‘Stay united, learn about people’s aspirations’, Arvind Kejriwal tells Punjab AAP leaders after Delhi poll defeat

“He told us that it was important to be united to become a formidable force. He told us that we should be amid the people of the state, learn about their aspirations and come true to them,” said a source privy to the meeting.

“Kejriwal told us that it is of utmost importance that we win the Punjab Assembly elections in 2027… He said that if we feel there is something that needs to be done for the state, we should discuss it with him, the source stated.

He added, “Kejriwal also told us that he will have a lot of time now. He will spend a major part of this time to help Punjab. He told us to get the work done by the officers. If they will not listen to us, we should bring it to his notice.”

Chief Minister Mann, the source said, told the leaders that defeat and victory are two sides of the same coin. “He told us that when he lost in 2012 he felt that it was the end of the world. Then he contested again, became MP twice and is now the CM. He told us that we will fulfil promises.”

Later, Mann told reporters that the meeting was called to thank the leaders from Punjab who had spent a lot of time and energy during the mass contact programmes in Delhi. “We came from the grassroots level, we have to win more hearts. We are working hard in Punjab. Tata Steel has set up its plant in the state which is the second after Jamshedpur. As many as 50,000 people have been given jobs,” he said.

On Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa’s claims that Mann was in touch with the BJP, he said, “Partap Bajwa has been saying the same thing for the last three years. I want to tell him to count his party’s MLAs in Delhi. We have nurtured this party from scratch by working from door to door. His party has a culture of jumping ships.”

The chief minister said the law and order situation in Punjab was better than that of any other state. “Investors check that before setting up plants. We keep meeting officers. We keep a check on mischievous elements. We are a border state. We have to be careful. It is our duty. We are not doing any favour,” Mann added.

On BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu’s claims that the chief minister was engaged in vendetta politics, he said, “We do not engage in vendetta politics. When former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu was arrested, he was Ravneet Bittu’s friend. Later they split. Bittu joined another party.”

Mann also said that the BJP used all possible means to win the Delhi Assembly elections. “A lot of money was distributed and hooliganism was the order of the day. We accept the verdict of the people. We have contested elections in Punjab, including Assembly, Lok Sabha and several bypolls. But we have not indulged in excesses,” he said.

Asked when the Punjab government would give Rs 1,000 per month to women as promised before the 2022 Assembly polls, he stated, “We will give Rs 1,000 to women in the coming days. It is our guarantee. We will fulfil it. We have done a lot of other work in the state too.”