Public wants new-age politics of honesty : Arvind Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party began its quest for Himachal Pradesh as National Convenor and Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal led an unprecedented Tiranga Yatra in Mandi today. Addressing the rally, Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated — Himachal has made up its mind; the public wants new-age politics of honesty and not old politics that troubles them. We don’t know how to do politics; we know how to eradicate corruption; we’ve proven it in Delhi & Punjab and now it's Himachal’s turn. AAP’s Punjab Government did not just reduce corruption in 20 days but completely eradicated it. Not one registrar, tehsildar or policeman has the guts to ask for bribes in Punjab now. If we could do it in 20 days in Punjab why couldn’t the BJP-Congress do it in 75 years. Earlier the whole system was riddled with corruption from top to bottom; now whoever asks for bribes lands up in jail. We know how to build schools-hospitals, how to supply electricity and water; we have honest intentions to promote development. I have full hope that Himachal would break the records set by Delhi and Punjab and bring us to power with an unprecedented mandate. You gave 30 years to Congress, 17 years to BJP; give AAP just one chance, you will forget about all these parties. Accompanying the Delhi CM, was AAP’s Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann, who said — Till now the public had no third option; now the god has armed you with a Jhaadu to sweep the Indian politics clean of bigots. It is high time the public stopped voting for leaders and votes in the name of electricity and water.

Aam Aadmi Party's National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal lead a massive 'Tiranga Yatra' in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh Today. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann accompanied Shri Kejriwal in the roadshow which started from New Victoria Bridge in Mandi and witnessed huge crowds. The locals seemed jubilant to see and hear both of AAP's CMs together. Senior leaders of the party including AAP's election in-charge of Himachal Pradesh and Delhi Health Minister Shri Satyendar Jain and state in-charge Shri Durgesh Pathak were also present during the roadshow. The roadshow took a festive turn as the senior party leaders stepped into the crowds among rousing support to sing and dance with them to the tunes of patriotism to motivate the crowd.

Among roaring chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’, AAP National Convenor Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “Today you have all won my heart. We did not expect the crowd to show up in such large numbers, to meet this many friends. As far as my eyes can see, all that is visible is an ocean of our national flags – Tirange Hi Tirange, with an overwhelming feeling of patriotism. My brother Sardar Bhagwant Mann and I are common folks, just like all of you gathered here, we are no different. Our biggest weakness is that we don’t know how to practise politics. What we do know is how to work for progress and development, how to practise patriotism, how to drive away corruption and misgovernance. We completely eradicated any trace of corruption from Delhi, and within a matter of 20 days of having been the CM of Punjab, Sardar Bhagwant Mann has completely ended corruption in the state. In case you do not believe my claims, you should contact your friends and family in Punjab to confirm this, tell them to go to any police station or government office – they will find that no one dares to ask for bribes anymore.”

He continued, “If we ended corruption in just 20 days, why have the other parties failed for the past 75 years? This is because our intentions are clear, while theirs are tainted. We are staunchly honest people. Earlier, the money used to flow from the bottom level to the top offices all the way to the CM, but now that the CM is an honest man, this system has completely ended. Whoever dares to indulge in corruption now goes straight to jail. First, we ended corruption in Delhi, then in Punjab, and now it is time for us to do the same in Himachal Pradesh. While I don’t know the ABC of politics, I know how to build schools. In Delhi, you can contact your friends and family – they will tell you how we have revolutionised and improved government schools, and capped private school fees, preventing them from charging exorbitant amounts. We are well versed with how to improve schools and hospitals, how to end corruption, and to provide 24x7 and free supply of electricity and water – all because we are honest patriots. This is your turn, Himachal Pradesh. We have promised change and delivered in both Delhi and Punjab. This time the revolution will take place in Himachal. Looking at the turnout today has reaffirmed my belief that in the upcoming assembly elections, Himachal Pradesh will break the records of Delhi and Punjab and vote AAP to power with an unprecedented landslide victory. You gave more than 30 years to the Congress and 17 years to the BJP; all I am only asking for is five years from you. Give the Aam Aadmi Party a chance. If we do not deliver, vote us out next season. But if you give this one chance to the Aam Aadmi Party, you will forget that any other party exists.”

Addressing the Tiranga Yatra, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann said, “I am delighted to be present in Mandi among you all today. It is important to note how the British ruled over us and colonised us collectively for 200 years, while the BJP and the Congress colonised us in instalments of 5-5 years. All they did was loot and plunder. Without any hard work, these parties came to power because the public felt that it had no third option. Similar was the case in Punjab, in Delhi. However, now the universe has sent a miracle in the form of the Aam Aadmi Party, to sweep the nation clean of all its corruption and misgovernance. We should all come together to vote for ourselves, our children, for quality education and good hospitals, for electricity-water, and other basic amenities. This time you must vote for yourself, for AAP. Ever since the Punjab election results were declared, BJP and Congress have given statements saying that no third party can come to power in Himachal Pradesh, because they are afraid AAP will win here as well. We asked for one chance in Delhi, and the people forgot every other party soon after. We asked for one chance in Punjab, and we ended corruption in merely 20 days.

He added, “All these other parties are hell-bent on nepotism, of getting the seat in their family’s hands by hook or by crook. But the Aam Aadmi Party is one that leads common people to the Vidhan Sabha and the Parliament. The man who defeated former Punjab CM Charanjeet Channi owns a mobile-repairing shop and the woman who beat both Sidhu and Majithia is just a social worker. Now the common people have a chance to represent their interests. Earlier, the power hungry leaders had hogged the political field, scaring the common people into hiding, making them think that politics is a game for goons and rich people that they cannot participate in. AAP has led them to believe that anyone can become a politician – a teacher’s son like me can become CM of a state, while 55-60 year olds are Youth Leaders in other parties. Thank you for showering us with so much love and respect.”