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Gujarat: War of words between BJP and AAP intensifies

BJP has no roadmap for the coming five years, Kejriwal said

PTI09_07_2022_000212A

With assembly elections in Gujarat just a few months away, the war of words between the ruling BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is only intensifying. On Tuesday, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal held that the BJP was naming Sonia Gandhi as the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On the last day of his two-day visit to Gujarat, Kejriwal was answering questions by journalists after making a couple of announcements.

“I am saying go and ask them (the BJP) that it is naming Sonia Gandhi as Modi’s successor. I know it will be difficult for you to ask this question, but do ask,” Kejriwal said, replying to a question that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the AAP is trying to give backdoor entry to Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar in Gujarat politics.

Shah had made a statement more than a week ago at a programme in Gujarat. He had also said that there is no place in the state for people who are anti-Gujarat.

In Gujarat, Patkar is considering persona non grata for her anti large dam stand and opposing the Sardar Sarovar Project. While speaking to a section of media, Patkar had denied any such move and she had gone on record to say that she has not been in touch with Kejriwal for quite a long time.

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel had also labelled Patkar as “urban naxal”.

Kejriwal held that the BJP is doing all these things because it is losing. The BJP, he said, has no answers of what it has done in the last 27 years in Gujarat and it has no roadmap for the coming five years. Question the BJP as to why it is opposing free electricity, good quality and free education, and better healthcare facilities, he said.

AAP convener said that if his party’s government is formed in Gujarat then it won’t function on remote control, like that is being done by the BJP. Who made Vijay Rupani and Bhupendra Patel as chief ministers, he asked, adding that the people of Gujarat did not. He said they would tell the name of the chief minister when the time comes.

Kejriwal also had an answer for Shah’s reported statement that people of Gujarat do not like or support people who sell dreams. “Yes, people do not like it. He is correct. Do not trust people who say you will get Rs 15 lakh in your bank accounts. We have done work in Delhi and we will do it in Gujarat,” he said.

While assuring corruption free and free from fear governance, should his party come to power, Kejriwal exhorted the police force in Gujarat not to get demotivated. Only two months remain for the elections, he said, asking them to stop taking wrong orders from the bosses. “We are with you and you will get the grade pay,” he assured.

The police force in Gujarat has been demanding a rise in grade pay. After Kejriwal took up the issue, the state government was compelled to increase the allowances of the police force.

Government officer-turned politician also promised door step delivery of services, reopening old cases of paper leaks and sending any one, including politicians, in jail if found indulging in corruption. He asked people not to give money (bribe) in any government department to get work done.

On Monday night, Kejriwal courted controversy when he went to dine at auto driver Vikram Dattani’s residence. On the grounds of protocol, the police had tried to stop the AAP leader, who was going in an autorickshaw.

Social media was flooded, apparently by BJP supporters who claimed that it was a scripted move.

At a town hall, Kejriwal had accepted Dattani’s invitation for having food at his residence. 

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