In Delhi Assembly, CM Arvind Kejriwal takes aim at L-G Saxena: ‘Feudal mindset’

Monday’s session was adjourned following sloganeering by AAP and BJP MLAs. Later, AAP MLAs, including the CM and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, decided to protest outside L-G’s residence. “I went to meet the L-G, and I want to share the discussion I had with him … I wish BJP leaders were here to listen to this. I will always not be here… Aaj unki sarkar hai, permanently unki nahi rahegi…Today, AAP forms the government in Delhi and they (BJP) have the L-G, but tomorrow, if God wills, it is possible we will have a government at the Centre and our L-G in Delhi. But I assure you that our L-G will not harass an elected government like this,” he said.

On the training programme in Finland, for which the government alleged that the L-G refused permission, Kejriwal said, “Children comprise lakhs of Delhi’s population. All these children are like Harshita and Pulkit (his daughter and son) to me. My only objective is to provide good education to all these children.”

“Democracy here is strange… Loktantra has become L-G tantra. If a CM or education minister approves sending teachers abroad, that should be it, but here all files have to go to L-G. He has returned the file twice, raising some objection or the other,” he said.

Denying allegations that he refused permission, the L-G office said that Saxena had asked for a detailed cost-benefit assessment of the programme, whether the agency conducting the training is equipped to do so, and if the training can be done in India itself. Kejriwal and Sisodia have hit out at the L-G for ordering a cost-benefit analysis.

Kejriwal flashed a paper and said it had the names of BJP MPs, MLAs and ministers who studied abroad and their children who are studying abroad. “I am not against this, but when we are giving good education to the poor, why are you stopping it?… Who thinks the poor and lower castes should not be provided with good education? His (L-G) children can have a good education but poor children cannot?”

Alleging that the L-G is stalling work being done by elected government, Kejriwal said, “The L-G does not have any power but he is sitting on our head. Begaani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana. This L-G is sitting on our heads…Aisi samantwadi soch ke logon ne aaj humare desh ko piche chhoda hua hai. (Because of people with a feudal mindset, our country is lagging behind.) 70 years have passed since our country got freedom and I thought why it has become poorer… These people intentionally kept the country poor, they did not allow every child to study.”

Reading out objections raised by the L-G on the Finland file, the CM said, “I am a CM. I have seen all files… I am elected by the people… When I asked who he was to check all this, he said the President sent him. I said: How Britishers used to send Viceroy, and the Viceroy would say, ‘You bloody Indians, you don’t know how to govern.’ The L-G is also using the same language today… ‘You bloody Dilliwallas, you don’t know how to govern.’”

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj moved a resolution in Assembly against the L-G’s alleged interference and obstructions in the education system after Finland issue. The resolution was later passed by Speaker by voice of vote.