Kejriwal stopped from meeting Modi in Ahmedabad

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was stopped by the Gandhinagar police on Friday from meeting Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party was not pleased with the AAP, which did not seek prior permission to meet the Gujarat chief minister. They later refused an appointment saying that Modi was busy for the next two to three days.    

Before heading for Modi’s house, Kejriwal accused him of speaking "white lies" on development in Gujarat. He wanted to meet the BJP leader to discuss his development claims.

The former Delhi CM said he has raised 16 questions on development claims on Gujarat and wants to discuss all the issues with Modi if he has the time.

Kejriwal, who was on a four-day visit to Gujarat to 'verify' the development claims on the home turf of Modi, also raked up the gas pricing issue.

"Modi should make his point clear on the issue of gas pricing," he said, adding, "The Gujarat government has demanded that gas pricing should be $16. Earlier, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had given a go ahead to raise the price of gas from $4 to $8".

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Kejriwal, who later drove to the airport to go to Jaipur, complained that Modi has no time for a common man like him. He has not been answering questions except to make speeches in public.

Earlier in the day, the former Delhi CM said he has raised 16 questions on development claims on Gujarat and wants to discuss all the issues with Modi.

Kejriwal also raked up the gas pricing issue. "Modi should make his point clear on the issue of gas pricing," he said, adding, "the Gujarat government has demanded that gas pricing should be $16. Earlier, the UPA government had given a go ahead to raise price of gas from USD 4 to USD 8".

"People say that you have such close relations with Mukesh Ambani that you have made Ambani family's son-in-law a minister," Kejriwal alleged. "You made Saurabh Patel a minister. By giving him portfolios like gas, petroleum, energy and minerals, in a way you allocated Gujarat's natural resources to Ambanis," Kejriwal alleged.

The AAP leader also claimed that there was a high rate of unemployment in Gujarat.

"Recently, 13 lakh people applied for 1,500 posts of talati (accountant). This clearly shows that Gujarat has a high rate of unemployment," said Kejriwal.

On the issue of contractual job system in state-run units, the former Delhi CM held Modi responsible for exploitation of youths.

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"Educated youths have been given adhoc jobs on a meager salary of Rs 5,300 per month. Who will be able to run his family in Rs 5,300 per month?" he asked.

It is the government's responsibility to give good education to poor. We have been in the villages to verify the educational facilities in rural area, said Kejriwal.

"Government-run schools are in a bad condition, health care is in shambles, farmers have been given less compensation for land acquired from them by government," he alleged.

He also alleged that the Gujarat government is purchasing solar power at Rs 15 per unit, while the price elsewhere is Rs 8 per unit. “You are speaking white lies on the claims of development," the AAP leader alleged.

He also raised questions on the issue of corrupt ministers in the Modi government. "Why you have included Babu Bokhiria as a minister who has been convicted in a mining scam with three years sentence and at present is on bail now?" he asked.

"Whereas another minister Purshottam Solanki, who has been convicted in Rs 450 crore fisheries scam, is also a minister in your Cabinet," Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, a group of around 150-175 suspected BJP members waved black flags and shouted anti-Kejriwal slogans at the spot where the former Delhi CM was waiting.

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