BJP is headed towards a humiliating defeat in the MCD elections: Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal minced no words today as he attacked the BJP for shamelessly delaying MCD elections at the cost of India’s democracy. He said that the BJP claims to be the largest political party globally but runs away from a small municipal election in fear of the Aam Aadmi Party. In a blistering address to the media, the Delhi CM stated, “I challenge the BJP — if you have courage in you, get the MCD elections held immediately, if you win, we will leave politics there and then. BJP first coerced the State Election Commission to defer elections and is now on track to delay them for months through an amendment. If elections get cancelled like this will there be any point left to this democracy? Will it not make the public feel voiceless and suppressed? BJP’s shameless act of deferring elections is downright disrespectful of the sacrifice our martyrs made for this country and its constitution. Is the Election Commission so fickle that the BJP can make it defer elections in the name of unification of MCDs. Today the BJP is getting MCD elections cancelled, tomorrow it’ll do the same for state and national elections too. Appeal to the PM with folded hands — there may not be a Modi Ji or a Kejriwal left tomorrow; leaders like you and I don’t matter; this country, its constitution and democracy matters and they must be protected. BJP is headed towards a humiliating defeat in the MCD elections.”

While interacting with the media at Delhi Vidhan Sabha premises, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “It was on this very day that Bhagat Singh Ji, Sukhdev Ji and Rajguru Ji were hanged to death by the Britishers. They committed the supreme sacrifice to bring freedom to this nation. India won independence and made one of the strongest constitutions in the world. The constitution gave the public the power to elect governments of its choice, who run as the people say. But for the last few days, what has transpired because of the BJP is nothing short of a travesty. It is downright disrespect of the sacrifice committed by the Amar Shaheeds of our motherland. Everyone knows that BJP was facing a crushing defeat in the upcoming MCD elections. To save itself from such a humiliating defeat at the hands of the AAP, the BJP first coerced the State Election Commission into deferring the MCD polls, and are now bringing an amendment that shall put away the elections for several months.”

He added, “This situation is extremely painful and distressing to witness. If elections are deferred in this manner then there will be no point to this democracy. The public will become voiceless. This country will be reduced to a laughing stock. Did Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh give his life away for this day? Did he sacrifice all he had in him to see a country where a government is so distant from its people that it cancels elections? I want to remind the BJP that the basic right of electing a government to power rests with the people of this country and no matter what they do, the people will not forgive them.”

He continued, “I appeal to the BJP and its Central Government — elections will come and go, victory and defeat is only separated by time. Don’t play with the values of this country, its constitution for gains in a small election. I request you to not make a joke out of the rich history this country commands and all the sacrifices are martyrs made for us to have a present like today. The BJP is arguing that it is deferring elections because it wants to unify the three MCDs. Is this even a valid basis to defer an election? The Gujarat elections are up next. Will they now write to the Central Election Commission asking them to defer Gujarat elections arguing that they want to merge the state with Maharashtra? When the BJP realises they will lose the Lok Sabha elections, will they tell the EC that they want to establish a presidential system so elections can’t take place? Is the Election Commission so fickle that elections can be cancelled like this?”

The Delhi CM further said, “The way the BJP is coercing institutions like the EC for political gains is a direct attack on this democracy. I appeal to the Prime Minister with folded hands — in the future there may not be a BJP or an AAP, there may be no Modi Ji or Kejriwal for the public to see. Our parties don’t matter, we don’t matter. This country is all what matters. Our social fabric is what matters. Our democracy is what matters. Don’t break apart the whole democratic system of India to win a small municipal election. This is just not acceptable. The BJP claims to be the largest political party all over the world. Imagine! The largest party of the whole world is scared of a small party like the AAP. They’re scared of fighting a small municipal election in Delhi. Shame on the BJP. I challenge the BJP — if you have courage in you, get the MCD elections held immediately, if you win, we will all leave politics there and then.”