Arvind Kejriwal announces 15 guarantees in AAP manifesto for Delhi polls
New Delhi (PTI): AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday released the party's manifesto, titled “Kejriwal ki Guarantee,” ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections.
Speaking at the manifesto launch, Kejriwal took a swipe at the BJP, accusing it of copying AAP’s promise-based governance.
"We coined the term ‘guarantee’ first in the country. After us, the BJP stole it, but the difference is, we fulfil our guarantees, and they do not,” he said.
The manifesto outlines 15 guarantees, with Kejriwal promising "robust" job creation for Delhi residents as his first guarantee.
The second guarantee, under the Mahila Samman Yojana, assures monthly financial support of Rs 2,100 for women. For senior citizens, the Sanjeevani Yojana will provide free healthcare facilities.
The fourth guarantee promises to waive outstanding "hiked" water bills, while the fifth guarantee is of round-the-clock supply of clean drinking water to every household in the national capital.
Among other key promises is a commitment to clean the polluted Yamuna River and make Delhi’s roads world-class.
Under the Babasaheb Ambedkar Scholarship Yojana, the AAP has pledged scholarships for SC and ST students to study abroad. Male students will also benefit, with free bus rides and a 50 per cent discount on metro fares.
The manifesto further promises Rs 18,000 monthly financial aid to priests and Gurudwara Granthis and the extension of free electricity and water benefits to tenants. Additionally, AAP has committed to improving Delhi’s sewage system, issuing ration cards to those left out of the system, and offering financial support to auto and cab drivers. The party has also promised Rs one lakh for their daughters' weddings and Rs 10 lakh insurance coverage.
Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) will also receive funds to hire security guards and address local safety concerns.
Kejriwal emphasised that the AAP’s existing free welfare schemes, which provide benefits worth approximately Rs 25,000 per month to Delhi residents, would continue if the party retains power.
"The BJP has already made it clear that they will stop all these schemes if they come to power. I want to ask the people of Delhi -- will you be able to bear the cost if the BJP stops these benefits?” he asked.
The manifesto is being pitched as a reaffirmation of AAP's governance philosophy, which prioritises welfare and infrastructure improvements.
With the BJP threatening to disrupt the status quo, the upcoming polls are expected to be a high-stakes battle between the two parties. The results of the elections will be announced on February 8.
These elections are being viewed as a referendum on the AAP government's governance model, which has relied heavily on free welfare schemes.
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In phone call, PM Modi, US President Trump resolve to promote global peace, security
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to work towards a "trusted" partnership between India and US and advance global peace and security in their first phone conversation since the American leader's inauguration last week.
Modi and Trump exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and deliberated on measures to boost bilateral cooperation in areas such as technology, trade, investment, energy and defence, an Indian readout said.
The two leaders agreed to meet soon, it said.
"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS.
Congratulated him on his historic second term," Modi said on 'X'.
"We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," he said.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the two leaders "reaffirmed" their commitment for a "mutually beneficial and trusted partnership".
"They discussed various facets of the wide-ranging bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and measures to advance it, including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy and defence," it said.
"The two leaders exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in West Asia and Ukraine, and reiterated their commitment to work together for promoting global peace, prosperity and security," the PMO said.
"The leaders agreed to remain in touch and meet soon at an early mutually convenient date," it added.
It is not immediately known whether the issues of immigration and tariff figured in the talks.
Like in many countries, there have been some concerns in India as well over the Trump administration's approach on immigration and tariff.
President Trump has already talked about slapping "100 per cent tariffs" on the BRICS grouping, a bloc that includes India too.
It is learnt that the phone call was initiated from the Indian side.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last week that India is looking for "bolder, bigger and a more ambitious" relationship with the US and indicated its readiness to work with the Trump administration to address issues like illegal immigration and trade.
The phone conversation between Modi and Trump came six days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Washington.
Jaishankar also attended the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in the American capital. The meeting was the Trump administration's first foreign policy engagement.
At a media briefing in Washington on January 22, Jaishankar said his meetings signalled that the Trump administration "prioritising" the bilateral relationship with India.
The external affairs minister also said that there was agreement between the two sides about the need to be bolder, bigger, and more ambitious about the bilateral relationship.
Asked about the Trump administration's policy on tariff and immigration, Jaiswal said on Friday that India is looking at addressing issues in a constructive manner.
"Our approach has always been to address issues in a constructive manner which is in keeping with the interests of both countries," he had said at his weekly media briefing last week.
"We remain in close communication with the US administration and would like to continue to work towards strengthening our economic partnership further," he said.
India is also keen to continue cooperation under the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) that was launched during the tenure of the Biden administration.
