‘They are trying to copy Kejriwal, AAP is tried & tested’: TMC’s Shatrughan Sinha takes swipe at BJP in rally for Atishi

Earlier this week, the Samajwadi Party, a key member of the Opposition INDIA bloc, along with Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), backed AAP over the Congress in the polls.

Asserting that the support for the “all capable” Atishi shows that she already is a winner, Sinha said, “This doesn’t look like a poll campaign. It looks like a Vijay Samahroh (winning celebration). Under Kejriwal’s leadership, people are appreciating his work around the world.”

Emphasising that his good wishes are with every candidate and that he is not here to speak against a party or person, Sinha took a veiled potshot at the BJP, suggesting that the party has been drawing inspiration from the AAP.

“People are trying to copy him (Kejriwal). This (AAP) is a tried and tested party. Others are making promises before elections. Toh pehle kyun nahi kiya? (Why did they not do it before). Here, AAP has already done it. They (BJP) promise a bridge where there is no river. That’s what I have come here to tell you,” Sinha says.

“… Work for education, health, old people, and women. Only one other person has done it, the woman of prominence, Mamata Banerjee. She has sent me to talk in this public meeting,” he says.

He then took a veiled jibe at the PM: “I am saying everything from my heart, not from a teleprompter. I don’t do Mann ki Baat… people are bored of it. I am doing Dil ki baat (conversations from the heart).”

Stressing that the electoral fight is between “Dhan Shakti” (money power) and “Jan Shakti” (people’s power),” Sinha says, “But Jan Shakti will beat Dhan Shakti. Our Prachar Mantri, I mean our Pradhan Mantri says he works 18 hours. But for at least 12 hours, I see him only campaigning for his party. You said you would give Rs 15 lakh to each person, that the income of farmers would be doubled. But farmer’s income has reduced from Rs 32 to Rs 27 per day.”

Talking about the Union Budget, which was presented in Parliament on Saturday, the actor-turned-politician said a majority of the population has been neglected. “In the Budget yesterday, they talked about Purvanchals. But how will it affect the poor people? What’s in it for them? They have now announced tax exemption till income of Rs 12 lakh. Only 3 crore and 20 lakh people pay income tax. But the exemption is only for the salaried class. What about other people?” he asked.

On the other hand, CM Atishi, who is up against BJP candidate and former MP Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress candidate Alka Lamba on her turf, demanded votes in the name of schemes headlined by Kejriwal.

“Did Kejriwal give you 24-hour electricity? Was the bill 0? Bus rides were free? Were the schools free? If yes, then Kejriwal deserves your vote,” she said.

Claiming that the Opposition leaders were trying to get votes by threatening people, she asserted, “When people come and threaten you and say, ‘Jhaadu ko vote diya toh dekh lena (see what happens if you vote for AAP)’, tell them: ‘paanch taarikh ko hum dekh lenge (we will see on February 5)’.”

Atishi then asked the crowd to take the money offered by other parties for their votes, and still vote for “jhaadu” (broom), AAP’s poll symbol.

“Agar paise denge, toh le lenge, par vote denge jhaadu ko, (If they give money, then we will take it, but we will still vote for AAP)”.

Amid loud slogans of “Aam Aadmi Party Zindabad! (Long live AAP)”, the event concluded as locals and party supporters climbed up a divider on the nearby road and cheered for the leaders.