"If you want rioters and bullies, vote for the BJP, and if you want schools and hospitals, vote for me,” said Delhi chief minister and national convenor of Aam Admi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal to a cheering crowd at the National College Grounds in Bengaluru on Thursday, setting the stage for his party's campaign for the 2023 assembly elections in Karnataka.
"Today, if farmers have taken a vow to enter politics, it is because they are in a bad state even after 75 years of Independence. We see farmer suicides and small farmers facing poverty, and children of farmers opting out of agriculture. If the farming community comes together, you can demolish any government," said Kejriwal, urging the farmers to join his party.
A faction of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (KRRS), led by Kodihalli Chandrashekar, pledged its support to the AAP on the occasion.
"The AAP respects farmers and will not rest till we bring prosperity to farmers of this country," Kejriwal said.
Referring to the Centre withdrawing three contentious farm laws following the 13-month protest by farmers, Kejriwal said, "One should not be arrogant. Ravan was arrogant. When he kidnapped Sita, many people, including his wife Mandodari and Vibheeshan, told him that Ram was an avatar of god, and asked him not to provoke him. But Ravan thought he was invincible. We know what happened to him. Similarly, the Modi government showed its arrogance by passing three black (farm) laws during the pandemic through an ordinance. They thought they don't need the farmers. Many advised the government not to take on the farmers. But they did not heed to anyone. I salute all the farmers for crushing the government's arrogance."
Promising to give the people of Karnataka a "zero per cent commission" government, Kejriwal said, "If the Congress in Karnataka was a 20 per cent sarkar and the BJP 40 per cent sarkar, let me tell you Delhi has zero per cent sarkar as there is no corruption. Our PM has given me the certificate as the most honest CM. Even after the CBI, IT and police raids at my house and office, they found nothing. It was the same case with my ministers and MLAs."
Stating that he was no politician, Keriwal said, "I don't know politics. But I am a common man and understand the common man's pain. So, my government ensured that people get free and quality education. This year, our government schools' result is 99.7 per cent, and as many as four lakh students from private schools have taken admission in government schools. This is magic. People prefer to go to government hospitals instead of Max, Fortis or Apollo hospitals as we are giving them world class treatment free of cost. People get 24x7 free power and free water. All this is possible because we are a honest government and we save money."
Kejriwal recalled the days when anti-corruption activists would sit in protests in Delhi and the politicians dared them to contest elections. "They should have known that one should never challenge the common man as he is very powerful. If he stands up for himself, he can rattle even the most powerful throne. We took up the challenge, contested and won the elections in Delhi and then in Punjab. It is time for us to win Karnataka," said Kejriwal, calling upon the farmers across the country to join AAP.
Kejriwal stated that he was hurt by some incidents in the recent past. "In Lakhimpur (UP), the son of an MP crushed the farmers with his jeep. But the BJP government rewarded the MP by making him a minister. A country where a murderer is rewarded can never progress. Some goondas attacked my house when only my aged parents were at home. The BJP inducted the goons into the party. The rapists are honoured by the BJP and taken on a shobha yatra (procession). All the goons and rapists are joining this one party. But the AAP is a party of the honest, patriotic and honourable people. You know who is engineering riots. If you wants riots, vote for them. If you want schools and hospitals, vote for me."
Chandrashekar, who joined the AAP in the presence of Kejriwal, said, “The Raita Sangha is extending its support to Aam Admi Party as it can give a corruption-free government. The Congress government had opened fire to kill the farmers during Gundu Rao's tenure and now, the BJP is killing the farmers with its anti-farmer laws. If BJP is 40 per cent commission government, the Congress ran a 20 per cent commission government. We need a zero percent commission government like the one in Delhi. If one Arvind Kejriwal can fight corruption, nothing should stop us all."
Chandrashekhar also announced the launch of a TV channel 'Chalavali', which will be dedicated to the farming community.
