Kejriwal targets BJP over rising power, water bills

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, saying the residents of the Capital are being burdened with soaring water and power bills while civic services have collapsed. 

Mr. Kejriwal claimed that sewage lines are overflowing, garbage is piling up across neighbourhoods, government hospitals are facing medicine shortages, and Mohalla Clinics have been shut down. 

“People voted for them thinking that the Lieutenant-Governor was not letting us work, so if the BJP comes to power, things will finally improve,” Mr. Kejriwal said while addressing women workers at the AAP headquarters. 

“They thought that since the Prime Minister, the L-G, and the Central government all belong to the BJP, development would happen smoothly. But they have destroyed Delhi,” he said. 

‘Miserable state’

 
The former Chief Minister said that people earlier received free electricity but are now getting bills of ₹2,000-₹3,000, while water bills have also “skyrocketed”. 

“In some areas, dirty water is flowing from taps, while in others, the supply has stopped completely. In posh areas like Vasant Vihar, even malls are on the verge of closure due to water shortage. We have never seen Delhi in such a miserable state,” he said. 

Urging his party workers to stay connected with people, Mr. Kejriwal said AAP must continue serving citizens despite being out of power. “We may have to wait four to five years to return to power, but until then, we must help people selflessly in every possible way. It feels good to be among you again. We have met after many days, but we will keep meeting regularly now,” he said. 

On AAP’s decade-long tenure in Delhi, Mr. Kejriwal said his government had worked “tirelessly” to improve the Capital’s infrastructure and public services. “We built excellent schools, strengthened hospitals, provided free electricity, ensured a clean water supply, and developed good roads. But the BJP government has ruined Delhi in just six months,” he claimed. 

“We are not in politics for power. We came to serve the people. Whether we are in power or not, our only goal is public service. Even today, AAP remains a strong force in Delhi. We must continue to serve people selflessly,” he added. 

BJP hits back

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday accused Mr. Kejriwal of continuing his “politics of deception and lies” even after being voted out of power, alleging that the former Chief Minister is trying to stay politically relevant through false claims.

Mr. Sachdeva said it was unfortunate that instead of showing “political remorse”, Mr. Kejriwal was “shamelessly lying” and claiming he delivered good governance.

“No matter how many lies Kejriwal tells now, the people of Delhi know the truth,” he said. “His government was involved in scams under the guise of improving education such as the classroom scam, and in the name of healthcare, there were irregularities in the construction of Mohalla Clinics and hospitals. The water supply system was so poor that not only during summers, but even in winters, half of Delhi had to depend on water tankers.”