Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of stalling Delhi’s development while treating the city as its "political ATM" to fund its ambitions in other states, using "looted" money for its own publicity.
Speaking at a public rally in Dwarka, Modi appealed to people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls and allow him to serve them. "Delhi needs not a confrontationist government, but a government that works in tandem with the Centre," Modi emphasized.
The prime minister urged voters to elect a "double-engine government" to accelerate the city’s progress and promised to clean the Yamuna and set up a magnificent riverfront similar to the Sabarmati banks in Ahmedabad.
He pointed to the Yashobhoomi convention center in Dwarka as a shining example of the BJP's vision for a modern Delhi. "The BJP wants to make Delhi modern, and a glimpse of that can be seen in Dwarka after the Centre constructed the majestic Yashobhoomi here," he said.
Modi accused AAP of draining Delhi’s resources for its political expansion elsewhere. "AAP-da (the AAP disaster) has looted Delhi’s money and is using it to expand its politics elsewhere. They are taking money out of Delhiites’ pockets. AAPda turned Delhi into its ATM to serve its political interests," Modi alleged.
He targeted the Congress for the discrimination it meted out to President Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the tribal community, and sought an apology from Congress members, particularly from the "shahi parivaar," to her and to the SC/ST/OBC communities.
"These Congress people think they are the masters of the country. The arrogance of the Congress' royal family has again been exposed," Modi said.
The BJP has accused Sonia Gandhi of having a feudal mentality, as she referred to the President as a "poor thing," which they claim demeans the high office. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra clarified that her mother had the utmost respect for the President and that it was unfortunate her remarks had been "twisted."
At the rally, Modi criticized AAP’s governance, accusing it of getting embroiled in constant confrontations. "They have only been fighting — with Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and with the Centre. If such people continue to rule Delhi, the city will keep lagging behind," he warned.
He argued that the city needed a government that focused more on coordination than confrontation, adding, "Delhi does not need a government that thrives on conflict, but one that ensures solutions to all problems." Modi also accused AAP of indulging in cheap and "poisonous politics."
"AAPda hates Haryana. It is stooping so low that now it is accusing the state of poisoning Delhi’s waters. One has never seen such poisonous politics. AAPda has no shame. I urge Delhi people to be vigilant, as AAP can go to any extent to achieve its political goals," he said.
The Congress and AAP, he claimed, are symbols of arrogance, adding that AAP treats itself as the owner of Delhi. He also alleged they weren’t spending the people’s money in Delhi but on their advertisements and on themselves. "People living in a 'sheesh mahal' do not take care of people living in humble abodes. It is common sense," Modi said. The 'sheesh mahal' barb is a frequent BJP broadside against Kejriwal for the renovation of the bungalow he used as Delhi CM.
Modi assured people that once a BJP government is formed in Delhi, it would take stringent action against AAP’s corruption.
Recalling AAP’s promises during Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, he remarked, "They promised to change the country’s politics. The country is seeing how they betrayed Anna Hazare and the people." Modi accused AAP of spending only 20 percent of Delhi’s budget on development while neglecting its infrastructure. "AAP is anti-middle class," he charged.
He also accused AAP of trying to suppress a damaging Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
The BJP has said that the reports have generally been critical of the AAP-led Delhi government's policies, including its now-scrapped excise policy for causing losses to the exchequer. Some BJP leaders moved the Delhi High Court last year seeking a direction to the Assembly speaker to call a session to table the reports.
"In the first session of the Vidhan Sabha, we will table the CAG report, which contains details of AAP-da's scams," Modi promised.
Reaffirming his commitment to Delhi’s development, he declared, "I guarantee that the BJP government will not leave any stone unturned in Delhi’s progress." "We have to together free Delhi from ‘jhooth’ (lies) and ‘loot.’ It’s my dream to provide pucca houses to all in Delhi, but AAPda is working with full strength to ensure this is not fulfilled." Modi accused AAP of blocking the allocation of fully built houses to the poor while focusing on luxurious accommodations for themselves. "Modi will help build pucca houses for all the poor in Delhi. This is my guarantee," he asserted.
On Yamuna rejuvenation, Modi said, "We helped revive the Sabarmati river. Delhi’s double-engine government will transform the Yamuna and its banks, changing Delhi’s future." Modi also announced that in the first Cabinet meeting of a BJP-led government, a decision would be made to transfer Rs 2,500 into the accounts of Delhi’s women and described it as "Modi’s guarantee."
Continuing his criticism of AAP, he said, "They made grand promises, but where is the infrastructure? Where are the jobs they said would be created? Delhi needs so much more than broken promises and political gimmickry," Modi stated. Claiming AAP misled people, he continued, "They talk of progress, but in reality, they developed a model for corruption. The people of Delhi are paying the price for their deceit."
Highlighting the BJP’s contributions, Modi noted, "The Centre has allocated thousands of crores for Delhi’s infrastructure, yet nothing changes on the ground. AAP’s only achievement is empty rhetoric." He assured that if the BJP came to power, Delhi’s civic issues would be swiftly addressed. "We will bring real transformation. No more excuses, only solutions," he declared.
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