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

    Squall plays havoc in Delhi, transport disrupted, nine killed

    Squall plays havoc in Delhi, transport disrupted, nine killed
    A sudden squall Friday evening took Delhi residents by surprise disrupting road, rail and air traffic as well as Metro services and led to nine deaths. The dust storm accompanied by heavy showers led to a drop in the soaring temperature but not before it left in its wake broken tree branches, overturned cars, traffic jams and power outages.

    Squall plays havoc in Delhi, transport disrupted, nine killed

    Priyanka seeks withdrawal of family's special privileges at airports

    Priyanka seeks withdrawal of family's special privileges at airports
    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has written a letter to Special Protection Group (SPG) chief, asking for the withdrawal of privileges at airports for her and her family.

    Priyanka seeks withdrawal of family's special privileges at airports

    Now a Heritage Scam in Chandigarh?

    Now a Heritage Scam in Chandigarh?
    An iron manhole cover bearing the master plan of Chandigarh by its founder-architect Le Corbusier was sold as "junk" for a paltry Rs.100 ($1.70) by the authorities here. It fetched a whopping $21,000 (Rs.830,000) at a Christie's auction in New York in  2007.

    Now a Heritage Scam in Chandigarh?

    After rout, Akhilesh gets cracking

    After rout, Akhilesh gets cracking
    Akhilesh Yadav is angry, and how! The Samajwadi Party was routed in the Lok Sabha polls and now the Uttar Pradesh chief minister has dissolved the state executive of the party, disbanded all subsidiary affilate organizations and has turned his ire on the bureaucracy.

    After rout, Akhilesh gets cracking

    Shyama Prasad Mukherjee endorsed article 370: National Conference

    Shyama Prasad Mukherjee endorsed article 370: National Conference
    BJP ideologue and Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had fully endorsed article 370 of the constitution which guarantees a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the state's ruling National Conference said Thursday.

    Shyama Prasad Mukherjee endorsed article 370: National Conference

    Dell shuts shop in Mohali, future of 1,000 staffers uncertain

    Dell shuts shop in Mohali, future of 1,000 staffers uncertain
    The Punjab government's recent moves to secure investments for the state, especially in the information technology and software sectors, suffered a setback with US-headquartered Dell Corporation announcing the shutting down of its facility in Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh.

    Dell shuts shop in Mohali, future of 1,000 staffers uncertain