Criticising the BJP-led Centre, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor on Sunday asked people to decide which model they choose to go with in Delhi--the 'Kejriwal model' or the 'BJP model' in which he said public money goes into the "pockets of their rich friends".
Emphasising the significance of the upcoming Delhi elections, he framed the contest as a battle between two divergent ideologies: the "Kejriwal Model," which prioritises public welfare and returns taxpayers' money to the people through transformative social schemes, and the "BJP Model," which he favours a select group of billionaires at the expense of the common man.
Kejriwal alleged on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Centre has waived off debts totaling to Rs 10 Lakh Crore of "of about 400-500 industrialists " in the last five years. Kejriwal's remarks come at a time of fierce campaigning. Kejriwal said the Delhi Assembly polls were not just a contest for the national Capital but the entire country.
"This election is about deciding how taxpayers' money should be spent. One ideology, represented by the BJP, uses public funds to waive loans worth thousands of crores for its close associates. The other, our AAP model, focuses on providing free electricity, education, health care and transport to benefit the common man," Kejriwal said in what he said was a press conference on a "very" important issue.
"The BJP model gives people's money to its friends as loans and then writes off those loans in two to three years. In contrast, the AAP model provides direct benefits to the public, including welfare schemes worth nearly Rs 25,000 per month for each household in Delhi," he said.
He continued, "The public pays taxes. Even the poorest individuals contribute to taxes. When a poor person buys matchsticks, food items, or anything else, they pay GST and other taxes. Governments collect this money from the poor, middle-class, and wealthy. This election is about deciding how that money should be spent."
Kejriwal also accused the saffron party of planning to end all welfare schemes initiated by AAP if it gains power in Delhi.
"The BJP has already clarified it will stop free electricity, free bus rides (for women), and other benefits provided by the Delhi government. I ask the people, will they be able to bear this cost if the BJP is elected?" he said.
Kejriwal also lashed out at the BJP for labelling welfare measures as "freebies", alleging that the saffron party was trying to create guilt among the middle class while itself offering massive concessions to big businesses."When the BJP waives loans worth thousands of crores for its friends, is that not a freebie?" he asked.
Highlighting the Kejriwal model of governance, AAP chief said, "Public funds are spent on people's welfare, under the 'Kejriwal Model or AAP Model.' On the other hand, government money is used for billionaire friends, under the 'BJP model.' What is the BJP model? In the last five years, the BJP government waived loans worth Rs10 lakh crore for approximately 400-500 of their billionaire friends. Recently, it was revealed that a person with a debt of Rs47,000 crore was let off by settling it at Rs450 crore, essentially providing a benefit of Rs46,500 crore to a single individual. Another person with a debt of Rs6,500 crore had Rs5,000 crore waived, and the rest was settled for Rs1,500 crore. It is unclear whether even this amount was fully recovered."
The AAP is fighting to secure a third consecutive term, while the BJP and Congress are determined to break the party's hold on power. The election campaign has seen heated exchanges between the top contenders. One of the flashpoints has been the issue of the Yamuna River's pollution.