Gandhinagar: Arvind Kejriwal, who has been attacking Narendra Modi of late, on Friday created a drama by suddenly demanding a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss the issue of gas price and development in Gujarat but failed to get an appointment.
Accompanied by AAP leaders including Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal, who has been in Gujarat for the last two days “inspecting” development in the state, drove to Gandhinagar this morning wanting to meet Modi. But the police stopped him some five kms away from the Chief Minister’s official residence in the administrative capital and asked the AAP leader to seek an appointment with Modi.
Sisodia was then escorted by police to the chief minister’s office to seek an appointment with Modi whom Kejriwal has said was in “Ambani’s pocket”. He had also asked him from public meetings as to whether Modi supports the near doubling of natural gas prices from next month, the principal beneficiary of which would be Reliance Industries Ltd. “Going to seek appointment from Modiji…Met the PS, gave him request for appointment. He says Modiji will decide and we will be informed soon,” Sisodia tweeted after going to the CM’s office.
Gandhinagar SP Sharad Singhal said, “Kejriwal’s car was not stopped, but they stopped here. I took Sisodia to the Chief Minister’s office, where he gave a written request.
The response from the Chief Minister’s office was that they will give a reply to them in two or three days.” Kejriwal, who later drove to the airport to go to Jaipur, complained that Modi has no time for a common man like him.
He has not been answering questions except to make speeches in public. Earlier in the day, the former Delhi Chief Minister said he has raised 16 questions on development claims on Gujarat and wants to discuss all the issues with Modi. Kejriwal also raked up the gas pricing issue.
“Modi should make his point clear on the issue of gas pricing,” he said, adding, “Gujarat government has demanded that gas pricing should be USD 16. Earlier, UPA government had given a go ahead to raise price of gas from USD 4 to USD 8”. “People say that you have such close relations with Mukesh Ambani that you have made Ambani family’s son-in-law a minister,” Kejriwal alleged.
“You made Saurabh Patel a minister. By giving him portfolios like gas, petroleum, energy and minerals, in a way you allocated Gujarat’s natural resources to Ambanis,” Kejriwal alleged. The AAP leader also claimed that there was a high rate of unemployment in Gujarat. “Recently, 13 lakh people applied for 1,500 posts of talati (accountant). This clearly shows that Gujarat has a high rate of unemployment,” said Kejriwal.
On the issue of contractual job system in state-run units, the former Delhi chief minister held Modi responsible for exploitation of youths. “Educated youths have been given adhoc jobs on a meagre salary of Rs 5,300 per month. Who will be able to run his family in Rs 5,300 per month?” he asked.
It is the government’s responsibility to give good education to poor. We have been in the villages to verify the educational facilities in rural area, said Kejriwal. “Government-run schools are in a bad condition, health care is in shambles, farmers have been given less compensation for land acquired from them by government,” he alleged. He also alleged that Gujarat government is purchasing solar power at Rs 15 per unit, while the price elsewhere is Rs 8 per unit.
“You are speaking white lies on the claims of development,” the AAP leader alleged. He also raised questions on the issue of corrupt ministers in the Modi government. “Why you have included Babu Bokhiria as a minister who has been convicted in a mining scam with three years sentence and at present is on bail now?” he asked. “Whereas another minister Purshottam Solanki, who has been convicted in Rs 450 crore fisheries scam, is also a minister in your Cabinet,” Kejriwal said.
Meanwhile, a group of around 150-175 suspected BJP members waved black flags and shouted anti-Kejriwal slogans at the spot where the former Delhi Chief Minister was waiting. (PTI)