Haryana polls: AAP will be kingmaker, says Arvind Kejriwal

CHANDIGARH: AAP will be the kingmaker in Haryana as no govt will be formed without its support, said party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Yamunanagar on Friday.

In his first roadshow in the poll-bound state in support of party candidate Aadarsh Pal Gurjar from the assembly constituency, the former Delhi chief minister attacked BJP while referring to his arrest in the excise policy case.

“I was kept in jail for five months. Their aim was to bend me. I was denied facilities that ordinary inmates receive; they even withheld my medication for several days. They wanted to break me, but they did not know that I am from Haryana. The blood which runs through my veins is that of a Haryanvi. They can break anyone, but not a Haryanvi,” said Kejriwal

Trying to strike an emotional connect with the crowd, he added, “Every child in Haryana will take revenge for what they (BJP) did to me. They sent me to jail; now people of Haryana will send them out of the state. The entire state wants change; people are not letting them enter villages,’’ he said.

Stepping up his attack on BJP, Kejriwal alleged that when he was in jail, they made attempts to buy AAP MLAs. “They made claims of breaking the Delhi govt and toppling the Punjab govt. But they couldn’t break even one of our MLAs as AAP is a party of uncompromising honesty,” he added.

On why he chose to resign as the CM after receiving bail, Kejriwal said that he would take oath only after getting the people’s mandate. “I will undergo my agnipariksha,” he said.

Referring to BJP candidate in Jagadhri, Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on Kanwar Pal Gujjar. “Today, you have a choice. On one side is your favourite Aadarsh Pal, who is always stands with you in your joys and sorrows, and on the other side is Kanwar Pal, the former education minister, who has ruined Haryana’s schools. Education mafia is operating throughout Haryana. Private schools are raising fees arbitrarily and behaving like goons because the BJP govt is in collusion with them. We have transformed govt schools in Delhi; and we will put an end to goondaism of private schools in Haryana as well.”

He slammed Kanwar Pal for not “doing any work for Jagadhri in last 10 years”. “Why would you vote for him? Give Aadarsh Pal a chance this time,” Kejriwal said, noting Jagadhri was once a hub for brass utensils but industries have now shut down, leading to job losses.