New Delhi: Ramping up attack on the BJP in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the saffron party does not have anything to counter their honest and patriotic image which is why they are laying corruption allegations that stand untrue given the fact that his party leader doesn’t have enough money to contest elections, prompting them to seek donations.
Speaking to TV9 Bharatvarsh along with his party leaders Atishi, Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kejriwal refuted the corruption allegations against him and his party leader laid by the BJP and that the people of Delhi have seen the truth.
He cited the instances of donations sought by Atishi and Manish Sisodia in the past as their proof to debunk corruption allegations around the excise policy case and the “sheesh mahal” row.
“During the Anna Hazare movement, people saw that we are honest, patriotic and stubborn and the BJP does not have anything to counter this which is why they indulge in mudslinging and trying to defame us daily,” Kejriwal said during the interview.
“They (BJP) hatched a conspiracy to attack Kejriwal’s honesty. All fake cases were lodged against us but not a single paisa has been recovered even after 500 raids. If we had accumulated money, why would Atishi be asking for donations? Why is Manish Sisodia asking for funds?” he said.
My leaders do not have money to contest elections. If we have Rs 100 crore as the BJP alleges then why my party leaders are seeking donations for election, he added.
Atishi and Manish Sisodia raised Rs 19 lakh and Rs 40 lakh respectively earlier this month to contest the Delhi assembly elections next month.
“When I got out of jail and went amongst people if I was corrupt, they would’ve said that to my face but they took me with open arms. They said they prayed for me when I was jail. So, the people are watching that we are being troubled for doing work and the tough situation we went through, I don’t think anyone in India’s history has gone through so many problems,” the AAP supremo said in another salvo at the BJP.
Delhi’s 70-member assembly will go to polls on February 5 and the counting of votes will be taken up on February 8.
