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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Arvind Kejriwal accuses Modi, Rahul of ‘helicopter democracy’
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Arvind Kejriwal accuses Modi, Rahul of ‘helicopter democracy’

AAP leader files nomination from Varanasi for Lok Sabha election

During his roadshow in Varanasi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said election is a fight for all those who dream of a corruption-free India. Photo: HTPremium
During his roadshow in Varanasi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said election is a fight for all those who dream of a corruption-free India. Photo: HT

Varanasi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday filed his nomination for Lok Sabha elections from high-profile Varanasi seat, and accused Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Narendra Modi and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi of spending huge sums of money during the ongoing polls, which he said is a fight for all those who dream of a corruption-free India.

The anti-graft crusader also took potshots at the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and the Congress vice-president for travelling in choppers and asked people to be beware of their “helicopter democracy".

The AAP leader submitted his documents to the returning officer after a two-and-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.

Before entering the fray from the holy city, Kejriwal 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. This is a fight for all those who dream of a corruption-free India," he said.

Kejriwal accused Modi, his formidable opponent in the battle for Varanasi seat, and Gandhi of spending huge sums of money on electioneering, saying the ongoing exercise is all about “eliminating corruption and ensuring inclusive growth".

“I was told Modi is spending Rs5,000 crore in the election. Gandhi is also spending a lot of money. You watch TV, read newspapers, see billboards, they are there and everywhere," said Kejriwal.

“So much money has been spent on advertisements. This is black money. The people who are giving the money will make at least Rs5 lakh crore if he (Modi) captures power and it will be people’s money," the AAP leader said.

Kejriwal said he did not have money power but was fighting the elections to bring a change in society. “I have Rs500 in my pocket. I have no money to fight elections. But I am fighting it to bring a change in society," said the AAP leader.

“I am a fakir. I will run a campaign on your money. You decide what do you want."

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

“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.

Kejriwal also attacked Rahul Gandhi saying he was seen only in a helicopter.

He 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 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 2km as a large crowd greeted him along the way to the District Magistrate’s office.

During the roadshow, some people threw rose petals on the AAP leader while a few BJP supporters raised anti-Kejriwal slogans. PTI

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Published: 23 Apr 2014, 05:35 PM IST
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