AAP National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his counterpart of Punjab Bhagwant Mann participated in the protest organised by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in its fight to protect federalism in the country. Speaking on the occasion, Kejriwal said that the federal structure of the country is the basis of our Constitution and democracy, the BJP sitting at the centre wants to end it. This fight is for all of us to save the federal structure and democracy of the country.
He said that he got to know that the funds to the tune of Rs 8,400 crore of Kerala are stuck and other opposition ruled states are also facing the same problem. “More than Rs 8000 crore funds of Punjab are also stuck. The Punjab government went to the Supreme Court a few days ago that they are not releasing our money. An amount of Rs 5500 crore for rural development fund is not being released. Now the Supreme Court hearing has been fixed for next week and immediately the Central Government calls that let us sit and talk. Will we go to the Supreme Court for every small matter? The Supreme Court is overburdened with cases. Why don’t they do their work? To get our funds, we have to sit at Jantar Mantar. You will be surprised to know that as against the collection of Rs 2 lakh crore income tax every year from Delhi, we get only Rs 325 crore for Delhi in a year. Even the British would not have looted us as much as these people are looting us,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal hit out at the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of waging a war against state governments led by opposition parties. “The governments led by opposition parties represent 70 crore people in the country. The BJP has waged a war against the opposition-ruled states. They have created a India-Pakistan situation with us. The Centre is using all the tactics to harass the opposition governments,” alleged Kejriwal who took part in the protest.