Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal seems unstoppable, at least when it comes to campaigning in Gujarat that goes to polls by the end of the year.
Continuing his back to back visits to the state, Kejriwal on Saturday held an interaction with traders and assured them that if the AAP is voted to power, they will do away with ‘GST raids’ and bring in an amnesty scheme for VAT. Refund of VAT will be given in six months, he said.
The interaction was held amid claims by the AAP that traders and businessmen in Gujarat are being threatened by GST officials who have asked them not to attend the Kejriwal’s event. Gujarat unit president of AAP Gopal Italia also played a recording from his mobile, which allegedly featured an officer talking to a businessman.
“In Delhi I do not stop businessmen from attending meetings of any political party,” Kejriwal said, adding that the party had won their hearts by its behaviour. Kejriwal asked the businessmen to ask their counterparts in Delhi about their performance. “Do not vote for us if they say that we are not good,” Kejriwal said.
Gujarati people are entrepreneurs and businessmen who shine all over the world, but they are being threatened here, he said. He also claimed that those in power have ditched us in the last 75 years. “This dirty politics has to stop and now people of the country will take India forward and not the politicians,” he said. “We have achieved a lot of things in the last 75 years but there are many countries that have overtaken us,” the Delhi CM said.
Kejriwal claimed that he came to Gujarat not to seek donations. He also promised that if his party’s government is formed, they will form an advisory committee of traders and businessmen and their advice would be taken on issues.
He also assured doorstep delivery of services like in Delhi. “Such services can be provided by a government that is non-corrupt,” he remarked.