'Padha likha hu, meri degree bhi asli hai...': Arvind Kejriwal's free electricity promise in Gujarat

The Aam Aadmi Party chief said if Gujarat ministers can enjoy zero electricity bills despite consuming thousands of units, then why not the general public.

File photo

New Delhi: Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections due later this year, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (July 4, 2022) said that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will provide free electricity to people in the state if they bring an "honest party" to power. Taking a swipe at opposition parties, the AAP's national convener said that he always "calculates" before he makes such claims as he is "educated" and also has an "original degree". Kejriwal stated that he will visit Gujarat every week to interact with the public on various issues like corruption and farming and said that his party has shown in Delhi and Punjab that they stick to their promise.

"Gujarat can also get cheap, free, 24-hour electricity, but the condition is only one, and that is you will have to change the politics, government, and bring in an honest party...I will be back on Sunday with a solution to Gujarat's electricity problem," Kejriwal said during a town hall organised on the issue of electricity.

BJP-Congress कहती थी "Delhi छोटा State है, यहां बिजली फ़्री हो सकती है, बड़े स्टेट में नहीं"

भगवान ने हमें बड़ा स्टेट Punjab भी दे दिया। वहां भी बिजली फ़्री कर दी

मैं पढ़ा-लिखा हूं। मेरी Degree भी असली है। सारी Calculation करके बोलता हूं।

-CM @ArvindKejriwal #VijliSamvadWithAK pic.twitter.com/E8q9opmUKh — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 4, 2022

When some members of the general public raised various issues affecting them, the AAP leader said he will discuss them separately.

"Today, we should discuss electricity. We will discuss other issues as well. I will visit Gujarat every week and hold 'jan samvad' (public dialogue) on the issues of corruption, agriculture, MSP (minimum support price)," he said.

Kejriwal said if Gujarat ministers can enjoy zero electricity bills despite consuming thousands of units, then why not the general public.

BJP lying that there are no power cuts in Gujarat

Kejriwal, without naming anyone, accused BJP leaders of lying by claiming that there are no power cuts in Gujarat. He said a "very big leader" from Gujarat said people of the state do not want anything for free. 

"First you give up free electricity...," Kejriwal said.

"They are scared that if people are provided free electricity, then they will have no money left to loot," he added.

Gujarat का बड़ा नेता कह रहा था "केजरीवाल फ़्री क्यों देता है? जनता को Free बिजली नहीं चाहिए!"

मंत्रियों को फ़्री बिजली तो जनता को क्यों नहीं?

इनको डर लगता है- लोगों को Free बिजली मिलने लग गई तो इनके लूटने के लिए पैसे नहीं बचेंगे।

-CM @ArvindKejriwal #VijliSamvadWithAK pic.twitter.com/eFqWBAl2LM — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 4, 2022

Kejriwal said the "magic" behind their ability to provide free electricity is their clean conscience and honesty.

"We do not ask for money from power companies, we improve them, and we work in the interest of the public. Other parties seek donations for elections from such companies, but we do not seek donations. You are our donation," he said.

73 per cent of people in Delhi get zero electricity bill

Sharing the experience of Delhi where the AAP government provides free electricity up to 200 units, Kejriwal said as soon as his party assumed office, power companies were warned not to raise the unit rates.

"We said we have nothing to do if you gave money to former governments, but our government is honest, we will not ask for a single penny from you. But, you should not raise the electricity rates. They have not raised the rate in the last seven years," the Delhi CM said.

24 घंटे Free बिजली देना एक "जादू" है,

ये जादू सिर्फ़ मुझे आता है। भगवान ने ये विद्या केवल मुझे दी है।

-CM @ArvindKejriwal #VijliSamvadWithAK pic.twitter.com/Dv4bwrIej4 — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 4, 2022

"We provide subsidies to the public after saving money on corruption, which is why they are enjoying free electricity. When we managed to do so in Delhi, the BJP and Congress said this cannot be done in a larger state, so we won in Punjab," he said.

He claimed that 73 per cent of the people in Delhi get zero electricity bill. In Punjab, where the scheme was introduced from July 1, it will be around 80 per cent, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)