Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, accusing him of breaking promises and running a government fueled by lies and corruption. Addressing a rally in Delhi’s Tri Nagar, Shah criticized Kejriwal for allegedly failing to deliver on commitments he made to the public.
Shah accused Kejriwal of going back on his pledge to avoid government privileges, stating, “He (Kejriwal) had promised not to take government bungalows or cars, but he ended up breaking four bungalows to create a ‘Sheesh Mahal’.” Shah also recalled how Kejriwal had assured people during the Anna Hazare movement that he would not form a political party or spare corrupt politicians like Sheila Dikshit, yet allegedly failed to follow through.
“Kejriwal is a product of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement. He said he would make Delhi corruption-free, but for the last 10 years, his government has been run on lies, betrayals, and deceit,” Shah said. Comparing Delhi’s development under Kejriwal to other states led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah claimed that the AAP government fell short on governance and transparency.
Shah also accused the AAP government of being mired in scams. He listed several alleged financial irregularities, including:
- A ₹28,400 crore scam in the Delhi Jal Board
- A ₹5,400 crore scam in ration distribution
- A ₹1,300 crore scam in school classroom construction
- A ₹571 crore scam in CCTV installation
- The controversial liquor policy case
“The level of corruption in Delhi has never been as high as it is under Kejriwal,” Shah asserted.
He emphasized the role of the central government in developing Delhi, saying, “If the BJP-led Centre hadn’t worked for Delhi, this place wouldn’t have been liveable. The Modi government has spent ₹41,000 crore on road construction, ₹15,000 crore on railways, and ₹21,000 crore on the airport in Delhi.”
The political rivalry between BJP, AAP, and Congress has intensified as the Delhi Assembly elections approach. The polls are scheduled for February 5, with votes set to be counted on February 8.
In the past two elections, AAP dominated, winning 67 out of 70 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020, while BJP secured just three and eight seats, respectively. Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years under Sheila Dikshit, has failed to win any seats in the last two elections.
As the electoral battle heats up, all three parties are ramping up their campaigns, with AAP emphasizing its achievements in education and healthcare and BJP targeting alleged corruption under Kejriwal’s leadership.
