Friday, June 19, 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

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul
    AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from here to take on BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi after a massive road show that drew thousands in the Hindu holy city.

    Kejriwal files nomination after attacking Modi, Rahul

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi
    BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Tuesday refuted allegations that Bollywood was getting divided because of him.

    I have not divided Bollywood: Modi

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost
    The Delhi Police succumbed to anti-Sikh sentiments in 1984, thus abetting rioting and arson, a sting operation by news portal Cobrapost revealed Tuesday. The expose triggered a political row.

    Government intended to punish Sikhs, reveals Cobrapost

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters
    Cobrapost which carried out the sting operation on Babri demolition a few days ago has now come up with another expose that claims Congress government in 1984 didn't allow the Delhi police to act against those involved in the anti-Sikh riots.

    Watch Cobrapost Expose: Delhi Police was ordered to go slow on 1984 Rioters

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders
    As the election fever builds up in Punjab for the April 30 Lok Sabha polls, so is the concern among politicians about the polling date coming right in the middle of the peak wheat-crop harvesting season.

    Election Special: Harvesting season worries grip Punjab leaders

    India/Pakistan travelogues by Indians/Pakistanis: This Near And Yet So Far

    India/Pakistan travelogues by Indians/Pakistanis: This Near And Yet So Far
    An incident that made me feel bad about the existence of a border between India and Pakistan...There was a 60-year-old man who touched Indian soil and started crying the moment he crossed the border today. Reason - he was not given a visa for the past 28 years to meet his son in Kolkata and today he got that... Are government policies more important than human emotions?

    India/Pakistan travelogues by Indians/Pakistanis: This Near And Yet So Far