'Shaking Hands With China': Kejriwal Hits Out At Modi Govt In AAP's National Council Meet

Kejriwal said that China is showing eyes to India at the border and our government is shaking hands with them. He raised questions on the Centre and said why is Centre allowing imports from China.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that China is showing eyes to India at the border while the Modi government is shaking hands with China. Addressing the AAP's national council meeting in Delhi, Kejriwal also said that our soldiers are fighting with China and giving their lives at the border for the country while the Indian government is rewarding them. "Instead of giving them a strong answer, our government is purchasing goods from China," he added.

The meeting was chaired by party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. All elected representatives of the Aam Aadmi Party and its key office bearers from various states were invited to discuss the party's pan-India expansion plan at its National Council meeting. 

The Chief Minister remarked that the Modi government was shaking hands with China and hugging them, perhaps a reference to PM Modi's most recent informal chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the G20 Summit.

Speaking during the meeting Kejriwal questioned the Centre and said why is BJP-led Centre allowing imports to continue from China when Beijing is attacking India. Kejriwal also urged people to boycott Chinese goods. "I appeal to people to boycott Chinese goods. We will buy Indian products even if those cost double," Delhi CM said.

Kejriwal slammed the BJP government and said that the BJP government is not letting honest industrialists and high net-worth individuals work because of which they are leaving the country. "Industrialists, high net worth people leaving India because BJP govt not letting them work, sending ED, CBI after them," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal further said that people are fed up with rising inflation and unemployment under the BJP government at Centre. He also said that the AAP government in Delhi has shown that inflation can be contained and jobs can be created. "AAP government in Delhi has shown inflation can be contained, jobs can be created. Delhi inflation lowest in India at 4.7%," Kejriwal remarked.

AAP is the vehicle to bring change and make India a nation where nobody fights over religion and caste, the Delhi CM said.

Arvind Kejriwal exuded confidence in his party and said that AAP will form government in Gujarat in 2027. "AAP is the only party to become a national party within 10 years. We will form govt in Gujarat in 2027," Kejriwal said.

AAP's National Council Meeting

The Council meeting was held to discuss the efforts made so far to strengthen the AAP's base in different parts of the country and devise the party's strategy for the upcoming assembly polls to be held in various states next year, with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, party sources told PTI.

The meeting was held at a resort in Delhi's Kapashera. This meeting holds significance as it comes close after the just-concluded assembly polls in Gujarat, where AAP won five seats and secured nearly 13 percent vote share. With this, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party became eligible for getting National Party status by the Election Commission.

The AAP also ended the 15-year rule of the BJP in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by defeating the saffron party in the civic body elections held earlier this month.

The day-long meeting is being held to discuss the party's performance in the Gujarat Assembly polls which were held in two phases on December 1 and December 5 The Gujarat unit of the AAP was hoping to win more than 45 seats in the 182-member Gujarat legislative assembly, party sources told PTI.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained the biggest gainer winning 156 seats in the three-cornered contest as it clinched a historic victory in Gujarat and retained power. The Congress remained the main opposition in the state but ended up winning 17 seats and securing a 27 percent vote share with the AAP significantly eating up its space in the assembly elections.

“The meeting will discuss the AAP's performance in Gujarat assembly polls and plans to further strengthen the party's base in the state,” a source in the party told PTI.

“It's a very crucial meeting as it is happening for the first time after the party's achievements in Punjab, Goa, Gujarat, and MCD elections. This meeting is more significant because the AAP has become a national party now and we have our national expansion plan,” a source in the party told PTI.

All the elected representatives (MLAs and MPs) of the AAP from Delhi, Punjab, Goa, and Gujarat as well as the key office bearers of the party's state units were invited to attend the meeting,” the source told PTI. “They will talk about the political scenario in their respective states and update the council with the efforts taken so far to strengthen the party's base. They will share the party's future plans,” the source added.

Based on their feedback, the party will fine-tune the strategy to execute its national expansion plan “with main focus on upcoming assembly elections in various states,” the source added.

Pathak, a former IIT-Delhi faculty member and a Rajya Sabha MP of the party, is credited for the AAP's stupendous victory in Punjab assembly polls. He was the AAP's election in charge for Gujarat. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other senior leaders of the party were also present at the day-long meeting, PTI reported citing sources.

(With PTI Inputs)