Kejriwal Government Caps Tests At Rs.600
    Dengue claimed the lives of three more people in the national capital -- a 41-year-old woman, a seven-year-old boy and a 14-year-old -- taking the toll to 16, even though officially the toll stayed at five.

    Dengue Kills Three More In Delhi, Kejriwal Government Caps Tests At Rs.600

    Another Child Dies Of Dengue, Delhi Mulls Law To Tackle Hospital Apathy

    Another Child Dies Of Dengue, Delhi Mulls Law To Tackle Hospital Apathy
    The Delhi government on Tuesday also issued instructions to schools to ensure that for the next one month students come to classes wearing clothes which fully cover them irrespective of school uniforms.

    Another Child Dies Of Dengue, Delhi Mulls Law To Tackle Hospital Apathy

    Alleged ISIS Recruiter Sent To Police Custody

    Alleged ISIS Recruiter Sent To Police Custody
    A city court on Tuesday sent alleged ISIS recruiter Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph to police custody for 10 days.

    Alleged ISIS Recruiter Sent To Police Custody

    India's Victory In 1965 War 'Indisputable': Indian Ministers

    India's Victory In 1965 War 'Indisputable': Indian Ministers
    Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that the country's victory in the 1965 India-Pakistan war was "indisputable".

    India's Victory In 1965 War 'Indisputable': Indian Ministers