Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the people of Delhi for putting an end to the "lies and deception" politics of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by giving a clear mandate to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assembly elections.
He said that people have put an end to "short-cut" politics of Kejriwal and removed a "major obstacle" in the way of Delhi's development.
"Delhi's mandate also clarified that there is no place for shortcuts or lies and deception in politics. Janata ne short cut rajneeti ka short circuit kar diya (People have short-circuited the politics of shortcut)," PM Modi said while addressing a gathering at the party's headquarters after the resounding victory in assembly polls.
BJP's Return to Power
BJP has won 48 seats, while AAP has won just 22 seats against 62 in the 2020 assembly polls.
The BJP is returning to power in the national capital after 27 years, ending over 10 years of Aam Aadmi Party rule.
Several AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and three-time MLA Somnath Bharti, lost from their strongholds.
Criticism of AAP's Politics
The PM slammed the AAP's politics of "protests, confrontation, and administrative uncertainty."
"Today, you Delhiites have removed a major obstacle in the way of Delhi's development," PM Modi added
. Lashing out at AAP, he said, "The real owner of Delhi is only the people of Delhi. Those who thought of being the owners of Delhi have been confronted with the truth."
PM Modi on Anna Hazare
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Anna Hazare must have got some relief from pain following AAP's defeat in the Delhi Assembly election. He added that Hazare had been "bearing the pain of the misdeeds of these people for a long time."
Earlier in the day, Anna Hazare had criticised AAP for their alleged involvement in controversies surrounding liquor and money.
PM Modi said AAP was born out of the movement against corruption but became deeply involved in it.
"The party born out of the movement against corruption got involved in corruption. It became such a party of the country whose Chief Minister and Ministers went to jail on corruption charges. Those who used to give themselves certificates of honesty turned out to be corrupt. This was a big betrayal with Delhi," PM Modi said.
AAP's Scams and Arrogance
PM Modi further attacked AAP, stating that the liquor scam had defamed Delhi. "The scams in schools and hospitals troubled the poorest of the poor, and on top of that, their arrogance was so much that when the world was dealing with Corona, these people were building 'Sheesh Mahal'."
Earlier, Anna Hazare had said that AAP did not understand the importance of character in politics, which led to their downfall.
He remarked, "They got tangled in liquor and money - his (Arvind Kejriwal's) image was dented because of it and that's why they are getting fewer votes in the election."
Promise of Good Governance
PM Modi assured the people of Delhi of "good governance" and highlighted the public's trust in a double-engine government.
"Today, I was seeing that BJP workers across the country also had a pain in their hearts. It was about not being able to serve Delhi fully. But today, Delhi has accepted our request too. The youth born in the 21st century will now see BJP's good governance in Delhi for the first time. Today's results show how much trust the country has in BJP's double-engine government. After that victory in the Lok Sabha elections, we first made an unprecedented record in Haryana, then made a new record in Maharashtra. Now, a new history has been created in Delhi," PM Modi said.
Support from the Purvanchal Community
PM Modi also acknowledged the people from East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, living in Delhi, who were instrumental in BJP's victory, noting that he is an MP from Varanasi, which comes under the 'Purvanchal' region.
"There is no such area in Delhi where the Lotus did not bloom. People speaking every language have voted for BJP. During this election, wherever I went, I used to say proudly that I am an MP from Purvanchal. The people of Purvanchal have given love to this bond. Therefore, as the MP from Purvanchal, I thank the people of Purvanchal," PM Modi said.
Delhi Becomes "AAP-da Free"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also thanked the people of Delhi for their support to BJP in the assembly polls and said they are feeling relief in making the national capital "AAP-da free."
Addressing a gathering at the party headquarters after the party's resounding victory in assembly polls, PM Modi said BJP will return the love of the people of Delhi in the form of progress and development. He took jibes at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, referring to it as "AAPda (tragedy)."
"I thank the people of Delhi. Delhi has given us love wholeheartedly, and I once again assure the people that we will return you double the love in the form of development," he said.
"Today, there is excitement and relief in the minds of the people of Delhi. Excitement for victory and relief for making Delhi, AAP-da free...I bow my head and thank the people of Delhi for believing in Modi's guarantee," he added.
A Historic Win for BJP
PM Modi termed BJP's victory as "historic."
"This is not an ordinary victory. The people of Delhi have driven out 'AAP-da'. Delhi has been freed from the 'AAP-da'. The mandate of Delhi is clear. Today, development, vision, and trust have won in Delhi. Today, ostentation, anarchy, arrogance, and the 'AAP-da' that had engulfed Delhi have been defeated. I congratulate every BJP worker and all of you for this victory," he said.
AAP's Corruption to Be Investigated
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over allegations of corruption against its leaders, saying that all links of such charges will be probed and those who "looted" money will have to return it.
"These AAP-da people resorted to conspiracies every day to hide their scams. Now, the Delhi poll verdict has come. I am giving a guarantee that in the first session of the assembly, the CAG report will be tabled. Every link of corruption will be probed, and whoever has looted will have to return it," he said.
Targeting AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, PM Modi said that those who gave certificates to others are now facing allegations of corruption.
The BJP has also been taking "Sheeshmahal" jibes at Kejriwal. In his speech, PM Modi thanked the people of Delhi for their support and reiterated their relief at making the national capital "AAP-da free."
BJP's Future Commitments
Meanwhile, BJP leader Parvesh Verma said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will work to fulfill its commitments to the people of Delhi, with setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe corruption under the Aam Aadmi Party government among its top priorities.
"Our priority will be to give Rs 2500 to women. We had talked of creating an SIT to investigate corruption, Yamuna riverfront development, reducing pollution, and tackling traffic congestion. We will build a capital that everyone will be proud of," he said.
NDA's "Vikas ki Guarantee"
As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Delhi assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was synonymous with 'Vikas ki Guarantee' (guarantee for development) and good governance.
"NDA means 'Vikas ki guarantee' and 'guarantee of good governance,'" PM Modi said while addressing the gathering at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters.
BJP's Governance Model
Citing examples of BJP's governance in states where the NDA remains in power, PM Modi pointed out the persistence of law and order problems in Uttar Pradesh before the BJP came to power, where women faced major challenges.
"At one point in time, the law and order problem remained in Uttar Pradesh. The major challenge was for women. Dimaagi bukhaar (encephalitis) wreaked havoc. However, we worked with determination to resolve it," PM Modi said.
He further emphasized the transformation under NDA rule in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, and Bihar, asserting that "good governance benefits the poor and the middle class. The poor living in jhuggis and the middle class provided immense support to the BJP."
