Wednesday, June 17, 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

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government
    In a revelation that adds a new dimension to the Left-wing extremism in the country, the government Tuesday said Maoists in India have "close links" with Maoist groups in the Philippines and Turkey, and even draw support from fringe organisations in countries such as Germany, France, Holland and Italy.

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'
    Banning cross-gender massages is not a sure way of preventing prostitution in the privacy of spa and salon cubicles, because of swelling gay and lesbian communities, leading spa operators in Goa claim.

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies
    Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has urged the likes of Syed Imam Bukhari and Zakir Naik to go to Iraq and preach peace to ISIS. Sri Sri is not only prodding them to take the responsibility of mitigating the sufferings in Iraq but also underlining that their brand of Islam runs the risk of encouraging ISIS-type of fanaticism in India.

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television
    In a week that saw Australia's highest-profile sporting icon, Ian Thorpe, 'come out of the closet' on television, gay marriage is back on the national agenda with Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm hoping to push the divided government to allow a 'conscience vote' on the issue.

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday said his country will expand its military campaign against Gaza, as rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave caused the first Israeli civilian fatality since launch of "Operation Protective Edge" last week, officials said.

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released
    The AAP Tuesday released a recorded audio message of party chief Arvind Kejriwal accusing the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to form the government in Delhi.

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released