Kejriwal: ‘Fake’ case against me to derail Delhi’s progress

New Delhi: Accusing BJP of incarcerating him in a "fake" case to "derail" the progress in Delhi, former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he was now out and all stalled public works would be resumed.Speaking in the Delhi assembly on the first day of the two-day assembly session, Kejriwal said by sending him to jail, BJP tried to attack his two virtues – honesty and passion to work for people – to seek votes. He said it was now for voters to decide if they wanted a party to govern that "worked for them" or one that "obstructed" works. He added that he voluntarily resigned from the post of the chief minister after coming out of jail despite no pressure or compulsion for him, while accusing BJP functionaries of their "lust for power".Accusing him of lying, BJP said that Kejriwal was a "master of oratory".The AAP national convener alleged that a senior BJP functionary told him that by arresting him they managed to "derail" Delhi. "I was stunned to know that they (BJP) are happy causing misery to two crore people of the capital. Has politics stooped to such a level that their motive was to gain votes by defaming AAP govt," Kejriwal said, accusing BJP of stopping the supply of medicines to mohalla clinics, terminating bus marshals, obstructing the free pilgrimage scheme, felling 1,100 trees, and stopping the pension of senior citizens when he was in jail."The senior citizens must be cursing you (BJP) for stopping their pension. Now, when Kejriwal will get their pension resumed, they will bless him," he said.Kejriwal said despite sending the top five functionaries of his party to jail in "fabricated" cases, his party stood firm and united. "I challenge you that if two of your top functionaries get arrested, your party will collapse," he said.Thanking Supreme Court for granting him bail, Kejriwal said he was going around in the city and not even the staunch supporters of BJP and RSS said that he was corrupt. He claimed that the BJP's objective behind sending him to jail was to prove that he failed."I told the people of Delhi that if they think that I am honest, vote for me, otherwise not… I want to tell the people of Delhi that your son, your brother Kejriwal has come out and will get each and every stalled work resumed. I will not let the people of Delhi suffer," Kejriwal said.Taking a dig at RSS and BJP, Kejriwal read out a number of names of saffron party functionaries and said they all were forced to retire at the age of 75. "A senior RSS functionary told me that they (top BJP functionaries) are now not agreeing to the rule of 75 years. It is very difficult to give up the greed for power," he said.Earlier, Kejriwal inspected dilapidated roads in Delhi University's North Campus along with CM Atishi. Talking to reporters, Kejriwal assured the stretch would be repaired soon. He added that all roads in Delhi would be inspected and repaired soon.Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal, a "master of oratory", could have been successful in writing scripts for films and TV serials if he had not entered politics."Only a person like Kejriwal can tell such blatant lies on the floor of the assembly, as he did today. Delhi did not get even seven new schools, yet he claimed in the assembly that 700 schools had been built. Mohalla clinics lack both diagnostic facilities and medicines. He also lied about bus marshals being removed without his knowledge. It is regrettable that Kejriwal, who violated all democratic norms just to retain his CM post, is now speaking of morality," Sachdeva said.
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