Ahead of Delhi elections, slated to be held early near year, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday launched ‘Jan Sampark Abhiyan’ and penned a letter to the public in which he claimed that his arrest in the alleged excise policy linked money laundering scam is politically motivated and it is the BJP’s larger plan to derail state’s progress.<The letter is a part of a statewide public outreach campaign, which will continue until October 29, and aimed at AAP volunteers visiting households across the city, distributing the letter to ensure that all citizens receive answers to their concerns.
Addressing party workers at the launch, Kejriwal said, “People have been asking why I was arrested and what led to it. I’ve been answering these questions in person, but to reach every Delhiite, I’ve written a letter addressing their questions. AAP workers will distribute this letter door-to-door until October 29, ensuring that everyone receives the answers they seek.”
“Everyone knows that I have never engaged in corruption. So why was I arrested? Because the work we are doing for Delhi, the facilities we are providing to you, have threatened their political dominance. They don’t want us to keep delivering services that have never been seen before in India,” the letter read.
He claimed that the BJP’s fear of AAP's growing influence on a national level was a key driver behind his arrest. Attacking the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, the former Chief Minister said, “For two years, the LG held up the Mohalla Clinic file. It was only after intense pressure, including a 10-day sit-in protest by me and my cabinet colleagues, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai that we were able to move forward.”
He warned that if the BJP comes to power, Delhi could return to a time of long power cuts, crumbling public services, and deteriorating infrastructure. “We didn’t go to jail for ourselves. If we hadn’t worked for you—if we hadn’t provided free services—none of us would have been arrested,” Kejriwal alleged.
“Only you can protect the work in Delhi and the facilities you are receiving through the power of your vote. I trust that together, we will defeat every conspiracy by BJP to stop the work in the upcoming assembly elections with the power of your vote,” the letter read.
Responding to the letter, Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta called it a product of frustration. “Kejriwal is agitated as he sees power slipping from his hands because he now realizes that AAP will lose the upcoming assembly elections and BJP's return to power is certain,” he said.
Gupta accused Kejriwal of desperately trying to hide his corruption and scare the public by claiming that if the BJP comes to power, the free electricity and water schemes currently provided will be discontinued. While assuring residents of Delhi that no welfare scheme would be halted under the BJP, he said that the party would implement central government welfare programs in Delhi, such as the "Ayushman Bharat" scheme.
