Countering the BJP and the Prime Minister’s ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ promise with his ‘Kejriwal ki Guarantee’ slogan, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sunday announced 10 guarantees for people across the country, including the promise of free electricity up to 200 units, if the Opposition INDIA bloc is voted to power. Kejriwal, who was released Friday on interim bail until June 1 by the Supreme Court after he was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy case, told a press conference in New Delhi that he had not been able to discuss the “guarantees” with alliance partners due to paucity of time but hoped they would not have a problem with them. “BJP has always failed to deliver on its promises. My guarantees have a proven track record. It is for the people to decide whether to go for ‘Kejriwal ki Guarantee’ or ‘Modi ki Guarantee,” he said, adding that the BJP had promised Rs 15 lakh to every person and 2 crore jobs to the country’s youth. केजरीवाल की इन 10 गारंटियों की मैं गारंटी लेता हूं कि INDIA गठबंधन की सरकार बनने पर इन्हें पूरा कराया जाएगा। ये 10 गारंटियां नये भारत का VISION हैं। ये सभी काम देश को मज़बूत करने वाले काम हैं और इन्हें अगले 5 साल में युद्ध स्तर पर पूरा किया जायेगा।@ArvindKejriwal… pic.twitter.com/UqJ487LEZ9 — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 12, 2024 Here are the guarantees that Arvind Kejriwal announced: 📌 Electricity: Electricity across the country 24 hours a day. “We have the capacity to produce 3 lakh megawatts of power. The peak demand in summers is 2 lakh mw. We have the capacity to produce more power as compared to the demand. But there are still power cuts. Why? Because the management is poor. We fixed it in Delhi and Punjab, and we can do it in the country because we have the experience,” he said. The poor across the country, he said, will get 200 units of power for free. 📌 Education: He promised to set up high-standard schools across the country where good quality education would be free for all. “This will cost the government Rs 5 lakh crore, half of which will be spent by the Centre and half by the states. To keep up the standards, every year, it will cost the Centre Rs 50,000 crore. This is not a lot of money keeping in mind that all children will have access to good education.” 📌 Universal healthcare: He promised mohalla clinics in all parts of the country and the upgradation of district hospitals to super specialty facilities. “Most importantly, treatment here would be free for everyone… There will be no insurance schemes. This is a big scam. We will create health infrastructure in all parts of the country, the expenditure for which would be Rs 5 lakh crore – half borne by the Centre and half by the states,” he said 📌 Solution to ‘Chinese encroachment’: The AAP chief promised a permanent solution to land being “encroached” by China in the border areas. “China has encroached upon our land. Whenever we ask the Centre, it says no one has come to our land. The whole world knows this; it is the era of satellite images.” “Our Army is very strong. Let them do their job independently. Diplomatic efforts will be made and the Army will be given complete independence,” he said. 📌 Ending Agniveer scheme: Kejriwal promised to stop the induction of youth in armed forces for four years under the Agniveer scheme and said that all those who have been inducted through the programme will be given permanent postings. Claiming that the scheme weakens the Indian Army, Kejriwal said: “The Agniveer scheme, wherein the youth is inducted into the Army for four years and then asked to leave, has no ownership. This scheme was brought in because the Central felt that the burden of salaries was too high. We have to spend for the country’s security. We can’t compromise on that front.” 📌 Promises for farmers: Kejriwal assured Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan report. “You can ensure a respectable life for farmers if you pay them the price they deserve. They are currently begging and asking for their rights. When they don’t get the right price for their work, they commit suicide.” 📌 Statehood for Delhi: The three-time Delhi Chief Minister also promised to grant full statehood to the Capital. 📌 Employment: Criticising the Centre for unemployment in the country, Kejriwal said, “Within one year, arrangements will be made to give 2 crore jobs. This will be productive and effective employment,” the said. 📌 Crackdown on corruption: Taking a dig at the BJP, Kejriwal said, “The system where honest people are being sent to jail and the corrupt are being protected will end. It is the biggest reason behind the country’s corruption.” “BJP’s washing machine will be dismantled. Like we had attacked corruption at both the lower and higher levels in Delhi and Punjab, we will replicate it across the country,” he said. 📌 Measures for traders: Kejriwal promised to simplify the Goods and Services Tax regime. “GST will be taken out of the ambit of PMLA and simplified. If someone wants to do business in a legal way, they should be able to do it without problems. Our target is to leave China behind, which is far ahead in terms of manufacturing and trade. If traders can’t do business easily and openly, it is a big impediment in the country’s progress.” “Data shows that over the past 8-10 years, 12 lakh high-net-worth individuals have shut businesses here and left the country because the government has harassed them,” he said.
