Free 300 power units promise: AAP launches ‘Kejriwal Muft Bijli Guarantee Card’ in Uttarakhand
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday launched the “Kejriwal Muft Bijli Guarantee Card” ahead of next year’s assembly elections in Uttarakhand days after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal promised free electricity up to 300 units to all households if his party is voted to power in the state
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday launched the “Kejriwal Muft Bijli Guarantee Card” ahead of next year’s assembly elections in Uttarakhand days after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal promised free electricity up to 300 units to all households if his party is voted to power in the state.
It announced 10,000 workers would visit households in all the 70 assembly constituencies in the state to distribute the card as a guarantee that if AAP comes to power, it will keep the promise.
Kejriwal has also promised a 24-hour power supply, free electricity to the farmers, and waiving all the pending bills if the party comes to power in 2022. The AAP has made similar promises to voters in other poll-bound states Goa and Punjab.
AAP’s Uttarakhand in-charge, Dinesh Mohaniya, who launched the card, said theirs is the only party that works to provide the best possible basic services to the public--water, electricity, and education. “...we believe if the politicians can get these for free, then why cannot the public... Hence, this card is to assure the public of Uttarakhand that if we win the 2022 assembly elections, we would definitely be working to fulfil the promises...”
The party flagged off 350 vehicles carrying AAP workers from Dehradun to all the 70 constituencies to publicise the card. “Five vehicles would be assigned for each seat. Our party members in these vehicles would visit households and urge them to register themselves with the party’s platform and get the card. Apart from this, we have also launched a website kejriwalbijliguarantee.in on which anyone can register for the free power supply promise. The party has also launched a number (7669007669) through which the people can also register by giving a miss call,” said Mohaniya.
He attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition Congress for criticising AAP over the free power promise.
“It is very unfortunate that since our leader Kejriwal made the promise to the people of Uttarakhand, which produces its own power, both these parties have been opposing it. We just want to ask them that if their leaders can get free electricity, why cannot the people,” said Mohaniya.
“We know that the fight is not easy for us, but we will win it with the support of people.”
AAP leader Col Ajay Kothiyal (retd), who was present at the launch, said they are fighting “political disaster” in the form of BJP and Congress in Uttarakhand. “During the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, my team and I fought the natural disaster while figuring out a new trek route for the Kedarnath shrine. But this time, I, being a leader of AAP, is not fighting natural disaster but political disaster.”
He said the way BJP and Congress are attacking them over the free power supply promise has made them believe that they are doing the right thing.
BJP leader Manveer Singh Chauhan said it is “the modus operandi” of AAP to make false promises which it cannot fulfil. “They are doing the same in Uttarakhand, but they would not succeed as people are aware of their despicable tactics.”
Congress leader Garima Dasauni said AAP knows it has no political base in Uttarakhand. “Hence it is making such promises months before the elections to garner some votes. But the people of Uttarakhand are smart enough to not fall in their trap.”