The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI:After being cleared of charges in the liquor case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s National Convener Arvind Kejriwal has continued to maintain an aggressive stance. After exposing the central government at Jantar Mantar, he appeared on Friday in an attacking posture against the BJP government in Delhi. After appearing before the Assembly’s Privileges Committee in connection with the ‘Phansi Ghar’ controversy, Arvind Kejriwal stated that Delhi’s condition has deteriorated over the past year but the BJP government remains unconcerned about people’s problems. Instead, he asserted, it is attempting to insult the martyrs by trying to portray the historic phansi ghar as a “tiffin room.”
The Chief noted that in 2022, through the efforts of the then Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, it came to light that there was a phansi ghar in the Assembly where the British used to hang freedom fighters. He said Delhi is troubled by rising water bills, contaminated water, increased school fees and pollution, but the government is not talking about these issues.
After the meeting, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, during a media interaction, said the Delhi Assembly complex is a historic building. “During British rule, when the capital was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi, the building was constructed in 1912. In 2022, through the efforts of then Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, it was discovered that one corner of this building had a phansi ghar where freedom fighters were hanged,” he said.
“The then Speaker called him as the Chief Minister and said it should be opened for tourists so people could draw inspiration from it. After this, the phansi ghar was opened and inaugurated,” he said.
Arvind Kejriwal said that since the BJP government came to power, it has been trying to prove that it was not a phansi ghar but a tiffin room. “There cannot be a bigger insult to freedom fighters than this,” he said.
He said he was called before the Assembly’s Privileges Committee to prove that it was a phansi ghar. He told the committee that the Speaker at the time had taken this step only after conducting a full inquiry.
“I asked the committee to tell me what evidence they have that it was a tiffin room. They have no evidence. This clearly means they are deliberately trying to insult freedom fighters by claiming that it was not a phansi ghar but a tiffin room,” he said.
Arvind Kejriwal said he also told the committee that in the past year since the BJP government came to power, Delhi’s condition has worsened. “People of Delhi are crying and remembering the Aam Aadmi Party government,” he said.
“There is garbage everywhere in Delhi, pollution is severe, roads are broken and mohalla clinics are being shut. Hospitals do not have medicines, people are receiving water and electricity bills worth thousands of rupees, and there are power cuts. There is chaos everywhere,” he added.
The AAP National Convenor stated, “I asked the committee whether this was the only issue they found to waste time on. Are they doing all this only for this? I told them that the BJP should focus on fixing Delhi, but they do not talk about Delhi at all.” Arvind Kejriwal said he served as Delhi’s Chief Minister for 10 years and has some experience.
“I would have been happy if a committee of the BJP government had asked me how to fix sewers or roads, so I could share my experience with them. It does not matter to me whose government it is. I just want Delhi to improve. But the BJP does not want to run Delhi. Their aim is not to work but only to do politics,” he asserted.
Arvind Kejriwal said what hurt him the most was that the place where freedom fighters were hanged is now being described by them as not a phansi ghar but a tiffin room.
Major security lapse during Arvind Kejriwal’s appearance before committee
A serious compromise of Arvind Kejriwal’s security occurred during his appearance before the Assembly’s Privileges Committee. When Arvind Kejriwal reached the Assembly, the Delhi Police stopped the PSO assigned to his security outside and did not allow them to enter the Assembly premises.
This happened despite the fact that Arvind Kejriwal has Z+ security due to multiple past attacks on him.
The Aam Aadmi Party strongly reacted to the BJP government for not allowing Arvind Kejriwal’s security vehicle and personal staff inside. Saurabh Bharadwaj said everyone knows that Arvind Kejriwal has faced several attacks in the past, which is why he has been given Z+ security.
“Removing Arvind Kejriwal’s security in the Delhi Assembly and calling him inside alone raises many questions. It appears that the Delhi Assembly does not want to take responsibility for his security,” Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
No Comments: