In poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Arvind Kejriwal hits out at Modi, Adani; promises free electricity and posh schools

Starting his speech with slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, ‘Vande Mataram’, and ‘Jai Jawan’, Kejriwal said, “Chhattisgarh is the only place in India which is blessed by God with everything like rivers, mountains, forests, herbs, mines, minerals but is still most poor state. People here are good but leaders and (political) parties are bad. Both Congress and BJP looted you. Both parties alleged corruption against each other but none took action against each other when they were in power,”

“Both parties did the exact same in Delhi and Punjab. Then our party came to power in Delhi. Congress got zero seats and BJP got 3 seats. We also came to power in Punjab. Their loot will be over only when an honest party comes to power,” he said.

Kejriwal alleged both Congress and BJP are greedy for natural resources like forests, herbs, and minerals and were selling mines to businessman Gautam Adani.

“They want to loot the jungles. Does the jungle belong to Congress or BJP or Adani? They belong to the people of Chhattisgarh. They gave one part to Adani at throwaway prices. They say Modi does not have a family but a brother. You do not love your children as much as he (Modi) loves his brother (Adani). When the BJP was in power they gave coal mines to Adani,” said Kejriwal.

“In the 2018 elections, T S Singhdeo, Rahul Gandhi and Baghel had promised they will take coal mines back (from Adani) if they come to power. Instead, they gave another phase of the coal mine to him. I want to ask Baghel when did Adani become your relative. Before becoming CM or after becoming CM? So, if you give them more chances both these parties will keep helping Adani. All these jungles will go back to you if we come to power,” he added.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal said he is arrogant and the poor people will dethrone him.

“Sisodia is a saint but you (Modi) put him in jail. You will get cursed by the 18 lakh poor people whose children go to these government schools. Their parents did not see a future for them but now their children are becoming doctors, engineers and lawyers. Their families will curse you Modiji. You have become very arrogant over a feeling that you have become a god but the curse of the poor has tumbled many big thrones,” he said.

The AAP leader also promised free electricity. “A lot of electricity is generated here still costly here. It should be cheaper here. We buy electricity from Chhattisgarh and give it free of cost to Delhi. If we come to power, we will give free electricity for 24 hours,” he said.

Kejriwal also taunted the pace at which government schools are being renovated. He said, “Baghel ji is lauding his efforts of renovating 170 Atmanand (English medium) schools in five years. Let’s assume good work was done but at this pace, it will take 1500 years to renovate 35,000 schools. In Delhi, all schools look posh and children from both poor and rich families study there. Hence, Manish Sisodia was arrested”.

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