Yogi bats for Gambhir, calls Kejriwal ‘leader of dharnas’

New Delhi: Taking a jibe at his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath asked the AAP supremo, on Tuesday, whether he was the head of the city administration or the leader of dharnas and demonstrations.

Addressing a rally at Mandawali in support of cricketer-turned-politician and BJP’s East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir, Mr Adityanath said, “We are confident that he will be opening our victory tally in Delhi just as he did for team India in cricket.”

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister said he was appalled to see the condition of roads in the national capital.

“The AAP government has turned Delhi into a city of potholes and has hurt the sentiments of the people of the city. Mr Kejriwal has nothing to do with vikas (development) and he does not have any interest in working in collaboration with the Central government for the betterment of the city,” said Mr Adityanath.

He said that Mr Kejriwal attacked Congress over corruption and dishonesty before gaining power in Delhi and now it was desperate to “make alliance” with the party.

Mr Adityanath said that democracy or politics done without values and ideals was dangerous for the country. He also hit out at Congress, saying it has “failed” as a party and is staring at defeat even in its bastion Amethi, which is represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Adityanath said that the Kumbh Mela this time was appreciated globally because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also counted several of Mr Modi’s achievements, saying the latter’s schemes and programmes were “not aimed at benefitting the people of any particular caste, creed, or religion.”

On terrorist organisation JuD chief Masood Azhar being declared a global terrorist, the UP CM said, “This is India’s power and it is Prime Minister Modi who is making 130 crore Indians feel this power.”

Hitting out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Mr Adityanath said attempts were made to create hurdles during his recent public meeting in Burdwan as the state administration there made parking arrangements almost 10 km away from the venue and also did not allow them to set up a pandal.

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