NEW DELHI: Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday attacked Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of betraying the promises he made to the people.
Addressing a public meeting at Hauz Qazi Chowk in old Delhi, Rahul called out Kejriwal’s political journey, saying he started in a humble WagonR but ended up in a luxurious residence.
Taking a direct jab at the AAP supremo, Rahul said, “Arvind Kejriwal WagonR mein aaye, sweater pehne aur khambe pe chadh gaye. Phir khambe se utre aur seedha sheesh Mahal mein gaye (Arvind Kejriwal came in a small car—a WagonR—wearing a sweater and climbed an electric pole. After coming down, he went straight to the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ (glass palace) with automatic doors and big TVs).
He added, “It is a house worth Rs 45 crore. A new type of politics was his promise—a false promise. He made false promises like Narendra Modi.”
Rahul further accused Kejriwal of failing on key governance issues, particularly clean drinking water in Delhi. Holding up a bottle of water supplied in the national capital, he dared the chief minister to drink it. “Kejriwal promised to clean the Yamuna. This is the water people in Delhi are forced to drink. If he drinks a glass of this water, we will see him in the hospital,” Rahul said.
The Congress leader also alleged that despite Kejriwal’s claims of working for the poor, his core team lacked representation from backward and Dalit communities or minorities. “Kejriwal’s team does not have a single person from these communities. Where was Kejriwal during the Delhi riots? When there was violence against you, Rahul Gandhi came to you, but Kejriwal never did. Where was he?” he asked the crowd.
Referring to the alleged liquor scam, he accused Kejriwal and his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, of corruption. “Kejriwal committed the liquor scam, and Sisodia helped him. They make their team, and when there is a riot anywhere, they disappear,” he added.
Drawing parallels between the Delhi chief minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said, “There is no difference between Kejriwal and Modi. Modi speaks openly, while Kejriwal remains silent and does not show up when needed.” He framed the upcoming elections as a battle between two ideologies: one of hatred and division, represented by the BJP-RSS, and the other of unity, upheld by the Congress.
“The fight is between two ideologies—one of the BJP-RSS, which spreads hatred, and the other of Congress, which promotes unity. Narendra Modi is the PM today, but the day he steps down, no one will remember him. In history, there were two figures—(Mahatma) Gandhi and (Nathuram) Godse. No one remembers Godse,” he said.
The attack on Kejriwal comes ahead of the crucial Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, with votes set to be counted on February 8.