Arvind Kejriwal said that the state spending money on its people is not Revdi.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quip about free facilities provided by governments ahead of elections, which he likened to “revdi” or North Indian winter forums, on Saturday drew an immediate rebuttal from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who said that Providing free water, electricity or world class primary education was not a bribe to the voters but the responsibility of the state.
“Today Gagan, son of a worker who lost his job worth Rs 15,000 a month during the lockdown, has managed to get admission in computer engineering at IIT Dhanbad. Ask him if Kejriwal is giving free Revdi or building a future. This country,” he said, focusing his attention on improving the capital’s public schools.
“We have transformed Delhi’s government hospitals, created amazing mohalla clinics. Delhi is the only megacity in the world where each of the 20 million people can get free treatment. This includes surgeries up to Rs 30 or 40 or 50 lakhs ” Mr Kejriwal said.
“Those who are asking me why we give 200 units of free electricity in Delhi and 300 units in Punjab – I want to ask them how many units of free electricity do you give to your ministers? 4,000? 5,000?” They said.
“The same people abusing me for free bus rides for women are the same people who have spent thousands of crores on private jets,” he said.
The AAP chief listed the Delhi government’s ‘Farishtey Scheme’, which pays for the treatment of an accident victim in any hospital (“13,000 lives have been saved so far”); free yoga classes (“17,000 people enjoying this facility”); Free pilgrimage to Ayodhya, Haridwar and others.
“Despite doing so many things for free, Delhi has a budget surplus. What’s wrong with using that money to end corruption and help the public?” They said.
“I’ll tell you what free revenue is. A big company. It took loans from many banks and didn’t repay. Banks went bankrupt. That company paid the ruling party and took no action. It’s free revenue,” Mr Kejriwal said.
“When you waive thousands of crores in loans for your friends, that is free rewari. When you go on a foreign trip, and ask for contracts for your friends, that is free rewari,” he directed at PM Modi Said in a pointed attack.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister while inaugurating the Rs 15,000-crore Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh – which the opposition called “semi-constructed” – offered free to vote, warned against “revdi culture” and said That it is “very dangerous”.
“Today, efforts are being made to bring a culture of collecting votes by distributing Revdi in our country. This Revdi culture is very dangerous for the development of the country. The people of the country and especially the youth need to avoid this culture,” PM Modi said. Told.
He said the supporters of Revdi culture would never build new expressways, airports and defense corridors.
Without naming anyone, PM Modi said, “People of Revdi culture think that they will buy people by distributing free Revdi. We have to jointly defeat this thinking of them. ‘Revdi culture’ has to be removed from the politics of the country.” ” Kejrival.