LUDHIANA: In a strong political message, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal asserted that Punjab has decisively broken away from the era of fear, goondagardi and manipulated elections, while announcing that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will now launch a full-scale war against gangsters on the lines of the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’.
Addressing the gathering of the elected representatives in Ludhiana, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, “First of all, I congratulate all of you who have been elected in such large numbers as members of the District Councils and Block Committees. You must be happy today because the people have entrusted you with a new responsibility. It is a matter of great pride that in these elections, the AAP has won more than 70 percent of the total seats. These are your party’s seats.”
Speaking on the deep-rooted problems Punjab had faced, the AAP Chief said, “They spread drugs all over Punjab. Who sells drugs? Whether it is one party or the other, it is their uncles, brothers, sons-in-law who are selling drugs, indulging in crime, and running gangs. They openly give tickets to gangsters. We did not come to do this. We came to clean this system. We have put our lives at stake, sacrificed everything. They even sent me to jail for raising my voice against them. They thought Arvind Kejriwal would stop speaking. I came out and roared even louder.”
He said the electoral mandate reflected performance. “After four years in government, if we win over 70 percent seats with 38 percent vote share, that 38 percent is a vote for our work, not for coercion or corruption. It is a vote for honesty and decency. Our party is a party of decent people.”
Calling the newly elected representatives crucial to the future, Arvind Kejriwal said, “Now it is your responsibility to take this 38 percent vote share to 45 percent in the next election. Less than 45 percent is not acceptable. You must go village to village, meet people with folded hands, without arrogance. Arrogance destroyed Akali Dal and Congress. If you become arrogant, the same will happen to us. Go to people’s homes, work for them in their joys and sorrows, not only in official matters but also in personal difficulties. Be their brother, their son.”
On the fight against drugs, AAP National Convenor said that the ongoing war against drugs in Punjab is a result of the AAP government’s political will and courage. “People ask where this anti-drug campaign has come from. Who spread drugs in Punjab? It was their people. Their uncles and relatives were selling drugs. One of their biggest leaders is sitting in jail today. Earlier, neither the police nor the administration had the courage to even touch him. When we said he must be sent to jail, it was only the AAP government that had the resolve to do it because we had decided that Punjab’s youth must be freed from drugs, ” he asserted.
On law and order, the AAP Chief said that after drugs, the government will launch a major campaign against gangsters. “Just like we started a war against drugs, we will start a war against gangsters as well. All gangsters and their networks in Punjab will be eliminated. We will not spare them, ” he said.