Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Centre over the imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand, alleging the Centre will attempt to “destabilise” the Delhi and Himachal Pradesh Governments.
During the Delhi Assembly Budget session on Tuesday, Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completely surrendered in front of Pakistan by allowing its team to visit India to probe the Pathankot terror attacks.
Kejriwal said after the defeat in Delhi and Bihar, the BJP-ruled Centre has understood that they cannot win elections anymore so they are “indulging in politics”. During his speech, Kejriwal said he had learnt from a senior official that the next State to be targeted will be Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh to be followed by Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept to power in February last year winning 67 of the 70 seats.
“I am told they will disqualify 21 of our (AAP) legislators from the Delhi Assembly and buy over 23 others,” the CM said.
Attacking the BJP for using money power to subdue the Opposition, he added, “Forget buying over 23 legislators. If they have the guts, let them buy even one legislator,” he said amidst thumping of desks by the AAP legislators.
Kejriwal said the BJP, like the Congress earlier, had become “arrogant” after assuming power at the Centre in 2014. He slammed the Central Government’s decision to “force” President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, calling them illegal.
Kejriwal criticised Pakistan’s Joint Investigations Team (JIT)’s visit to the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab that was attacked by Pakistani terrorists on January 2. He said it defied logic why the Pakistanis should be allowed to probe an attack masterminded by the Pakistani intelligence. “Not everyone is happy with the decision,” he said, attributing it to PM Modi.
Echoing the remarks he made a day earlier too, Kejriwal said New Delhi had always accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in India. He said instead of allowing the Pakistanis to probe the Pathankot attack, Indian officials should have gone to Islamabad to question the Pakistani terrorist leaders blamed for terror attacks in India.
Kejriwal also lauded the Delhi Budget and said, “VAT has been reduced on a lot of things. The Delhi Budget this year is so good that the country is talking about it. People in Delhi are happy with the governance.”