By Alok Singh, IANS,
New Delhi: Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal Saturday ended his 15-day-long fast with a spirited attack on the Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government for its “inability” to provide power and water – which he identified as key issues for the forthcoming polls.
Breaking the fast in protest against the allegedly inflated power bills, amid loud cheers from his supporters, Kejriwal said that the Dikshit government has no right to rule after it could not make water and electricity available for people.
Kejriwal claimed that the days of Dikshit are numbered and warned her to wait till November – the month when assembly elections are scheduled.
“I am grateful to all those who participated in the movement. After my fast, one thing is certain that assembly election in Delhi will be fought on the issue of power and water,” said Kejriwal, who was given coconut water by a girl called Neeru.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, who was on a hunger strike since March 23 against the allegedly inflated water and power bills, accused Dikshit of being in cahoots with power discoms and industrialists and warned this state of affairs would not last long.
“Politics will not be dictated by industrialists anymore,” he said.
Kejriwal also trained his guns at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it will do no good too if it is voted to power.
“Both BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin. While Congress in collusion with power companies hikes the power tarrif, BJP takes to theatrics by staging a protest at DERC,” he said.
On the occasion, Kejriwal informally announced the objectives of his party which included waiving off the allegedly high electricity bills and bringing down the power tariffs to half of the present rates.
He asserted that his fast was for the nation and not for power.
“Had I been power-hungry, I would not have sat on fast,” he said.