New Delhi:
In a heated exchange ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, criticizing his handling of pollution, corruption, and inflation in the national capital. The verbal sparring highlights the strained relationship between the Congress and AAP, both members of the INDIA bloc, as they contest the elections independently.
At a packed “Jai Bhim-Jai Samvidhan” public meeting in Northeast Delhi’s Seelampur, Rahul Gandhi drew parallels between Kejriwal’s governance and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing both of employing similar tactics of propaganda and false promises. Gandhi questioned Kejriwal’s commitment to his pre-election vows, noting that despite promises to clean Delhi, remove corruption, and transform the city into a Paris-like metropolis, the capital continues to grapple with severe pollution and rising inflation.
“Arvind Kejriwal had promised to make Delhi corruption-free and turn it into Paris. However, the reality is that pollution is rampant, and inflation is on the rise,” Gandhi said, addressing the crowd. He also criticized Kejriwal and Modi for their silence on the issue of a caste census, alleging that they do not want backward classes, Dalits, tribals, and minorities to receive their due share.
In response to Gandhi’s attack, Kejriwal took to the social media platform X to state, “Today Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not comment on his statements. His fight is to save Congress, my fight is to save the country.” This reaction underscores the deepening rift between the two leaders and their parties.
Gandhi’s speech was part of the Congress’s first major rally for the Delhi assembly polls, where he shared the stage with the party’s declared candidates. He emphasized the Congress’s commitment to the Constitution and the rights of marginalized communities, promising to conduct a caste census in Delhi if the Congress forms the government.
The Congress has been struggling to regain its foothold in Delhi after being dominated by the AAP in recent years. Gandhi appealed to voters to support the Congress, highlighting the party’s past achievements under the leadership of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The party has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, Sheila Dikshit’s son, against Kejriwal in this election.
The Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, have seen intense political rivalry between the AAP, Congress, and BJP. The Congress has released a 12-point “white paper” criticizing the AAP and BJP for mismanaging pollution, civic facilities, and law and order in the city.
