AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday described the two projects inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as milestones for Delhi's infrastructure and claimed they were joint ventures between the central and the city governments.
Modi inaugurated a 13-kilometre stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor from Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad to New Ashok Nagar here and the Janakpuri West-Krishna Park Extension section of the Delhi Metro's Phase IV.
During a press conference, Kejriwal congratulated the people of Delhi and asserted that the projects were a collaboration between the city and the central governments.
Taking a dig at his critics, Kejriwal said, "These inaugurations are a reply to those who say AAP only engages in fights." Referring to the challenges faced by his party, he claimed AAP leaders were imprisoned and tortured but maintained their focus on governance.
"Over the past 10 years, our tenure has shown how we kept work above everything else," he said.
He also hit out at Modi, alleging that the prime minister devoted the majority of his speech to criticise the Delhi government.
Kejriwal said, "Today, the prime minister kept abusing the people of Delhi and the elected government of Delhi. I was listening to it, it felt bad. The promise made by the prime minister in 2020 -- the people of Delhi Dehat are still waiting for that to be fulfilled." The former chief minister also urged Modi to fulfil the promises made in the BJP's election manifesto.
With elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly due in February, Kejriwal's remarks underlined AAP's focus on development amid its continuing tussle with the Centre.
Modi, earlier on Sunday had accused the AAP government in Delhi of wasting a decade fighting the Centre and urged Delhiites to give the BJP a chance to transform the city.
Addressing a rally in Rohini, Modi assured that no public welfare scheme would be discontinued if the BJP took power, but the party would focus on eliminating corruption in their implementation. He labelled the AAP government a "disaster" and promised change.
Modi highlighted the Centre’s development efforts, including highway expansion, Metro network growth, and big hospitals, but pointed out issues like potholes, overflowing sewers, and traffic jams that Delhi residents face daily.
He stated, "Delhi has witnessed a state government that is no less than an 'aapda (disaster)'," and claimed Delhiites were calling for change. The prime minister further criticized AAP for focusing on building the "Sheesh Mahal" during the COVID-19 crisis, neglecting the public’s needs.
Modi also dismissed AAP’s alleged claims that a BJP government would end welfare schemes, assuring that central schemes would be revived with renewed vigor.
"Only by removing AAP, Delhi will see the double-engine of development and good governance," he said. Modi stressed the importance of the next 25 years for Delhi and India’s growth as a developed nation.
(With inputs from PTI)