New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday rebutted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks labeling the AAP-led Delhi government as an “Aapda” (crisis), asserting that the people view their governance as an “Aashirwad” (blessing).
“Jo kaam AAP Sarkar kar rahi hai use log aapda nahi aashirwad kehte hai (The work the AAP government is doing isn’t a crisis; people call it a blessing),” Kejriwal said during a press conference. He further pointed out three “Aapda” (crises) that he claims are plaguing the BJP.
“Aapda Delhi mein nahi BJP mein aayi hai (The crisis isn’t in Delhi; it’s within the BJP). The first crisis for the BJP is that they don’t have a Chief Ministerial face. The second is that they lack a narrative — they don’t even know what issues to contest the election on. The third crisis is that they don’t have an agenda for this election. These three crises are within the BJP,” Kejriwal stated.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi criticized AAP’s decade-long governance, alleging that it has damaged the school education system in Delhi. “Those who have been in power in Delhi for the last 10 years – have damaged school education,” Modi said.
PM Modi also accused AAP of bringing a crisis upon Delhi. “In the last 10 years, Delhi has been surrounded by an ‘Aapda’. By keeping Anna Hazare at the front, a few ‘kattar beimaan’ (extremely dishonest) people have pushed Delhi towards ‘Aapda’. ‘AAP aapda bankar Delhi par toot padi hai’,” he remarked.
Responding further, Kejriwal enumerated AAP’s achievements in education, healthcare, electricity, water, and infrastructure over the last decade, claiming they surpass the BJP’s contributions.
“In contrast, the BJP government hasn’t done a single thing in ten years that the Prime Minister could proudly highlight in his speeches. If they had accomplished anything, they would be showcasing it instead of criticizing the people of Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
Referring to promises made by PM Modi during the 2020 elections, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has failed to deliver on key commitments, including providing permanent housing to all Delhi residents by 2022.
“Today, the Prime Minister handed over the keys to 1,700 houses. This isn’t the first time — in total, they have constructed only 4,700 houses in five years. Delhi needs 1.5 million houses, yet only 4,700 have been built in five years,” he noted.
Kejriwal also accused the BJP of rendering 2,78,796 people homeless by demolishing slums over the last five years. He contrasted AAP’s initiatives in healthcare and housing, stating, “I built 530 mohalla clinics; had the PM built 5,000, he would’ve earned praise. I constructed five new hospitals; had he (PM) built 50, he wouldn’t have needed to criticize me.”
The Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for February, with official dates expected to be announced soon.