Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal during a public meeting in poll-bound Delhi on Tuesday, accusing the former Delhi chief minister of hypocrisy. Gandhi remarked, “Arvind Kejriwal came in a small car but lived in Sheesh Mahal,” referencing Kejriwal’s use of a blue Wagon R during his early tenure as chief minister and the BJP’s allegations about lavish spending on refurbishing his official residence.
Speaking at the Patparganj rally, Gandhi alleged Kejriwal was absent during Delhi’s times of crisis. “When Delhi faced violence and the poor needed him, Kejriwal was nowhere to be seen,” he said.
The Congress leader also criticized Kejriwal and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia over their involvement in the Delhi excise policy case. “Patparganj MLA Manish Sisodia was the architect of the liquor scam along with Arvind Kejriwal, which is why Sisodia fled the seat,” Gandhi claimed. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia were jailed for months in connection to the alleged scam but were released on bail last year. Sisodia is now contesting the Delhi assembly election from the Jang Pura constituency.
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“Arvind Kejriwal promised a different kind of politics but gave Delhi its biggest liquor scam,” Gandhi added.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi campaigned for Sandeep Dikshit, who is running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency for the February 5 assembly polls, according to PTI.
BJP vs. AAP on Water Quality
Meanwhile, the BJP and AAP remain at odds over water quality in Delhi. Kejriwal accused Haryana’s BJP-led government of contaminating the Yamuna River with ammonia, a claim the Delhi Congress declared could amount to treason if untrue.
The 70-member Delhi assembly will go to the polls on February 5, with votes set to be counted on February 8. In the 2020 elections, the AAP secured a landslide victory with 62 seats, leaving Congress with none.
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