In Punjab, ‘janta ki sarkar' is delivering for people under AAP leadership: Arvind Kejriwal

Amreli (Gujarat): At the Vijay Vishwas Sabha in Amreli, Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alongside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, mounted a sharp offensive on the BJP’s 30 year rule, flagging corruption, misgovernance and neglect of farmers. The AAP Chief cited Saurashtra’s electoral mandate and questioned what people received in return, contrasting it with the AAP-led Punjab Government’s model by highlighting pro people policies and accountability. 

What did Arvind Kejriwal say?

Urging voters to move beyond party and leader based politics, he called on them to form a ‘janta ki sarkar’ (people’s government) in Gujarat, asserting that the Aam Aadmi Party represents a movement for change and that a Punjab style governance model can fundamentally transform the state’s trajectory.

Addressing a massive ‘jansabha' in Amreli, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “Saurashtra is a very sacred land, and I bow before the soil of Saurashtra. This is the land where the Somnath temple stands, where the Dwarkadhish temple stands. People come here from every corner of the world to seek the blessings of God. Today, I too have come to Saurashtra to seek God’s blessings for the progress of the country, for the prosperity and well-being of all the people of Gujarat. And I have come to pray that the people of Gujarat are freed from the corruption and misgovernance of the BJP, which has forcibly held control over Gujarat for the last 30 years.”

Highlighting the electoral context, Arvind Kejriwal said, “There are 48 Assembly seats in Saurashtra. In the last election in 2022, people gave 40 out of 48 seats to the BJP. What more love could people have given them? And in return, what did they receive? They received pushes, abuses, insults, beatings, jail. What has the BJP given you in the last four years, in the last 30 years? You left no stone unturned in giving them love and respect, and in return you got sticks, jail, abuses, insults, humiliation, and corruption.”

Questioning the use of public mandate, he continued, “After taking your votes, what did the BJP do? Their people became ministers, became MLAs, acquired big cars, built large bungalows, amassed huge properties, opened shops and malls. They earned enormous wealth. In 30 years, they looted the people. There is so much corruption that roads break within two days of being built. Bridges collapse within two days. The Morbi bridge collapsed, the Vadodara bridge collapsed. Why does this happen? Where does all the money go?”

Referring to farmers’ grievances, the AAP Chief shared, “Some farmers came to meet me this morning. They said that a few months ago, the groundnut crop was destroyed. The government announced compensation of ₹10,000 crore, but the farmers did not receive it. Where did ₹10,000 crore go? It was all swallowed. There is so much corruption that if anyone here wants to get a ration card made, do you have to pay money or not? If your electricity bill is wrong and you go to correct it, do you have to pay money or not? Whether it is a caste certificate, a birth certificate, or a death certificate, can any work be done without paying money in Gujarat? In 30 years, only the rates of corruption have increased. Earlier work used to be done for ₹100, now it takes ₹10,000. This is the extent of corruption.”

Calling for political change, he asserted that for 30 years, you have been voting for parties and leaders, but you received nothing. These leaders do not belong to anyone. This time, vote for yourselves. Form your own government, a people’s government. This time, do not vote for any party or any leader.

Drawing a comparison with Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal further asserted, “The people of Punjab formed their own government. It is not a party’s government. You may ask how I can say this when the Aam Aadmi Party is also a party. The Aam Aadmi Party is not just a party, it is the name of a movement, it is the name of a revolution, it is the spirit of the freedom movement, it is the path to the country’s progress. CM Bhagwant Mann is not a traditional leader, he is the son of a farmer. His father was a teacher. My father was not a leader either. Isudan Gadhvi, Gopal Italia, Chaitar Vasava, Manoj Sorathiya, none of our fathers were politicians. We are ordinary people, we are your children. In Punjab, it is a government of common people.”

“In Punjab, the son of a farmer is the Chief Minister. Out of 117 seats, we have 96 MLAs, and more than 80 of them are first-time MLAs. For the first time, sons and daughters of ordinary families have become MLAs. Earlier, it used to be that an MLA’s son became MLA, his wife became MLA, his father became MLA. In the BJP, tickets are given to the children of leaders. Do they give tickets to your children? The Aam Aadmi Party gives tickets to your children, forms a people’s government, and raises issues of common people,” he emphasised.

Comparing agricultural support, the AAP Supremo shared, “Punjab is also a land of farmers, and Gujarat is also a land of farmers. In Punjab, work is done for farmers. In Gujarat, electricity for farming comes at 3:00 in the night or 4:00 in the morning. In Punjab, farmers get 8 hours of electricity during the day, from 10:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening. Earlier this was not the case, but when the son of a farmer became Chief Minister, the system was changed. Earlier, only 20% of Punjab’s land was irrigated. In the last four years, this has increased to 70%, and by next year it will reach 90%. Punjab is the only state where electricity for farming has been made free. Do farmers in Gujarat get free electricity? Farmers have to pay for it.”

Contrasting governance models, he said, “What have you received in 30 years despite giving them so many votes? Because this is a government of dynasty leaders, a government of the rich, a government of millionaires, a government of the BJP. In Punjab, it is a government of common people, your government. They think about you 24 hours a day.”

Arvind Kejriwal shared that in Punjab, when a farmer goes to sell crops in the mandi, whether it is wheat or paddy, the government purchases the entire produce. No farmer is sent back. Whatever quantity the farmer brings, the government buys it all. A farmer brings produce in the morning, sells it, and by the time he reaches home in the evening, he receives a bank message that the money has been credited. I was reading in newspapers here that farmers have to wait for three months to receive payment. Why does this happen? Because this is a government of leaders who do not care about you. There, it is a government of farmers, where the son of a farmer is the Chief Minister.

Raising local agricultural concerns, he continued, “In Saurashtra, mango cultivation takes place, but every year the crop gets destroyed and farmers are not given compensation. There is no policy for it. They brought the eco-zone law. The entire farming community is troubled by this law. Should this eco-zone law be scrapped or not? Why did they bring this law? They have nothing to do with farmers. The forest department officials trouble you every day. Why do they do this? This is happening because you voted for leaders. This time, form your own government. Just like work is being done for farmers in Punjab, similar work will begin for farmers in Gujarat as well.”

The AAP Chief asserted, “Last time, you gave 40 out of 48 seats to the BJP and also gave four seats to AAP. Just four seats, but we are deeply grateful to you for that. Today, when BJP leaders beat you with sticks, our leaders step forward to take those blows to protect you. Our leaders go to jail for you. Those whom you gave 40 seats are beating you, and those whom you gave four seats are taking the blows on their chest and going to jail for you. Chaitar Vasava went to jail, Pravin Ram went to jail. Even today, our workers are being picked up and put in jail every day. But we are not afraid. When they put me in jail, I was not afraid, so our party will not be afraid of their sticks or their jails. You gave four seats and today we are fighting for you. Tomorrow, if you form your own government in Gujarat, you will see how the entire face of Gujarat will change.”

Highlighting anti-corruption action, he added that in Punjab, so much work is happening because we do not allow even a single rupee of corruption. You will be surprised to know that this very morning, Bhagwant Mann had an MLA from his own party arrested and sent to jail because he was involved in corruption. Have you ever heard of this? Has any party government ever sent its own MLA to jail? If someone is found corrupt, usually the Chief Minister asks how much was earned and why his share was not given. But here, the Chief Minister sends him to jail for stealing public money. In Punjab, no one dares to indulge in corruption. We have eradicated corruption from its roots. Every single rupee of government money is spent on the people. We constantly think about what more can be done for the people.”

Highlighting healthcare reforms, he shared that people came to meet CM Bhagwant Mann and said that if someone in the family falls ill, it becomes very difficult. CT scans are expensive, medicines are costly, MRIs cost thousands, and if someone gets cancer, it costs lakhs. Where will a poor person bring this money from? You will be surprised to know that Bhagwant Mann said he would create a system where common people would get free treatment in the same hospitals where the Chief Minister gets treated. Insurance of ₹10 lakh has been provided for every family.

Detailing the scale of the scheme, he further shared, “There are 63 lakh families in Punjab, and every single family has been covered. Even in the biggest hospitals where millionaires, billionaires, and Chief Ministers go for treatment, poor farmers, labourers, rickshaw pullers, and children of common people can now get treatment up to ₹10 lakh for free. They do not have to pay anything. Should this not happen in Gujarat? Do you want ₹10 lakh insurance or not? You will have to form your own government. These leaders will not do it. You will have to uproot them. The BJP and the Congress have ruined the country. Form your own government, a government of common people.”

Citing examples from Gujarat, Arvind Kejriwal said, “Someone told me today that there is a KD Hospital in Ahmedabad where Amit Shah gets his treatment. If you form a government of the ‘aam aadmi,’ we will make arrangements so that your entire family can get free treatment there. There is also Zydus Hospital, where billionaires get treated. If you form a government of common people, we will ensure that your treatment there is free. You will not have to pay anything. Should this happen or not?”

“Leaders from other parties come and abuse each other. They abuse me, and AAP leaders. There is nothing in abuse. I have been speaking for the last 15 minutes and I have not abused anyone. I talk about you, your family, your children, your future, and the progress of Gujarat. I do not abuse anyone. I talk about work,” he asserted.

Outlining financial support for women, the AAP Chief shared, “We have made arrangements in Punjab that every woman will receive ₹1000 every month directly in her bank account. If there is a mother, daughter in law, and daughter in one household, then that family will receive ₹3000 every month. Opposition parties, the Congress and the BJP, abused us and said we are wasting money and that giving money to women will spoil them. I said that you swallowed crores and billions of rupees and you did not get spoiled, but women will get spoiled with ₹1000. Should this not be implemented? If you form a government of the ‘aam aadmi,’ ₹1000 will start coming into the accounts of all women in Gujarat as well.”

Focusing on upcoming elections, Arvind Kejriwal concluded by stating, “Now there are Zila Parishad elections. In these elections, we will give tickets to your children. No AAP leader will give tickets to our brothers, fathers, or children. No one will get tickets from within our families. Your children will get tickets. You should apply. You have to run the Aam Aadmi Party. You have to become its leaders. Your children will get tickets. You have to form your own government. Zila Parishad elections are like a semi final. After one and a half to two years, there will be Assembly elections in Gujarat. Before that, you have to form a government of the 'aam aadmi' by giving a massive mandate in these elections. You have to send your children to Panchayats and Municipalities. Together, we have to take Gujarat on the path of progress.”

What did Bhagwant Singh Mann say?

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The Aam Aadmi Party was formed for the welfare of common people. When the Aam Aadmi Party government was in Delhi, government schools improved significantly. Mohalla clinics provided free medicines and free treatment to the poor. The lives of people living in jhuggis improved and employment opportunities increased. After that, the BJP government came to power and shut everything down, handing everything over to big industrialists. Private schools are now functioning arbitrarily. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party government is ensuring that every family receives a ₹10 lakh health insurance card, allowing people to get treatment in any major private or government hospital of their choice. Women from the general category will receive ₹1000 per month and women from the Dalit community will receive ₹1500 per month.”

Appealing to voters ahead of elections, he added, “In the upcoming elections, people must remember that the BJP has been looting for the past 30 years and the Congress is hand in glove with them. So where should people go? Now that the Aam Aadmi Party has arrived, people should press the ‘jhaadu' (broom) symbol button. This jhaadu will politically clean the dirt accumulated over the last 30 years. If people press the jhaadu button, their future will shine, but if they press the old buttons, they will mortgage their future for the next five to ten years to these looters. The BJP has ruined Gujarat and sold a false Gujarat model across the country. Therefore, vote for the Aam Aadmi Party in the Zila Parishad elections. The BJP and the Congress will try to divide people in the name of religion and caste, but Arvind Kejriwal will educate your children.”

Emphasising delivery of guarantees, Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The Aam Aadmi Party does not just make promises, it gives guarantees and fulfils them. Today, 90 percent of households in Punjab receive zero electricity bills. Farmers in Punjab get completely free electricity, and that too during the daytime. A farmer goes to the field at 10 in the morning and returns home at 6 in the evening after switching off the tubewell, just like finishing a workday at an office. This is the dignity and respect we give to our farmers.”