Kejriwal stokes controversy, says Goa is a first-class state with third-class politicians

Kejriwal says AAP will form the first corruption-free govt. in Goa after the 2022 Goa Assembly election’

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Mumbai: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday stoked fresh controversy remarking that Goa is “a first-class state regrettably saddled with “third class politicians”.

He exhorted the Goan public to root out the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government while promising that the AAP would “establish the first corruption-free government in Goa” after the 2022 State Assembly election.  

Addressing a pre-election rally in Panjim, Kejriwal hurled barbs at the BJP, the Congress and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) – Goa’s oldest regional party – for having given the people nothing but scam-tainted governance since Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961. 

Criticising the frenzied horse-trading before the elections, the AAP Convenor said that the Congress, which does not have any strong candidates today, is virtually an empty party with just two MLAs in the 40-seat Assembly. 

Kejriwal sarcastically remarked, “At the time of flight to Goa, the Congress had three MLAs. By the time my flight touched down, the Congress had just two…The people of Goa had given the Congress 17 MLAs after the 2017 Assembly election of whom 15 were ‘sold’. Now, only a little ‘stock’ is remaining in the market (in the form of two of its MLAs). There is a heavy discount before fresh air arrives in March (after the poll results). Anyone can buy this last stock.”

The AAP Convenor mocked the Congress’ plight, drily remarking that he didn’t understand politics, and least of all that of Goa where the buying and selling of MLAs and candidates was a matter of course. 

Observing that the Congress had ruled Goa for 27 years, while the BJP and the MGP had ruled the State for 15 years each and had given nothing to the people except leaving their legacy of corruption.  

“These parties have provided no electricity, no water, no medical facilities while we (AAP) have created magic in Delhi in just five years…The people of Goa are good and hard-working. They deserve better politicians,” said Kejriwal. He further remarked that if it came to power, the AAP would provide a government which had “zero tolerance for corruption.” 

Stating that the Goan people were intensely resentful of the BJP, the Delhi Chief Minister said that the saffron party had had “stocked its cabinet with pearls” in the form of scam-tainted ministers. 

The AAP Convenor added, “There is one minister who was involved in a sex scandal (Milind Naik) and had to resign. Another was involved in an oxygen scam while another minister (Deepak Pauskar) is accused of selling jobs in his department and reportedly takes Rs. 20 lakhs for it…the AAP will end all this corruption. Furthermore, our candidates will be made to sign an affidavit so that people have the right to take the candidate to court if he changes his party before elections.” Kejriwal added that his party had no wish to buy or sell candidates. 

Unveiling the AAP’s ‘Goa model of development’, Kejriwal said his party had a copyright in ‘providing zero electricity bills’ and would replicate the AAP’s Delhi achievements in Goa as well. He further remarked, “There are no power cuts in Delhi today. Prior to it, there used to be six-seven hours of power cuts… We have a copyright on providing zero electricity bills.” 

Calling for a systemic change in Goa, Kejriwal promised that the AAP would re-start the mining business within six months and do what the BJP could not do for 10 years. 

“We will re-start mining within six months of forming the government. Till then, those dependent on the mining industry will be given a subsistence of Rs. 5000 every month. Likewise, we will provide an unemployment allowance of Rs. 3000 per month for those who have not yet been able to secure a job,” assured Kejriwal. 

At the same time, Kejriwal cleverly played the Ayodhya card promising free pilgrimage for those keen to visit the ‘Ram Janmabhoomi’ in Ayodhya.