Alleging that a “mining mafia” in Punjab was extorting money from owners of stone crushing units, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday vowed to put an end to the menace “within 24 hours” if his party comes to power in the 2017 Assembly election.
“I am shocked to know that legal crusher owners have to pay ‘goonda tax or jizya’ to the mining mafia in Punjab. I vow that within 24 hours of AAP’s coming into power, this will be curbed in the state,” Mr. Kejriwal, who is on a five-day tour of Punjab to reach out to voters ahead of the Assembly elections, said at a rally here.
Members of the business community, including owners of crushing units, on Sunday met Mr. Kejriwal and alleged that no action was being taken against the extortionists. They also claimed that false cases were being registered against them.
Mr. Kejriwal said once voted to power, AAP would set up a commission to review such cases and take action against officials who had lodged them.
Reacting to reports of a large number of posters which had sprung up in Jalandhar questioning his governance record, the Delhi Chief Minister hit out at the Akali Dal saying they had ruined the state during their 10-year rule.
“People know who has ruined his state for about 10 years and who is a failed CM,” he said.
Mr. Kejriwal also claimed that no government could have achieved in 65 years what his government had accomplished in one year in Delhi.
“What we have done in our one year rule in Delhi, I challenge that no state government could have done in the last 65 years. I am confident if Delhi goes to polls today, other parties will not be able to win even a single seat,” he said.
He also met people from different walks of life, including industrialists, advocates, shopkeepers and members of the Christian community.
Earlier, BJP workers led by district president Suresh Bhatia and Municipal Council president Naresh Mahajan, tried to gherao Mr. Kejriwal at Gandhi Chowk, but were stopped by police who resorted to mild lathi-charge, in which one person was injured.
Around 80 protesters were detained later released after the Delhi Chief Minister left, police said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Kejriwal visited the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar.
Talking to media in Amritsar on Saturday night, he said he met various associations of traders who were not “happy” with the ruling government in Punjab because of “rampant corruption” in government departments. Moreover the state government had failed to “support” traders, he alleged.
Don’t get deceived by hollow promises: Maken
Congress leader Ajay Maken sought to caution the people of Punjab against getting “deceived” by “hollow promises and false propaganda”.
Mr. Maken claimed the people of Delhi are “regretting” their decision to elect the AAP as it hasn’t fulfilled even a single promise.
He alleged the Kejriwal government has betrayed the people’s trust and added the Congress does not want Punjab to suffer the same fate as the people of Delhi.
Mr. Maken attacked the Kejriwal government for allegedly squandering the tax payers’ money in publishing “huge” advertisements.
He claimed the AAP’ advertisements are “full of lies and falsehood” as they take credit for the achievements of the previous Congress government, which had laid the foundation for Delhi’s development.
Mr. Maken said the AAP Government had earmarked Rs. 526 crore for publicity but had no money to pay wages to employees and pensions to widows, handicapped, and elderly.
Mr. Maken said the people of Delhi were now waiting for an opportunity to teach the AAP a lesson, which may happen if by-elections to the 13 MCD wards are held any time soon.
He said the AAP talked about eradicating corruption but is intolerant to internal criticism.
It was quick to suspend two Punjab MPs for raising the issue of internal democracy whereas three of its ministers in Delhi, accused of corruption and cheating, continue to remain its members, he said.
He said Punjab was going through a tough time and Congress doesn’t want AAP to worsen the situation.
