Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections due later this year, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will provide free electricity to people in the state if they bring an "honest party" to power. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, the AAP's national convener said that he always "calculates" before he makes such claims as he is "educated" and also has an "original degree".
Kejriwal stated that he will visit Gujarat every week to interact with the public on various issues like corruption and farming and said that his party has shown in Delhi and Punjab that they stick to their promise.
"Gujarat can also get cheap, free, 24-hour electricity, but the condition is only one, and that is you will have to change the politics, government, and bring in an honest party...I will be back with a solution to Gujarat's electricity problem," Kejriwal said during a neeting organised on the issue of electricity.
When some members of the general public raised various issues affecting them, the AAP leader said he will discuss them separately. "Today, we should discuss electricity. We will discuss other issues as well. I will visit Gujarat every week and hold 'jan samvad' (public dialogue) on the issues of corruption, agriculture, MSP (minimum support price)," he said.
Kejriwal said if Gujarat ministers can enjoy zero electricity bills despite consuming thousands of units, then why not the general public. Kejriwal, without naming anyone, accused BJP leaders of lying by claiming that there are no power cuts in Gujarat. He said a "very big leader" from Gujarat said people of the state do not want anything for free.
"First you give up free electricity...," Kejriwal said. "They are scared that if people are provided free electricity, then they will have no money left to loot," he added.
