‘Dilli mein inquilaab hua, phir Punjab mein, ab poore desh ke andar phailega’: Kejriwal

The AAP chief said that the dream of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh is now coming true: “Bhagat Singh had said once that after getting Independence, if we don’t change the system, then nothing will happen. It is sad that in the past 75 years, these parties and politicians have kept the British system. They were looting the country. No schools or hospitals were made. People were deliberately kept poor. The AAP has changed this system in the past seven years. We began the politics of integrity.”

Conspiracies were planned in Punjab, and everybody gathered against the AAP, he added. “They said Kejriwal is a terrorist. Today, through these results, the people of the country have said that Kejriwal is not a terrorist, Kejriwal is the country’s true son and deshbhakt.”

Also Read | AAP sweeps Punjab | Follow LIVE results updates

He also spoke of taking an “oath to make a new Bharat” where everybody “loves each other, there will be no place for hate, nobody will sleep hungry, our mothers and sisters will be safe, the children of the rich and the poor will get the same good education.”

“75 years after Independence, our children are going to Ukraine to study medicine. We will make a Bharat where lots of medical colleges, engineering colleges will be opened,” Kejriwal said.

Referring to the AAP candidates who defeated Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi, Kejriwal said, “There is a lot of strength in the aam aadmi. Don’t challenge the aam aadmi. The day they stand up, uss din bade, big revolutions will come.”

The party’s politics should be of love and service, he told party workers.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the people of Punjab have not just voted, they have given the AAP a chance: “What has happened in Punjab and Goa is the sign of a big change. Kejriwal will fulfill the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb. The people of Punjab have given this alternative a chance… they have given the AAP model a chance.”

The party office, decked up with balloons and flowers, was quiet early on Thursday morning, but quickly turned celebratory by noon as the party’s position in Punjab became clearer. Several large screens had been set up at the office to watch the results as the votes were counted. The crowd, that grew to become more jubilant by afternoon, danced to what had become the AAP’s anthem for their campaign in Punjab – Ek mauka Kejriwal nu, ek mauka Bhagwant Mann nu.

Rahul Tomar, businessman and party worker from Mayur Vihar, brought his three-year-old son Avyan, dressed to look like a combination of Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann – in a muffler and a yellow turban. While the child posed for photographs with party members, Rahul’s wife, Meenakshi, said, “It feels very good to see that the Aam Aadmi Party is growing.”

When AAP began to establish an early lead on Thursday morning, AAP MLA Dilip Pandey said that it was an indication that the people wanted a change. “They want to give Arvind Kejriwal’s model of governance a chance,” he said.