BJP-led Centre punishing AAP govt in Delhi for supporting farmers' agitation: Arvind Kejriwal
Chandigarh, Apr 4: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led Centre was trying to punish his government for supporting the farmers' agitation by making it powerless through a new law and went on to say that those not backing the stir were "traitors".
Addressing a 'Kisan mahapanchayat' in Haryana's Jind district, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener asserted that he is ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of farmers who are agitating against the three central agri laws.
They have brought a Bill in Parliament to punish Kejriwal. We bore the brunt. They are punishing us for supporting farmers' agitation, said Kejriwal, while lashing out at the Centre for the enactment of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill in March.
The chief minister said all powers will now be with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
What kind of law is this, he asked, adding that his party despite winning 62 seats would have no power.
It is the responsibility of every Indian who loves his country to support the farmers, Kejriwal said, adding the BJP will have to bow before the agitating farmers.
Any person who is with this agitation is a patriot and the one who is against the farmers' agitation is a traitor, he said.
He claimed that each member of the BJP had said in Parliament that Kejriwal was punished for supporting farmers' agitation.
I want to tell them that our 300 farmers have laid down their lives. For the sake of this farmers' agitation, even if Kejriwal loses his life, we are not scared of your punishment, he said.
"Whatever punishment the central government wants to give me, I do not care, he said.
The Delhi CM also condemned the alleged lathicharge on farmers at Rohtak on Saturday during a protest against Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
In a country where farmers are not respected, the nation cannot progress, he said.
Should governments support farmers or cane-charge them? We strongly condemn this incident, he said.
On farmers' agitation, Kejriwal alleged that the Modi government had put immense pressure on his government for turning nine stadiums into prisons when farmers moved towards the Delhi borders last year.
Kejriwal said that he rejected the Centre's request as farmers' demands were justified and their agitation was non-violent.
He said that his government in the national capital carried out various development works, be it setting up schools and hospitals or supplying free water, in the last six years and alleged that the BJP was putting stumbling blocks to disrupt the works that were being done for the Delhi people.
He claimed the BJP, despite being the most powerful party in the country, has failed to deliver in the areas of education and health, while his government has made significant progress.
I want to tell the BJP that for building schools and colleges and serving people, there is no need for power. There is a need for intent. You have so many powers but your intention is wrong, he said.
"Kejriwal does not have power but our intent is clear," he said.
You go anywhere in the country and ask people what the BJP has done, they will say it destroyed farmers, traders and youth. Tell me one work done by the BJP in the last five years despite having so much power, he said.
He said only two parties -- the BJP and the Congress -- have ruled the country for 75 years.
Today people will ask the BJP and the Congress if the condition of schools can be improved in Delhi in five years, then why did they not do so in 75 years. They will have to answer, he said.
Why are they after me? Because they want Kejriwal to be like them, he said.
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PM contradicts his own slogan of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas': Farooq Abdullah
Poonch/Jammu (PTI): National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday of dividing the people of the country on the basis of religion, saying his recent statements have even contradicted his own slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas".
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister claimed that the hatred for Muslims has gone up ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power at the Centre in 2014, while people are suffering due to inflation and growing unemployment.
"I have heard the (election) speeches of almost all prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru and except Modi, everyone always talked about uniting people as that is the guarantee for our success as a country.
"His (Modi's) recent statements where he is talking about Muslims as outsiders, giving birth to more children, frightening Hindus by claiming that their properties, including the mangalsutras of their women, will be taken and distributed among the minority community have no parallel. We Muslims only want our rights and have no intention to usurp the rights of others," Abdullah said, addressing a Lok Sabha poll rally in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
The rally was jointly organised by the NC and the Congress in support of Mian Altaf, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidate from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency that is scheduled to go to polls on May 25.
"The NC and the Congress have come together to protect the country so that we can live with honour and die respectfully. Our country is still poverty-ridden and we can only overcome our problems when we are united," Abdullah said.
He claimed that the winds of change are sweeping the country and the BJP is finding its government dangling, which is evident from the statements of the party's top leaders.
"They are talking about 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas', but the prime minister's speeches contradict his oft-repeated slogan. The home minister (Amit Shah) meets specially-invited people in the presence of those close to the BJP with an aim to divide us.
"They are doing it in the darkness of night so that nobody can see them in the daytime," the former Union minister said, asking people to pray that the "divisive" government falls and the hatred that was spread after 2014 is replaced with love, brotherhood and respect for each other.
He said Islam teaches Muslims to respect other religions and "we do not believe in hatred".
"(Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi took out the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to snow-bound Kashmir and later, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Assam to Maharashtra. His only purpose was to unite the country in the face of growing hatred and understand the pain of the public," Abdullah said.
He said Jammu and Kashmir acceded to Mahatma Gandhi's India but the BJP has created a trust deficit between the people of the region and New Delhi.
"I am being dubbed by them as Pakistani, Khalistani, an American agent because I am talking straight. I am asking them that if they can talk to China, which has taken our land, why are they not talking to the neighbouring country (Pakistan) to pull us out of the turmoil? We are also citizens of the country," the NC leader said.
Referring to his meeting with Modi as part of a delegation in June 2021, Abdullah said the prime minister had talked about ending "Dilli ki doori aur dil ki doori" and "we had suggested releasing the innocent people from Jammu and Kashmir languishing in jails in other states as a move to bridge the trust deficit".
"They promised that all of them will be released after their cases are reviewed by a committee. Neither the committee was formed nor anyone released," he said.
Abdullah said hundreds of NC leaders and workers were killed by terrorists because "we were standing with India".
Praying for the success of the INDIA opposition bloc in the ongoing polls, he said he will request the Centre for the release of all innocent Kashmiris and a separate Lok Sabha constituency for the Rajouri-Poonch region that remains cut-off from south Kashmir's Anantnag owing to the six-month closure of the Mughal road due to heavy snowfall.
Abdullah urged people to remain cautious and united, and said they should be prepared for the Assembly polls that are likely to be held after the culmination of the annual Amarnath Yatra in August.
