A war of words erupted between former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Congress candidate from New Delhi assembly seat Sandeep Dikshit over the remarks of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in the national capital just ahead of crucial assembly polls. Rahul Gandhi while addressing his first public meeting in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur assembly area hit back at Kejriwal.
The Gandhi scion targeting Kejriwal said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kejriwal used similar propaganda tactics of making false promises without meaning to fulfill them. Reiterating his commitment to caste census and removing the 50 percent ceiling on reservations, the senior Congress leader challenged both Modi and Kejriwal to say it publicly that they were in favour of caste census and removing the fifty per cent ceiling on reservations.
Reminding the people of the great and glorious era of Congress under Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, he pointed out how Delhi had lost the track of development after that. He pointed out the acute and extreme levels of pollution, poor condition of roads and prevalence of corruption in Delhi. He reminded Kejriwal of the promises he had made before becoming the Chief Minister. He said, whether it was inflation or corruption, Kejriwal had failed on all fronts.
Alleging that India was controlled by just a few billionaires like Adani and Ambani, he asked the people whether they ever heard Kejriwal speaking against them. Gandhi asserted that the Congress was committed to protecting the Constitution and ensuring the equality and safety of all Indians. He also assured people that whenever and wherever they will need him, they will always find him standing by them. He said he carried out the 4000 km Bharat Jodo Yatra to convey the message of unity and harmony.
He promised that once the Congress forms government in Delhi, it will carry out the caste census and remove the 50 percent ceiling on reservations. He said, Congress will provide equitable representation and participation to every section of the society like the Backwards, the Dalits, the Adivasis and the minorities and not just a select few. He said, Congress does not want India to be under the control of just a few billionaires. Following Rahul Gandhi’s comment, Kejriwal took to X and said, “Today Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He hurled abuses at me. But I will not comment on his statements. His fight is to save Congress, my fight is to save the country.”
Sandeep Dikshit, who is son of three time Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit hit back at Kejriwal and reminded him of how he targeted his mother and made false allegations of corruption. Sandeep Dikshit, while replying to Kejriwal post said, “Are you trying to save the country Kejriwal?” Firing salvos at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Sandeep Dikshit, who is contesting against Kejriwal said, when he was shamelessly spreading 1000 lies about Sheila Ji, aas he saving the country, when he was threatening to send Sonia Gandhi to jail, was he saving the country?
Posing more questions, the Congress leader said, “When you were fooling the country in the name of Lokpal along with Anna (Hazare), were you saving the country? When you were having a amazing time in your luxurious palace worth Rs 34 crore, were you saving the country? When you were building school rooms worth Rs 7 lakh for Rs 24 lakh, were you saving the country? When you were spending thousands of crores on advertisements, were you saving the country?”
He didn’t stop here, as he fired more salvos to the former Chief Minister and said that when you were swindling Rs 2,000 crore from liquor policy case, were you saving the country, when people were waiting for oxygen and beds during Covid pandemic, were you saving the country, when you were blaming the farmers for burning stubble, were you saving the country?
He also targeted the AAP leader and said, “When you were making false promises to clean Yamuna, were you saving the country? When you were taking credit for everything done by the Congress and Sheila ji, were you saving the country? When you were cheating the public with false affidavits, were you saving the country? When they were making BJP win by cutting Congress votes in every state, we’re you saving the country?”
“The list is so big that people get tired reading it…,” he said, adding, “You don’t need to save the country, the country needs to be saved from you.” The high octane Delhi polls for 70 member assembly is scheduled on February 5 and counting of votes will take place on February 8. The Congress, which ruled the national capital between 1998 to 2013 for three consecutive term is looking g to gain its lost ground in the national capital. Kejriwal had defeated Sheila Dikshit from New Delhi assembly seat in 2013 and Sandeep Dikshit is looking to avenge the defeat of her mother from the same seat, where the contest this time is triangular as BJP has fielded Pravesh Singh Verma, two time former MP and son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma.