Hurdles being created in our way, says CM Kejriwal

Speaking during the discussion on LG VK Saxena’s address to the Budget session of the Delhi assembly, Kejriwal said that his party, which was voted to power “by 20 million people” was still being made to “counter several roadblocks”.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday again criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over issues ranging from the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha and the alleged obstructions by the Centre-appointed lieutenant governor (LG) in the Aam Aadmi Party’s governance in the national capital.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal speaks at the Delhi Legislative assembly in New Delhi on Friday. (HT PHOTO)

Speaking during the discussion on LG VK Saxena’s address to the Budget session of the Delhi assembly, Kejriwal said that his party, which was voted to power “by 20 million people” was still being made to “counter several roadblocks”. He alleged that AAP MLAs were being threatened in the wake of the arrest of former deputy CM minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case.

The chief minister also referred to his government’s run-ins with the LG office over teachers training, mayoral polls, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi and the approval of the Delhi Budget 2023-24.

“The LG stopped the foreign training of Delhi government teachers….one day, the LG sent an SDM to seal the office of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD) vice chairman, Jasmine Shah... It is hooliganism,” Kejriwal said.

He accused the LG of suspending the Delhi government’s free Yoga classes, and the latter’s alleged attempts to the remove power subsidy. “The Budget was stopped due to ego, it was later approved despite no changes being made. The LG has not done a single good work in the last year. The LG has been appointed to stop the work of the Delhi government,” Kejriwal said. “The day the CM and the LG start working together, Delhi will have a double-engine government.”

Officials of the LG office did not respond to requests for comment.

Kejriwal also spoke about the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. He said, “An atmosphere of fear has been created in the country; did we fight for freedom for this? They disqualified Rahul Gandhi as MP. They are very scared...”

Gandhi was on Thursday convicted for two years in a defamation case by a Surat court. The same day, Kejriwal hit out at the BJP-run Centre during a public meet at Jantar Mantar and doubled down on posters criticising the PM pasted across the Capital, for which six people have been arrested.

The BJP termed Kejriwal’s remarks against the PM as derogatory. “Arvind Kejriwal’s derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister are reflections of his upbringing, and are unbecoming of the Constitutional post he holds,” said Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

Leader of opposition in the Delhi assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who also spoke on the LG’s address, criticised the AAP for using “unparliamentary” language against the LG.

Bidhuri also said the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has been done by a court under relevant laws, and everyone should respect the judgement. “Rahul Gandhi remarks have hurt the sentiments of the OBC community. The members of the OBC community are planning a campaign against Rahul Gandhi. It is shocking to see Arvind Kejriwal who used to call Congress leaders corrupt, coming out in support of Rahul Gandhi,” said Bidhuri.

Later, while talking to the media in the assembly premises, Kejriwal backed Rahul Gandhi and said the BJP was trying to destroy the Opposition. “Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha. The way he was trapped in a defamation case, maximum punishment was given to him, and within 24 hours he was disqualified as MP, does not augur well for the country.”