Even as the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal patting his own back for announcing “biggest women empowerment scheme” to provide Rs 1,000 for every 18-plus women, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday reminded the former that he did not have any “woman minister” in his Cabinet.
Lashing out at Kejriwal for giving “lollipops”, Sidhu pointed that women empowerment “means mandatorily engaging women in every step of electoral process like Congress is doing in Punjab”. “True leadership is not in giving lollipops of Rs 1,000, but investing in their future by providing skills for self-employment and woman entrepreneurs - Punjab Model,” said Sidhu in a series of tweets he posted from his Twitter handle to lash out at Kejriwal.
At the same time, Sidhu took on Kejriwal over the issue of teachers. Sharing some documents related to teachers’ vacancies in the national capital followed by the AAP’s 2015 manifesto, Sidhu pointed out that the Delhi Chief Minister is filling most of the vacant posts by appointing guest lecturers, whereas there are thousands of job vacancies for teachers in Delhi. Notably, Kejriwal on Saturday visited Mohali to participate in a protest dharna by teachers.
“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others. @ArvindKejriwal Ji you talk of women empowerment, jobs & teachers. However, you don’t have one woman minister in your Cabinet. How many women in Delhi get Rs 1000 despite revenue surplus left by Sheila Dikshit Ji!!” said Sidhu, in his first of the four back-to-back tweets.
In another tweet, Sidhu said: “On teachers and jobs in 2015, there were 12515 job vacancies of teachers in Delhi, & in 2021 there are 19907 such job vacancies of teachers in Delhi…and you are filling most of vacant posts by just guest lecturers...”
Further, referring to AAP’s 2015 manifesto, he tweeted, “In your 2015 manifesto, you promised 8 lakh new jobs and 20 new colleges in Delhi, where are the jobs and colleges? On the contrary of your failed guarantees, unemployment rate of Delhi has increased by almost 5 times in the last 5 years!! (sic)”
Sidhu’s attack came a day after Kejriwal had hit out at the opposition political parties-including the Congress - for criticising AAP for its poll promises in Punjab. “Such political parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Akali Dal have been ruling for years and had already emptied the state’s coffers,” Kejriwal had said.
His statement came after the opposition parties criticized Kejriwal saying that the government’s coffers will become empty if he transfers Rs 1,000 per month to all the women in Punjab. Ahead 2022 polls, Kejriwal, during his recent visit to Punjab, had announced to give Rs 1,000 per month to all the women of Punjab, above the age of 18 years, if AAP’s government is formed.
“If there is more than one woman in a house, everyone will get Rs 1,000 per month. If a woman is already getting an old age pension or widow pension, she will get the amount in addition to it,” Kejriwal had clarified while making the announcement.
