BJP would stop free electricity in Delhi if it’s voted to power: Arvind Kejriwal

AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the BJP of planning to end the free electricity scheme introduced by his government if the saffron party was voted to power. He also alleged that the BJP had been stalling development work in the national capital in the past 10 years.
Addressing a rally as part of the party’s public outreach campaign, Kejriwal, who resigned last month after coming out of jail after six months, alleged the BJP had sent him to prison to stop the development work that his government had undertaken in the past 10 years.
“In the past 10 years, they tried to halt many projects (in Delhi) through the Lt Governor. But, I did not let any of your work stop. I am educated, and I have previously been an officer. So, I know how to run the government and how official work should be carried out,” he said.
Kejriwal asserted that the people in BJP-ruled states were questioning why development work was not being done like how it happened in Delhi under his tenure.
“Why do they want to stop the work in Delhi? I have done such work in Delhi which has never been done in the country till date. They have governments in 22 states. They are not able to replicate the work done in Delhi. The people there have now started asking them why work is not being done. They do not have any answer to this,” he said.
“After our victory in Punjab, they started thinking that if the work in Delhi is not stopped soon, their shops will be closed throughout the country and AAP will come to power,” he added.
Kejriwal alleged that a conspiracy was hatched against him to kill him by denying insulin to him while he was in jail in connection with liquor policy case.
“My sugar level is high and I have to take four insulin injections daily. They (BJP) put me in jail. My kidneys would have been damaged and I could have died due to lack of insulin. Despite their conspiracies, I was able to come out of jail with your blessings,” he said at the party’s public outreach programme.
A controversy broke out in April when Kejriwal, a diabetic patient, who was in jail in the liquor policy case, had alleged that he was being denied insulin. The AAP took forward Kejriwal’s charge, saying he was being pushed towards a “slow death”. However, the Tihar Jail authorities denied AAP’s claims and said he was given insulin from time to time.
Kejriwal, during the rally, said he had not done any corruption and asserted he was sent to jail as he was doing work for the people in Delhi.
“Everyone knows that I have not done any corruption. Kejriwal cannot do corruption. Then why did they arrest me? This is because they wanted to stop the work that I have been doing for you in Delhi and the facilities that I am providing you with,” he claimed.
Accusing the BJP of stopping development work when he was in jail, Kejriwal said the AAP government resumed work on repairing broken roads, cleaning drains and ensuring uninterrupted water supply after he was out on bail.
“Now, they have made a plan to come to power and stop all the work in Delhi. Now, the matter is in your hands. If you vote for them and make them win, they will stop the free electricity scheme, power cuts will make a return and government schools and hospitals will be neglected before our government came to power,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Delhi voters explaining the reasons why he resigned. AAP workers will distribute the letter to households across 70 constituencies till October 29.
Delhi, ruled by AAP since 2015, is likely to hold Assembly polls early next year.