‘Don’t let them insult Delhi’: Kejriwal invokes local pride

NEW DELHI: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday pitched the assembly elections as a fight between the son of Delhi (Kejriwal) and 200 MPs, 70 Union ministers and chief ministers led by PM Narendra Modi.
At a roadshow in Gokalpur, Kejriwal said that BJP was bringing people from outside as local residents had refused to back the party. Terming it an insult, Kejriwal claimed that the opposition wanted to defeat the people of Delhi.AAP believes that by invoking the local pride factor, it may be able to swing votes in its favour.
Kejriwal urged people to mention the development work done in Delhi in the last five years when BJP functionaries visit their areas to seek votes. “This fight is between the two crore people of Delhi and 200 BJP MPs. When they come, count all the work done in the last five years and send them back to their states. Do not let them insult Delhi,” he told the gathering.
“All forced have turned against the people of Delhi. All parties, including BJP, Congress, JD(U), RJD and LJP, have come together to defeat Delhiites. They want to defeat your son. They will find faults in our schools, mohalla clinics, electricity, water, etc. Will you remain quiet and bear this insult?” Kejriwal asked.
BJP has deployed a massive election machinery on the ground with several MPs, former and sitting CMs of BJP-ruled states, Union ministers, including home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh, campaigning in the city.
AAP is fighting the election in the name of works done by Kejriwal and his government. The party’s publicity materials, hoardings and social media campaigns only carry Kejriwal’s face.
Telling people to welcome BJP functionaries “properly” in their areas, Kejriwal said, “Ask them about Delhi. Also ask them about the number of hours that their states receive electricity and the tariffs. Then tell them that Delhi receives 24-hour electricity for free. Tell them about free water. Ask them whether their states have mohalla clinics and show them one, if need be. Serve them tea and advise them to go back and handle their states instead of giving speeches here.”
The CM held roadshows at Karawal Nagar, Gokalpur, Mehrauli and Chhatarpur on Tuesday before reaching Delhi Cantonment around 7pm. Braving the rain, Kejriwal asked people to “vote for their son”. He also told people that he faced a lot of challenges in notifying subsidies in NDMC and Delhi Cantonment areas.
“Till December, we faced problems in notifying and providing 200 free units of electricity. But now things are in place and those who have paid their bills will be getting refunds. A lot of electricity outages were being reported from Kirby Place and Brar Square. However, we have been able to issue fresh tenders and within two months the area will have no electricity cuts. In the next two months, five major villages in the area, which only get brackish water, will get clean water,” said Kejriwal.
AAP’s Delhi Cantonment candidate, Virender Singh Kadian, said the party had worked extremely hard in the last five years and was simply asking for votes based on the work and efforts put in by the government.