Kejriwal slams Modi, Rahul for 'helicopter politics'

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today filed his nomination for high-profile Varanasi Lok Sabha seat and accused Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi of spending huge sums of money in the ongoing electoral battle which, he said, was all about eliminating corruption.

 

The anti-graft crusader submitted his documents to the Returning Officer after a two-and-a-half-hour roadshow which was attended by the top brass of the AAP, hundreds of party volunteers and a large number of people.  

 

Kejriwal, who led his fledgling party to a spectacular performance in the Delhi assembly polls last year, filed four sets of nomination papers.

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Before entering the fray from the holy city, the AAP leader held a roadshow describing the polls as a fight to "save democracy" and appealed to the people to bring a change in the political system.

 

"This is not my fight. This fight is for those who want to eradicate corruption. The fight is for those who want to see the Ganges clean. This is a fight to have good roads in Varanasi and eliminate poverty," he said.

 

Kejriwal accused BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, his formidable opponent in the battle for Varanasi seat, and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of spending huge sums of money on electioneering, saying the ongoing exercise is all about "eliminating corruption and ensuring inclusive growth".

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"I was told Modi is spending Rs 5000 crore in the election. Gandhi is also spending a lot of money. You watch TV, read newspapers, see billboards, they are there and everywhere.

 

"So much money has been spent on advertisements. This is black money. The people who are giving the money will make at least Rs 5 lakh crore if he (Modi) captures power and it will be people’s money," he said. 

 

Kejriwal said he did not have money power but was fighting the elections to bring a change in society.

"I have Rs 500 in my pocket. I have no money to fight elections. But I am fighting it to bring a change in society.       

 

"I am a fakir. I have no money. I will run a campaign on your money. You decide what do you want," Kejriwal told the roadshow.

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Surrounded by his supporters, some holding the party’s election symbol broom, Kejriwal attacked Modi for his proposed visit to Banaras Hindu University to pay tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya before filing his nomination tomorrow.        

 

"Malviyaji, who was the founder of the university, never allowed any political person or police to enter the BHU campus. But tomorrow Modi and scores of his supporters and a large number of security personnel will enter the campus. It will be against principles of Malviyaji," he said.        

 

Attacking Modi for his "helicopter democracy", Kejriwal said "from BHU, the BJP leader will take a chopper to go to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. It is surprising. Why can't he travel by road to Kashi?"       

 

"The people of Varanasi will have to decide what kind of democracy they want," the AAP leader said.

Varanasi town has virtually become a political capital of the country with Kejriwal and Modi running a high-pitched campaign for the prestigious seat.       

 

Voting in the spiritual town will be held in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 12.       

 

Kejriwal paid floral tributes at Sardar Patel's statue while on his way to file the nomination.

 

Taking a potshot at Modi, Kejriwal told the gathering "be careful. You may see him only in a helicopter after the polls."       

 

The AAP leader also attacked Rahul Gandhi saying he was seen only in a helicopter.       

 

Kejriwal said when he was campaigning in Amethi for Kumar Vishwas people told him that the Gandhi family had "betrayed" them as no development work had taken place there for the last 30 years.      

 

"They said what is the use of voting for Rahul Gandhi who is only seen in helicopter," the AAP leader told the roadshow.       

 

"You decide if you want helicopter democracy or somebody who goes to villages," he said.       

 

"Please do not allow yourself to be betrayed here in Varanasi. This is not my fight. This is a fight against graft. This is a fight for all those who dream of a corruption-free India.        

 

"This is a fight for getting good roads in Varanasi. This is a fight to rid the Ganges of pollution," Kejriwal said amid cheers from his supporters.       

 

The AAP leader's cavalcade took almost two hours to cover a distance of around 2 km as a large crowd greeted him along the way to the District Magistrate's office. The roadshow triggered massive traffic jams across the city.