Manish Sisodia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and candidate for Jangpura in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, has strongly reacted to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) allegations about a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ built by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In response, Sisodia accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of constructing a Rs.2700 crore ‘Raj Mahal’ with public funds.
Sisodia, who was recently released from jail after months of incarceration in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, criticized the BJP for diverting the public discourse away from real issues. He pointed out that every Chief Minister has their own official residence and that the focus should be on the country’s development, not on personal residences.
“Every Chief Minister has a residence in their state. But here, the Prime Minister is constructing a Rs.2700 crore ‘Raj Mahal’,” said Sisodia, emphasizing that the BJP has yet to address the larger question of governance. “Let them talk about the PM’s palace, which includes chandeliers made of diamond worth Rs.200 crore. The BJP has been in power for more than a decade and has failed to bring real development to the country,” he added.
The BJP has repeatedly accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of using public money to create luxurious facilities at his official residence. The ruling party has argued that extravagant spending in a time of national crisis is irresponsible. In response, Sisodia dismissed these accusations, shifting the focus to Modi’s lavish residence and construction plans.
Sisodia also took a jab at the BJP’s tactics during the Delhi election campaigns, criticizing the party’s strategy of not focusing on essential development issues like schools and hospitals. “When the BJP contests elections in Delhi, they avoid discussing important issues like schools, hospitals, and development. Instead, they focus on making baseless claims, such as accusing Kejriwal of building a ‘toilet made of gold,’ which he called absolutely untrue. He continued by saying that the BJP should be more transparent about the PM’s extravagant spending on the so-called ‘Raj Mahal.’
The BJP, however, has maintained that the luxurious spending around the official residences of politicians, particularly in times of economic hardship, raises ethical concerns. The opposition party’s allegations focus on extravagant spending while the nation faces financial challenges.
In the midst of this political showdown, reporters asked Sisodia about the ongoing debate surrounding ‘freebies’ in the political landscape. Sisodia defended the AAP’s policy, stating that the government should use the money collected through taxes to directly benefit the people, rather than squandering it on friends or supporters of the ruling elites.
“People pay taxes, and they should get the services they deserve. Other political parties are now realizing that they can no longer mock the politics of Arvind Kejriwal, who prioritizes the welfare of common people,” said Sisodia. He also pointed out that BJP’s criticism of freebies is contradictory, as the party has now adopted similar promises. He emphasized the importance of ‘trust’ in politics, saying that the people of Delhi trust Kejriwal, while BJP continues to lack credibility.
Sisodia concluded by reiterating that Kejriwal’s model, focused on people’s welfare, has gained widespread acceptance. He pointed out that while BJP used to mock the concept of ‘revdi’ (freebies), now they are also offering similar incentives, but without addressing the issue of trust, which remains the core issue for voters.
Political rhetoric is intensifying as parties make their final pitches to the electorate ahead of the Delhi elections, set for February 5. With allegations of corruption, extravagant spending, and promises of freebies, the upcoming election is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory.
