With a desire to address questions and offer answers to queries from the public, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal conducted a live chat on Sunday at 11 am. With a dedicated website, Kejriwal answered questions submitted on the site as well as social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Unlike Modi’s Mann ki Baat speeches, broadcast over radio, Kejriwal’s chat was a session with questions coming in from Punjab, Kerala, Hyderabad and Delhi.
However, the similarities between Kejriwal’s chat and Modi’s Mann Ki Baat was not lost on many.
Additionally, a major part of the session dealt with just discussing the Prime Minister and blaming his government for AAP’s failures, an aspect Twitterati latched on to.
Here are some of the highlights of the two-hour long chat.
I Have Not Come Here to Take Money: Kejriwal to Modi
Kejriwal spends crores publicising the achievements of the Aam Aadmi Party government, but on the other hand, he claims Centre is not letting him work. How does he reconcile the two, asked a viewer.
Kejriwal answered saying that his government would have performed better had there not been so many obstacles put in his way by the BJP. He also mentioned a meeting with Modi in this context.
Delhi’s Electricity Infrastructure is Very Poor: Kejriwal
Talking on the issue of electricity, Kejriwal said that the electricity infrastructure in the capital is “very poor”, minus any investment in the past decade. The city is afflicted with numerous “local faults” -from faulty wires to regular transformer breakdowns.
This is the Second War of Independence: Kejriwal
The AAP leader said that the struggle to perform with the Opposition impeding his work was like “the second war of independence”. He said that his MLAs have been told to be prepared to go to jail, or to submit their resignation if the prospect scares them.
Taking a jab at Amit Shah, who he has accused of “micro-managing” the CBI, he said the Centre was trying to dig up things against him because his “honesty” scares them.
Some chose to agree with Kejriwal on this, despite the time he spent on accusing the Centre of negligence and hindering his work.
BJP Drains Cause Water-Logging: Kejriwal
The Chief Minister blamed the BJP government for the lack of cleanliness in Delhi, calling the issue a “political” one. He said that the Municipal Corporation Department is controlled by the Centre which is making it harder for AAP to keep the capital clean.
Drinking Water Directly From Taps to be Made Available in Delhi: Kejriwal
Following AAP’s decision to make 20,000 litres of water free, Kejriwal claimed their water revenue has increased, while wastage of water has decreased. He cited this as a “win-win” situation for all, and made promises for the future.
Despite his promises, the hate against Kejriwal continued to pour in.
Centre Should Aid Farmers Like Delhi, to Prevent Suicides: Kejriwal
Farmer suicide was another issue Kejriwal touched upon. He said the Delhi government provided aid to farmers in his constituency. Similar aid should come from the Centre to battle the increasing rate of suicide.
Education is a Major Concern: Kejriwal
During the chat, Kejriwal said that education is a primary concern for his government, along with health, electricity and water.
He added that AAP is working on improving basic requirements like drinking water and toilets, along with security in schools. Accusing the Central government of having reduced their education budget by 25 percent, Kejriwal said he has increased it by a 100 percent.
People Outside Delhi Should Know of its Progress: Kejriwal
Since Delhi is the capital of the country, and it has people from every state, it is important to let the whole country know that Delhi is doing well, thereby making publicity in regions outside Delhi relevant, said Kejriwal.
However, not everyone was impressed with Kejriwal’s claims.
BJP Has Oppressed the People of Gujarat, Delhi and Punjab: Kejriwal
Kejriwal said that Delhi has become a victim of the very narrow politics of the Central government, because of which the people are suffering. He accused the latter of oppressing the people of Gujarat in the same manner as it has oppressed Punjab and Delhi.
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