Gujarat, March 27
With Gujarat heading into a charged political phase, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, during their visit to the state, launched a sharp attack on the BJP-Congress nexus at the ‘Vijay Vishwas Sabha’ in Dahod. During the massive Sabha, Arvind Kejriwal asserted the people of Gujarat have risen against BJP’s repression and are now ready to bring change with the Aam Aadmi Party.
The AAP Supremo revealed that rattled by the party’s growing support, BJP has resorted to daily arrests of AAP workers. Slamming three decades of BJP rule, he said the government has failed to provide even basic schools, hospitals, and irrigation water, exposing its flawed intent. He asserted that this time, people will vote for free electricity for farms and homes, ₹1000 for women, ₹10 lakh health cover, and quality education.
Addressing the ‘jansabha’, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “In the last 30 years, the BJP, along with the Congress, has looted Gujarat. But the most they have looted is the adivasi community. The greatest atrocities have been committed against the adivasi society. Today, across Gujarat, the most poor, the most exploited, and the most backward community is the adivasi society. You raise your children, they grow up, but there is no system for their education, no jobs for them, no employment opportunities. They end up farming alongside you. These people have ruined the lives of farmers.”
Kejriwal said, “It is not that there is no money for adivasi(s). The state and central government sends thousands of crores for you. A lot of money comes in your name. Yet I see such poor and ordinary people standing in front of me. If the money that came in your name over 30 years had been given directly to you, each person would have become a millionaire. Where does your money go?”
Highlighting corruption in schemes, Kejriwal continued, “The money meant for the adivasi community, sent by the central government, the state government, and even the panchayat, where does it go? It goes into the pockets of BJP and Congress leaders. They will pay for it. The poorest of the poor work in MGNREGA and get the minimum wages for 100 days, where a labourer works hard in extreme heat, sweating and toiling, but that money also gets eaten up. Entries are made in your name in registers without your knowledge, fake thumb impressions are put, and money is withdrawn in your name.”
Narrating an incident, the AAP Chief shared, “Chetar Vasava came to know that the money of the poor was being looted. He asked them to show the register. Should he not have seen the register? Did he do anything wrong? He asked to see it. Instead, he was arrested and sent to jail. The MNREGA minister who committed the theft was not jailed because he sends money upwards. From the clerk to the minister, everyone is eating money. He spent three months in jail. For whom? Not for his children, not for his wife, not for his home, but for you, your family, your children, and your future, because your money was being stolen.”
Raising questions on welfare schemes, Kejriwal added, “Money comes in your name under the ‘Nal Se Jal’ scheme. Crores and thousands of crores come. Did water reach your homes? No. Where did it go? All the money has been eaten up by BJP leaders. Money comes under many schemes, but not even a single rupee reaches you. You vote for them, they become MLAs and ministers with your votes. Their children study abroad, while your children don’t even have proper government schools. Government schools are broken, teachers don’t come, and your children’s future is ruined.”
