Saturday, June 20, 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

    US cosying up to Narendra Modi?

    US cosying up to Narendra Modi?
    Even as a visiting US official indicated the country's willingness to work with India's new leader post elections whoever it may be, Washington insisted there is no change in its visa policy in respect of Narendra Modi.

    US cosying up to Narendra Modi?

    Tebbit Test for Kashmiris who applaud Pakistan cricket team?

    Tebbit Test for Kashmiris who applaud Pakistan cricket team?
    Across its six columns on page one last Wednesday, The Indian Express screamed: “For ‘cheering’ Pakistan in India Match, University in Meerut suspends 67 Kashmiri students.”

    Tebbit Test for Kashmiris who applaud Pakistan cricket team?

    India's gift to South Korea: A sacred Bodhi Tree sapling

    India's gift to South Korea: A sacred Bodhi Tree sapling
    The sapling, carried by representatives of India's external affairs ministry and the forest service of South Korea, was received at Seoul airport Friday by Vishnu Prakash, India's ambassador to South Korea

    India's gift to South Korea: A sacred Bodhi Tree sapling

    Why Arvind Kejriwal wants to meet Narendra Modi

    Why Arvind Kejriwal wants to meet Narendra Modi
    AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was Friday stopped while going to meet Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, shortly after he alleged widespread corruption and unemployment in the state

    Why Arvind Kejriwal wants to meet Narendra Modi

    Manmohan Singh: He ended with where he began

    Manmohan Singh: He ended with where he began
    Having travelled far and wide during his two terms as prime minister and having earned more praise as an economist-statesman overseas than within his country, the forum that marked his entry to the high table of global geopolitics should have an added significance.

    Manmohan Singh: He ended with where he began

    Punjab's Rs 65,000-crore investment: Is it for real?

    Punjab's Rs 65,000-crore investment: Is it for real?
    In the last three months, Sukhbir Singh Badal has been preening over the success of last December's "Progressive Punjab Investors' Summit", claiming that the creme-de-la-creme of Indian industry had promised to invest nearly Rs.67,000-crore (Rs.670 billion/$11 billion) in the state.

    Punjab's Rs 65,000-crore investment: Is it for real?