Thursday, June 18, 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

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress
    Raising the morale of party workers, ideological consolidation, policy revamp and a sustained grassroots campaign are among the measures being suggested by Congress leaders to revive the party's fortunes after its crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

    Raising workers' morale among priorities for Congress

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops
    A soldier was killed and two were injured in a guerrilla attack near the international border in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, an official said Monday.

    Ceasefire Violation - Soldier killed, two injured in firing by Pakistani troops

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation
    BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi Sunday met senior party leader L.K. Advani as well as other leaders including from alliance partners as part of consultations aimed at formation of the new NDA government.

    Modi steps up discussions over government formation

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now
    Now it is time for Narendra Modi to emerge as a global leader to take India on the path of becoming a super power in every sense of the term. His testing time starts now.

    Be Careful, Modi's Real Test Starts Now

    Nitish Kumar quits as Bihar CM over poll debacle

    Nitish Kumar quits as Bihar CM over poll debacle
    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned Saturday, taking moral responsibility for the rout of his Janata Dal-United in the state in the general elections, even as party legislators reiterated their support and asserted they would persuade him to continue.

    Nitish Kumar quits as Bihar CM over poll debacle

    How Aam Aadmi Party hit Akali Dal, Congress hard in Punjab

    How Aam Aadmi Party hit Akali Dal, Congress hard in Punjab
    The AAP may not have bagged any Lok Sabha seats anywhere in the country except the four it "unexpectedly" won in Punjab, but the performance of its candidates in Punjab's 13 seats has left even party insiders stumped.

    How Aam Aadmi Party hit Akali Dal, Congress hard in Punjab