BJP seeking votes for Delhi Assembly polls illegally : Arvind Kejriwal

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hailed the inauguration of two major infrastructure projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as significant milestones for Delhi’s development, emphasizing that these initiatives were joint efforts of the central and Delhi governments.

The projects inaugurated included a 13-kilometer stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor connecting Sahibabad in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, to New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the Janakpuri West-Krishna Park Extension section of the Delhi Metro’s Phase IV.

Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal congratulated Delhiites and highlighted the collaborative nature of these projects, dismissing claims that his party was solely confrontational. “These inaugurations are a reply to those who say AAP only engages in fights,” he stated, pointing out the challenges faced by his party. Kejriwal alleged that AAP leaders had endured imprisonment and mistreatment yet continued prioritizing governance and development over other issues.

Reflecting on his party’s decade-long tenure, Kejriwal said, “We have demonstrated how to keep work above everything else. Despite adversities, we focused on improving the lives of Delhi’s people.”

However, Kejriwal also criticized Modi for devoting much of his speech during the inauguration to targeting the Delhi government. “The prime minister spent a significant portion of his speech criticizing the people and the elected government of Delhi. It felt disheartening,” he remarked. Kejriwal also took the opportunity to remind Modi of promises made during the BJP’s 2020 election campaign, including commitments to address issues faced by residents in Delhi’s rural areas, which, he claimed, remain unfulfilled.

With the 70-member Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February, Kejriwal’s comments reflected AAP’s continued focus on development as a core agenda amid its longstanding friction with the central government. The party seeks to project its commitment to progress and governance while countering accusations of being embroiled in unnecessary conflicts.

The inauguration of these projects is seen as a boost for Delhi’s infrastructure, and both AAP and the BJP are likely to leverage these developments in their political narratives ahead of the elections.