'Never laid nails for China': Kejriwal slams Centre for halting farmers' Delhi march | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Addressing AAP supporters during a roadshow in Haryana, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the BJP is experiencing a decline in popularity nationwide and is unlikely to secure more than 230 seats in total in the upcoming elections. During a roadshow in Kurukshetra’s Pehowa, he urged the people of Haryana to initiate a “revolution” to remove the saffron party-led alliance from power at the Centre.
This visit marked Kejriwal’s first appearance in Haryana following his release on bail. He was accompanied by Sushil Gupta, the Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate for the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency.
Kejriwal expressed sorrow over the events that transpired three years ago when farmers were blocked from entering Delhi for their protest. He said that despite his wishes, the Delhi Police, not under his jurisdiction, hindered their path by embedding iron nails on roads. “China jab hamari zameen hadapta hai unke liye keelen nahi thokte,” he said, referring to the allegations of land grab by China in Ladakh. “But they placed large nails, cement boulders for farmers. They did not let farmers enter Delhi as if farmers were their enemies ‘Inke Pitaji ki Delhi hai?'” he said, further urging the public to vote out those responsible for such actions in the upcoming elections.
Kejriwal, who was granted interim bail until June 1 by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, accused the BJP-led Centre of fear, emphasizing that they imprisoned him to hinder his campaigning efforts. “On March 16, elections were announced. On March 21, they sent me to jail. This means they wanted Kejriwal to not campaign. They are scared of Kejriwal”, he said attacking the BJP.
He highlighted a perceived decline in BJP’s influence across various states, mentioning Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, and Punjab as regions where the party’s stronghold is diminishing.
Encouraging the public to oust the BJP-led alliance from power, Kejriwal referred to PM Modi’s government as a “dictatorship” and called for action starting from Haryana, historically recognized for its role in national transformations. He expressed confidence in securing a significant victory in Haryana and emphasized the need for change.
Kejriwal criticized the BJP’s nomination of candidates with controversial backgrounds, citing instances related to alleged misconduct against women. Referring to Modi’s promises in the BJP manifesto as “fake guarantees,” he urged voters to trust in his own assurances.
Kejriwal claimed that during his time in jail, the prison authorities withheld his insulin for 15 days despite his daily requirement. “My blood sugar levels rose to 300-350 and I informed them it would harm my liver and kidney. This was the treatment they gave me,” he said.
The voting for all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana is scheduled for the sixth phase of the general election on May 25. AAP, a member of the INDIA bloc, is contesting the Kurukshetra seat, while Congress is contesting the remaining nine seats in Haryana.
(With agency inputs)