In first Karnataka poll rally, Kejriwal urges people to give AAP a chance for corruption-free govt
Davangere (Karnataka) (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to the people of poll-bound Karnataka to give his Aam Aadmi Party a chance to give a corruption-free government for five years.
He also promised to give free electricity, quality education in government schools and good healthcare for the state's people.
Addressing his maiden election public meeting in Karnataka, the AAP supremo said the party has zero tolerance for corruption as a minister and an MLA in party-ruled Punjab were jailed.
Taking a dig at the ruling BJP in Karnataka, Kejriwal alleged that there is a 40 per cent commission government running in the state.
In this context, he mentioned the recovery of Rs 8.23 crore unaccounted cash from Channagiri BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa's son Prashanth Kumar M V.
"Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to Karnataka and appealed to the people to give absolute majority in the upcoming assembly election so that a corruption-free government can be established in the state. Then, someone reminded him that already there is a BJP government in the state. I want to ask him why you could not eradicate corruption in the last four years," the Delhi Chief Minister said.
He said the very next day after Amit Shah flew back to Delhi, a BJP MLA's son was caught with crores of unaccounted cash.
"That MLA and his son who hail from Davangere have not been arrested yet. Instead, Manish Sisodia was arrested," Kejriwal said referring the Delhi Deputy CM Sisodia's arrest by the CBI in the excise policy scam case.
BJP's Virupakshappa has been booked while his son Prashanth, a government officer, was arrested by Lokayukta following raids in several places in the state.
The AAP chief added that the state contractors' association president Kempanna wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the ministers in Karnataka are demanding 40 per cent commission.
Instead of addressing the octogenarian office-bearer's grievance or taking action against the ministers and MLAs, the 82-year-old contractor was arrested, Kejriwal alleged.
The Delhi Chief Minister charged that 40 per cent commission is charged from contractors, private unaided schools and Maths (hermitage).
Taking a dig at the BJP, which prides itself as a 'double-engine government (the BJP ruling both at the Centre and the state), Kejriwal quipped: "Corruption doubles in double-engine government. We need new engine government."
He appealed to the people of the state to give the AAP a chance to transform Karnataka.
"We are staunch honest. We will give a corruption-free government. We will give free electricity, build good government schools and provide quality education," Kejriwal said.
Assembly elections are due in Karnataka by May.
All the workers and office bearers of AAP Karnataka were administered oath today to raise their voice for the rights of the people with utmost sincerity. https://t.co/7bGqfmKMiy
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 4, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
RSS-BJP's main objective is to finish off Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
_vb_30.jpeg)
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the RSS-BJP on Sunday, alleging their main objective is to finish off the Constitution because they don't want that everyone in India is considered an equal.
Gandhi made the remarks before flagging off the 'Run For Ambedkar, Run For Constitution' marathon here, ahead of Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14.
"Ambedkar ji's main message was that of the Constitution. Without the Constitution, what we call India would not have been there. Today, the people who are of the mindset of RSS-BJP want to finish off the Constitution. Whatever they say, their main objective is to erase the Constitution because they don't want that everyone in India is considered an equal," Gandhi said addressing the gathering before the start of the marathon from Mandi House.
"Whatever they (RSS-BJP) do, they even bow before Ambedkar ji's statue, but their objective is to finish off the Constitution. Our objective is to protect the Constitution and strengthen the Constitution," the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said.
"We want that the thought of the Constitution and its protection reaches every corner of the country and that is why we have organised this 'Run for Ambedkar, Run for Constitution'," Gandhi, dressed in a blue T-shirt, said.
Later, in a Facebook post, Gandhi said he flagged off the marathon organised by the Congress' SC Department from Mandi House.
"This run serves as a demonstration of our commitment to the ideals of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and to the Constitution of India," Gandhi said.
"Today, when constitutional values are under assault, we must unite and fight against every injustice and act of discrimination with the same resolve as Babasaheb. Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan, Jai Hind," he said in his post in Hindi.
The SC and OBC departments of the AICC celebrated the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Rao Phule with an event at Indira Bhawan in Lucknow on Saturday.
Ambedkar Jayanti, celebrated annually on April 14, marks the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social equality.
Former Indian cricket team captain and Telangana minister Mohammad Azharuddin also participated in the event to flag off the marathon.
Lauding the marathon initiative by the Congress, Azharuddin said, "I would like this campaign to happen all over India because 'Run for Ambedkar, Run for Constitution' is a very good initiative, it should be maintained and promoted further."
He called for unity in the country, asserting that the country can only progress with unity.
_vb_76.jpeg)
_vb_91.jpeg)
_vb_07.jpeg)