Delhi Elections: BJP Manifesto ‘Barbadi Patra’, Aims To End All Welfare Schemes, Says AAP

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, addressing a press conference, said their manifesto is a "barbadi patra" (recipe for destruction) and showed the BJP aims to end the health benefits given by the Delhi government.

Delhi CM and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal (C) along with party leaders Sanjay Singh (L) and Pankaj Gupta at a press conference at the party office, in New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released it election manifesto - Sankalp Patra - for the Delhi Assembly polls 2020, ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) termed it to be a 'barbadi patra' (disastrous letter) stating that it clearly showed the saffron party wants to end all welfare schemes started by the city government. The BJP released the 'Delhi Sankalp Patra', its manifesto for Delhi Assembly polls, promising good quality wheat flour at Rs 2 per kg for the poor and clean drinking water to every household. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, addressing a press conference, said their manifesto is a "barbadi patra" (recipe for destruction) and showed the BJP aims to end the health benefits given by the Delhi government. Even Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the BJP's manifesto has proved that it will stop facilities like free electricity and water given by the Delhi government. "Manifesto of BJP proved that if you vote for them then your free electricity, free water and free bus journey will be stopped. Think and vote," Kejriwal said in a tweet. ALSO WATCH | Delhi Polls: BJP releases Sankalp Patra; Promises 10 Lakh Jobs, Clean Air And Water "BJP's history is linked to Delhi. The future of Delhi will be changed by the BJP," he said. The manifesto said if it forms the government, the party will give wheat flour to the poor at Rs 2 per kg. The manifesto said in line with the Central government's Jal Jeevan Mission, the party will also provide clean drinking water to every household. Among other promises, the BJP has also promised to implement Central government's flagship schemes Ayushman Bharat and Kisan Samman Nidhi in the national capital. To boost employment, it will also conduct recruitment on all vacant government posts. Sankalp Patra, by the BJP, says subsidies already enjoyed by the people of Delhi through various city government schemes will continue if the party is elected to power. "The subsidies announced by the Aam Aadmi Party government in the past few months will continue for another five years. Our subsidies will give more benefits to the people as they will go on for 60 months," it said. The manifesto said the monthly pension for the widows of the 1984 anti-sikh riots will be increased to Rs 3,500 from Rs 2,500. Speaking to the media, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its promise of a clean Delhi saying they had the responsibility of cleaning the city for the last 13 years, as the BJP is in power in the MCD -- the body responsible for taking care of cleanliness in the national capital. "The BJP has released another 'jumla patra' and an order to cheat the people of the city. In the 'Sankalp Patra', the BJP has said that it will stop the free subsidies of the AAP government," Singh said. He said the BJP has nothing in the manifesto on electricity. "On water, they said they will end the tanker mafia. In fact, they had let it develop." ALSO WATCH | AAP Slams BJP, Says Efforts Being Made To Postpone Delhi Polls The MP also said 93 per cent people are already getting piped water in Delhi and they say they will give piped water to all by 2024. Singh also attacked the BJP for the bad condition of the schools in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi MCD schools over the party's promise to open new schools in the national capital. The 56-page document in Hindi has a large picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- the face for BJP for the Delhi Assembly elections. The cover page also has the picture of BJP President J.P. Nadda and city chief Manoj Tiwari. (With inputs from agencies)