Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched an all out attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, even though there were speculations of top leadership avoiding a direct attack on him, questioning his silence on caste census and Indian businessman Gautam Adani in a rally organised in North-east Delhi’s Seelampur. This is notably the first time when the senior leader has directly attacked Kejriwal ahead of the Delhi assembly elections.
Calling caste census a ‘revolutionary move’, Lok Sabha MP said, “When I talk about caste census, neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says anything. They both want people who are not privileged to not get involved while we want to ensure ‘bhagidari’ (participation) of everyone.”
“Ask Kejriwal if he is with the caste census or not. I said to Modi ji in Parliament, you do it or not but the day Congress comes to power we will increase reservation and the caste census bill will be passed. We want equality and participation of everyone. We want people to dream big rather than a few businessmen to control everything,” he added.
Rahul, who has held his first rally ahead of the Delhi polls, claimed that when it comes to participation, it is only Congress that will give it, be it Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA), Right to Food and loan waiver for farmers among other welfare schemes. “We will ensure that caste census takes place in Delhi as soon as we form the government here,” the senior Congress leader asserted.
He also attacked both the BJP and AAP on rising inflation and increasing divide between the rich and poor. “We do not want an India where the rich own everything be it ports, airports and roads and the poor die of hunger. We do not want such a country and will not let it happen also. While the rich own everything, there is no participation of the poor,” he said. “I am asking you if inflation is rising or not? What did Modi and Kejriwal say about it? They assured they will bring it down but haven’t done anything,” he added.
The LoP also claimed that Kejriwal has never uttered a word about Adani. “They do not utter a word while we clearly say that we don’t want a country of billionaires,” he said.
He also attacked the ruling party on corruption, pollution and lack of sanitation in the city. “Do you remember the time when Kejriwal came to power and said that he will clean Delhi, make it Paris but now see the condition? Pollution is rising. They said they will remove corruption. I am asking you what he did. Like Modi makes fall promises, similarly Kejriwal does and there is no difference,” he said, comparing Kejriwal and PM Modi.
He asked the people to vote for Congress, stating that they will preserve the constitution. Taking a dig at BJP’s performance in Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi remarked, “BJP was talking about ‘400 par’ but you know what happened. Modi ji had to bend down to the constitution. This is what we have done.”
Delhi Congress President and party’s Badli candidate Devendra Yadav hailed Rahul Gandhi for raising public’s issues. He also alleged that despite the tall promises made by Arvind Kejriwal, he has failed to deliver any. “Above all, about 25 MLAs of the AAP have gone to jail in corruption related cases,” he charged.
Congress’ Ballimaran candidate Harron Yusuf, who has represented the seat for 22 years, said, “Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi are two sides of the same coin. His ideology is very similar to that of RSS. He has been accustomed to the lavish lifestyle and is intoxicated with power so much that he named Atishi as a temporary Chief Minister. He did not even once come to meet you during the Delhi riots when Rahul Gandhi was here with you. He was sitting in his lavish ‘sheeshmahal’ when muslims were being targeted for spreading Covid.”
While there were talks about a post poll alliance between the Congress and AAP, especially since they were in one in the last Lok Sabha elections, both have however made clear that they are looking for no alliance in Delhi assembly elections. The voting for the polls is slated to be held on February 5 and counting will take place on February 8.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal shared on X, “Today Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not give any remarks on his statements. His fight is to save Congress and mine is to save the country.”
