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Delhi election: Arvind Kejriwal releases AAP's 7-point manifesto for ‘middle class’

Jan 22, 2025 03:04 PM IST

Arvind Kejriwal released the Aam Aadmi Party manifesto focusing on the middle class ahead of the Delhi assembly election.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday unveiled its manifesto, placing a strong emphasis on middle-class welfare ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly election. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal released the manifesto while presenting a seven-point charter of demands to the central government for inclusion in the upcoming Union Budget.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a public meeting in New Delhi.(PTI)
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a public meeting in New Delhi.(PTI)

Arvind Kejriwal called for the Budget to prioritise the middle class, proposing significant reforms across education, health, taxation, and senior citizen welfare. Outlining the demands, the AAP chief said:

Increased education spending: Allocate 10% of the Budget to education, up from the current 2%, and introduce caps on private school fees.

Higher education support: Provide subsidies and scholarships to make higher education more accessible.

Also Read | 'Sheesh Mahal an example of...': PM Narendra Modi launches scathing attack on 'AAP-da', Kejriwal ahead of Delhi poll

Boost health funding: Increase the health budget to 10% and remove taxes on health insurance.

Tax reforms: Raise the income tax exemption limit from 7 lakh to 10 lakh.

Essential goods relief: Remove GST from essential commodities.

Senior citizen benefits: Implement robust retirement plans, pension schemes, free medical services at all hospitals.

Also Read | Delhi Police facilitating BJP's campaign, party workers threaten AAP volunteers: Arvind Kejriwal

Travel concession: Provide a 50% concession on rail travel for senior citizens.

“These demands aim to ease the financial burden on the middle class and address long-standing issues in education, health, and senior citizen welfare,” said Arvind Kejriwal, emphasising the need for policies that prioritise common citizens.

“We use tax money for education, protecting the middle class from inflation. We reduced power tariff, water bills, we improved infrastructure in government hospitals,” Arvind Kejriwal said.

Also Read | Atishi responds to claims that Arvind Kejriwal can't become Delhi CM | HT interview

The AAP manifesto came as Delhi chief minister Atishi and Kejriwal held a news conference on Wednesday morning, accusing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Bidhuri and his associates of perpetrating "hooliganism" against AAP workers.

Atishi accused the BJP of creating an atmosphere of "terror" in the Kalkaji assembly constituency while demanding action from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the matter. She said people claiming to be nephews of Bidhuri were threatening AAP workers while grabbing their collars and "burning" the campaign materials, including pamphlets.

"Ever since Rakesh Bidhuri is contesting elections from Kalkaji, BJP has created an atmosphere of terror in the Kalkaji Vidhan Sabha region. In every area, BJP workers, and some people who claim to be the 'bhatijas (nephews)' of Ramesh Bidhuri, are threatening AAP workers, grabbing their collars. They are snatching and burning the campaign materials," Atishi said.

Kejriwal also joined the news conference and said the events described by Atishi were not limited to one assembly constituency. “What Atishi said is not limited to just one assembly constituency. BJP has resorted to hooliganism,” he said.

“Any party or candidate resorts to violence only when they see that it is impossible to win peacefully. BJP is heading towards a historic defeat in Delhi. It will be written in history that a party will lose so badly,” Kejriwal added.

As the assembly election in Delhi nears its commencement date, the tussle between AAP and BJP keeps intensifying over various issues. Delhi will go to the polls on February 5, and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

A three-way contest is on the cards in Delhi between the ruling AAP, BJP, and Congress. The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat.

The AAP dominated the 2020 assembly election by winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP got eight seats.

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