The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) National Convenor Shri Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday held a town hall meeting with traders in Ludhiana, Punjab in support of the AAP candidates. After this, road shows were held in Pathankot and Zirakpur.
Appealing to the people of Punjab, he said that for the progress of the state, you should give us all the 13 seats here. We have a government here and if all the MPs are ours then we will bring back your rights from the Centre. This will lead to faster development. You have seen the work of all parties in 75 years. Highlighting language employed by PM Modi in his speeches, Shri Arvind Kejriwal mentioned that Modi ji has been the Prime Minister of the country for the last 10 years, but he does not have a single work to his credit, he only abuses.
Addressing the industrialists and traders in Ludhiana, the AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that it has been only two years since our government was formed in Punjab, the time span of two years is nothing. Before this, you had given a chance to other parties. In these 75 years, these parties together ruined Punjab. When we took over the government, the condition of Punjab was very bad. The people of Punjab know this very well. Our party gives a lot of importance and respect to traders, businesspersons, and industrialists. This is proved by the fact that as soon as the Delhi elections were over, I came directly to Punjab and held a meeting with traders and businesspersons. Leaders of other parties are doing road shows and rallies, but in the city where I am, I first meet the traders at 12 noon every day.
The AAP supremo said a year ago, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and I went to many places, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali and met the traders and listened to their problems. After I returned to Delhi, CM Bhagwant Mann went to Hoshiarpur, Dasuya, Dinanagar, Patiala, Moga, and Pathankot, and there too he did ‘Milnis’ (meetings) with traders. We started working on your suggestions. Many works have been done, work is going on on many issues and some are yet to be done. In just 2 years of our government, you must have felt that the wind has turned in Punjab. Now all the issues are getting resolved. All things have started moving towards good.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal further said that two years ago, industries were leaving Punjab and going to other states, including Madhya Pradesh, Himachal. But now no industry is leaving Punjab, rather we are trying to bring back the industries that have already left. Along with this, we are giving more opportunities to the industries of Punjab to expand their business. Along with this, we are also trying to bring a lot of investment from abroad to Punjab. In the last two years, many big steps have been taken in this direction. The result is that now apart from our country, many big companies from abroad have agreed to invest in Punjab and in two years, an investment of ₹56,000 crores has started in Punjab. This provides employment to about 3 lakh youth. Big companies inquire about the law and order and government of the state before investing. If investments are coming on such a large scale, then the law-and-order situation in Punjab has improved.
The AAP National Convenor shared, “We had made many promises to the people of Punjab, work has started on those promises too. Our biggest promise was to make electricity free, and we have fulfilled this promise. I can tell you what financial conditions we inherited in Punjab when we came to power. It was in shambles. But don’t worry, we will do all the work, we are educated folks. We understand finance too, how to bring finance and from where to bring. There is an AAP government in Delhi and Punjab and only in these two states electricity is free. We built Mohalla Clinics in entire Punjab. There is free treatment there.”
“Mohalla Clinic is the model of primary health care in the whole world. People from all over the world come to see Mohalla Clinics in Delhi and Punjab. We are also improving schools. Now many ‘Schools of Excellence’ have been built in Punjab, where people are getting their children admitted after taking them out of private schools. We will gradually fulfill the rest of the promises too. Now, we have to fix more than 20,000 government schools, roads, water, sewer and cleanliness in Punjab. We will fix everything, you have to trust us,” he added.
The AAP Chief stated, “A year ago we did not come among you to ask for votes, we only came to listen to your problems, but today I have come to ask for your votes. This is the election of the central government; we are weak at the Centre. We had only one MP in the Lok Sabha till now. If we are strong at the Centre, then our hands will also be strengthened. The state has hundreds of issues with the Centre. They will be resolved only when our hands are strong. That is why I have come to appeal to you to give all 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab to the AAP, so that we can get your rights from the Centre.”
Shri Arvind Kejriwal conveyed that there is blatant dictatorship in the country. These people are openly doing ‘goondagardi’ (high-handedness). Two days ago, Amit Shah came to Ludhiana and threatened that CM Bhagwant Mann’s government will be toppled after June 4, and Bhagwant Mann will be removed from the post of CM. How can they topple the government? We have 92 MLAs out of 117 in our assembly. In the last 75 years, no Home Minister of the country would have gone to any state and given such a statement. Amit Shah openly threatened the people of Punjab that the government elected by 3 crores Punjabis will be dismissed after a week and the elected Chief Minister will be removed.
“Will they buy the MLAs elected by you? For how much money will they buy Punjabis, or they will break them by sending ED, CBI. They think that just like they broke NCP, Shiv Sena, they will break Punjabis as well. Amit Shah should not be so arrogant. Punjabis have a very big heart. If you had asked with love, we would have given you one or two seats, but if you threaten them, then the Punjabis will show their true colours and then you will be in big trouble,” he said.
The AAP supremo affirmed that these people (BJP) have the biggest problem with the free electricity being provided to Punjab. They want to stop the free electricity being provided to the people of Delhi and Punjab but are unable to do so. Wherever AAP goes to contest elections, I promise to make electricity free, but they are unable to make electricity free. We are able to make it free because we are honest.
“These people say that Kejriwal is corrupt. I want to ask the public that we have a government in Punjab and Delhi and have made electricity free in both the states. There are BJP governments in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and electricity is very expensive. The public will have to decide whether the one who makes electricity free is a thief or the one who makes it expensive is a thief. We are giving free electricity to the public by saving the money that is lost in corruption. But they (BJP) want to stop your free electricity. If you press the BJP button, then every single button will be pressed to stop free electricity. Therefore, not even a single vote should be cast for the BJP. All votes should go to the AAP,” he said.
The Chief Minister of Delhi said that they (Central Government) have withheld rightful dues of Rs 9,000 crore to Punjab. The Rural Development Fund was to be used to build roads in the village. The money from National Health Mission was to be used to build Mohalla Clinic. This is outright high handedness; they are punishing the people of Punjab for electing the Aam Aadmi Party by not releasing the rightful funds of Punjab. Politics should be held during elections, after that the central government should not stop the money due to any state. This is dictatorship, this is high handedness.
If you make our 13 MPs win, if you make Ashok Prashar (Pappi) win, then he will not get up from their offices until your Rs 9 thousand crore are released. You have already seen the results of electing MPs from other parties earlier. Punjab has had 13 MPs in the Lok Sabha for the last 5 years, have you ever heard of any party raising the voice of Punjab in the Lok Sabha? Nothing at all, these people just used to go to the Lok Sabha to get their work done. They start making their own settings, following this minister, following that minister. The Aam Aadmi Party does not compromise with anyone, these MPS will fight for you, he added.
Delhi CM stated, “Two years ago, our farmers of Punjab went to Delhi, just to meet their Prime Minister once. People should have the right to meet him, he is the Prime Minister of 140 crore people, anyone can go and meet him. But they did not allow the farmers to enter Delhi, they put nails on the roads, put up boulders. Why? Whose father does Delhi belong to? Delhi is the capital of the country, Delhi is home to 140 crore people, how can they stop our farmers? This time, press the button in such a way that you throw out the people sitting on the throne of Delhi.”
“Nowadays these people have become so arrogant that they have started considering themselves as God. I am not exaggerating in this, if you watch the last 6-7 interviews of Shri Narendra Modi then you will understand. He said that ‘I did not come from my mother’s womb, I have appeared on this earth.’ Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that I want to ask the RSS, which is sitting completely silent today, whether they consider Shri Narendra Modi as God? Do they consider Shri Narendra Modi as incarnation of God?” he questioned.
The AAP Supremo stated, “A few days ago, one of their prominent leaders from Odisha, Dr. Sambit Patra stated that ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s Bhakt.’ He said that Lord Jagannath, who is the Lord of the entire Universe, is a devotee of Shri Narendra Modi, which is absolutely absurd. What is this? Have these people become so arrogant? When they have started considering themselves as God, the reality is that they do not consider us as anything, we are insignificant creatures for them, we are insects to them. Their ego has now crossed all limits, this time this ego has to be broken. We all have our own God whom we worship, some worship Waheguru ji, some worship Lord Rama and some someone else. But if a person starts considering himself a God, then it is necessary to teach him a lesson.”
He stated, “They had arrested me saying that ‘Kejriwal is corrupt’, if Kejriwal is corrupt, then nobody in this world is honest. What was their motive for arresting me? Elections were declared on 16 March and they arrested me on 21 March. The reason for arrest was not corruption, their aim was to put Kejriwal in jail, if he roams the country then Shri Narendra Modi will end up losing 10-15 seats, so Kejriwal must be stopped. The only motive of sending me to jail was to stop me. But a miracle happened and the Supreme Court decided to give me 21 days for campaigning and I am extremely grateful to them for giving me this opportunity. Today, I am standing here in front of you, campaigning for the elections.”
The AAP National Convener stated that when I was granted bail, I went to campaign all over the country, Haryana, Punjab, Jamshedpur, Bhiwandi, Mumbai, and a lot more places? It is clear that there is a lot of resentment against them all across the country, especially due to inflation and unemployment. People are suffering so much due to inflation, the prices of petrol, diesel, household items, and everything else have skyrocketed. Youths are sitting at home after completing their degree because there are no jobs.
“People think that our Prime Minister will give us some solution. They think that the Prime Minister will tell in speeches and interviews how he will tackle poverty and unemployment in the future. But when you see his interview, he is making absurd statements that if you make the INDIA alliance win, they will snatch your buffaloes, your taps, your Mangalsutras, and what not. What has happened to the Prime Minister of our country? What kind of statements is he making?” he stated.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated that we want the Prime Minister to solve our problems, on the basis of which we will vote for him. But instead of providing solutions, he is saying strange things these days. He went to Mumbai and said that Shri Uddhav Thackeray is the ‘Nakli Santan’ (fake son) of his father (Shri Balasaheb Thackeray), he said that Shri Sharad Pawar is a ‘Bhatakti Atma’ (wandering soul). Are they asking for votes for this? It has been 10 years since he became the Prime Minister.
“Today I have come amongst you, how did I start my speech? I asked you if you are getting free electricity, if Mohalla clinics and schools have been built, and you said all the facilities are available. I am telling about my work and asking for votes on the basis of work only. It has been 10 years since he became the Prime Minister of the country but he has not got a single work done for the people in these 10 years. They are just hurling abuses from dawn to dusk. There can be no progress in such a country.”
I appeal to all of you to make our 13 MPs win. We will have 13 out of 13 MPs, we have our government in Punjab, we will work together. If anyone from any other party is made MP then he will just fight and abuse Sardar Bhagwant Mann and our leaders, our MLAs, and our ministers. Do you want to spend the next 5 years in fights? If yes, vote for them. If you want to see the progress of Punjab where 13 MPs will join hands with Punjab government and get their rights from the central government, then give us 13 out of 13 seats. Then see how we will double our efforts for you day and night, he concluded.
Addressing the gathering at the roadshows in Pathankot and Zirakpur, Shri Arvind Kejriwal urged the people to come out in large numbers braving heat on the polling day as they did today. “It is 48 degrees temperature and you people have come out of your homes and shops. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Similarly, on the day of elections, everyone has to come out of their homes, stand in line in the heat and cast their vote,” he said.
The AAP supremo asked the gathering if they were getting zero electricity bill. “Everyone’s electricity bill is zero, is it magic or not? In the whole country, it is only in Delhi and Punjab and nowhere else that the electricity bill zero. There are two places where the Aam Aadmi Party is in power, only in two places the electricity bill is zero and nowhere else. How are the Mohalla clinics built in your area running? Medicines are available, treatment is good? Mohalla clinics are only in Punjab and Delhi and nowhere else in the whole country. Now we have started improving the schools too, government schools are doing well in the whole of Punjab and we are doing a lot of other work. Two years ago, the government was formed, you people formed our government in Punjab by giving us a huge majority. A lot of work for the public has started happening since the last two years,” he said.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said but today I have come to ask something from you. Introducing the AAP Lok Sabha candidate for Gurdaspur, the Delhi Chief Minister said Shery Kalsi (Amansher Singh) is contesting from here, he is a young leader, very hardworking, even if you call him at 2 o’clock in the night, he will help you, he will come running. “He (Shery Kalsi) has to reach the Parliament by bagging maximum votes. You people sent all the MPs of other parties to the Parliament but in the last 5, 10 years no one raised your voice in the parliament. Everyone is doing their own politics; everyone is busy filling their own coffers,” he said.
The AAP national convenor said there is a government of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab, all 13 MPs will be ours, they will go to the Parliament and work for you, will work together with the Punjab government. Right now, there is dictatorship, Modi government has created hooliganism. Just two days ago Amit Shah ji came to Ludhiana and said there that he will topple the Punjab government, this is hooliganism. Amit Shah ji came to Ludhiana and threatened 3 crore Punjabis that after June 4, he will topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, he will remove Bhagwant Mann from the post of CM. Hey, is this someone’s father’s rule. Three crore people of Punjab chose their Chief Minister, people of Punjab chose their government. What kind of Home Minister is this, he threatens, he has openly created hooliganism that after June 4, he will topple the Punjab government. How will you topple 92 MLAs out of 117, you will threaten, you will buy, you will break, you will send ED, CBI? For how much will you buy Punjabis? “I want to tell him that Punjabis have a very big heart, Amit Shah ji, if he had asked with love, they would have given you one or two seats. He has threatened (Punjabis). Take revenge for this threat by pressing the button on June 1, press the button so many times, let them know what it means to threaten Punjabis. Don’t give even a single seat (to BJP), don’t give even a single vote (to BJP),” the AAP chief urged the voters.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said I inquired from insiders why Amit Shah threatened you and I found out that he is very angry with the free electricity that we are providing. He is saying that he will impose President’s rule in Delhi, topple the Punjab government, stop free electricity in Delhi and Punjab. “I want to ask you whether you should get free electricity or not? If you press the Kamal (lotus) button, your free electricity will be stopped. Only Jhadu (broom, AAP’s election symbol), only broom,” he said.
The AAP supremo said these people have become so arrogant that they now consider the public as insects. We want solutions to our problems from our Prime Minister. We want employment, we want relief from this inflation. We don’t want abuse from them. This time you have to elect an MP of the Aam Aadmi Party from here. You have to crush their arrogance by voting on June 1. Tell them that our God is not Modi.
