Praising Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu for his “honesty”, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi of suppressing his voice for nailing Congress’ government’s lies.
At the same time, Kejriwal claimed that several MLAs and MPs from the ruling Congress party are in touch with his party. “Many people in the Congress are in touch with us, but we don't want to take their kachra (garbage).
If we start doing it, then I challenge you that 25 Congress MLAs would join us by evening. Their 25 MLAs and two-three MPs are in touch and want to join us,” claimed Kejriwal.
“When a person or MLA does not get a party ticket, he gets resentful. Some agree and some go to another party. Today, 25 Congress MLAs and 2 MPs are in touch with us. This is my challenge, but we do not get into such competitions. We do not believe in dirty politics nor do we collect rubbish from others,” he said in response to a question.
Slamming the ruling Congress and Chief Minister Channi, Kejriwal said that Sidhu said: “Sidhu’s courage must be commended. While sitting next, when Chief Minister Channi was claiming sand and electricity to be cheaper, Sidhu immediately said that Channi was lying. Sidhu is raising issues of the people but the whole Congress is suppressing him.
Like Captain, now Channi Sahib is also targeting Sidhu.”In response to a question over how he would fulfil his poll promises with “empty treasury”, Kejriwal said: “Everyone is saying that the treasury is empty.
For 20-25 years, the Congress-Captain and Badals-BJP ruled the state and together looted Punjab's treasury. We will do an in-depth investigation on the formation of the AAP government.” “Sheila Dikshit’s 15-year government also emptied Delhi's coffers, but Kejriwal knows how to fill the empty coffers because Kejriwal does not allow the mafia to get close, while Channi has sand mafia on his right and transport and liquor mafia on his left.
They can only be filled by eliminating the mafia, which they (Badal-Congress) cannot do,” he said.
Kejriwal maintained that after the formation of AAP government, there would be an in-depth inquiry into who emptied Punjab's treasury and how. “The influential people involved in this blind looting of treasure will not be spared,” he added.
Kejriwal also slammed Channi for not fulfilling the promises he made to the people of Punjab after taking over as the state Chief Minister. “Channi has failed to fulfil any of the promises he made to the people of Punjab... He promised free electricity in the State.... he said Mohalla clinics would be set up, but nothing has happened,” he added.
