New Delhi: Ahead of state assembly elections due in 2022, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday vowed to provide free pilgrimage to various religious places, such as Ayodhya, Ajmer Sharif, and others, if the Aam Aadmi Party is voted into power in Goa.
While announcing the free pilgrimages, Kejriwal said, “If AAP forms the next government in Goa we will provide an Ayodhya pilgrimage. For the Christians, we will give a free Velankanni pilgrimage (in Tamil Nadu) and for the Muslims, we will give a free Ajmer Sharif pilgrimage (in Rajasthan). I’ve been told that many people in Goa prefer a pilgrimage to Shirdi, so they will get a free pilgrimage to Shirdi (in Maharashtra)."
Addressing the press conference, AAP national convener alleged Bhartiya Janta Party for manoeuvring to protect the incumbent Chief Minister Pramod Sawant despite the charges of corruption being levelled against him by former Governor Satya Pal Malik.
"When we announce the poll guarantees, people ask me from where will I get funds. Former governor Satya Pal Malik has given a reply to it," Kejriwal was quoted by PTI in its report.
While referring to the Former Governor's recent media interview, Kejriwal said, "the governor has said that during his one-year tenure (in Goa), he saw a largescale corruption."
In his address, the Delhi CM said that the BJP's own appointed governor has levelled corruption charges against the incumbent Goa CM. "In the last 75 years of free India, this is for the first time that any governor has made such allegation against his government," he adds.
"Malik has also made an allegation against the Central leadership. He has made the statement that when he informed about the corruption to the central leadership, they removed him from the post of Governor," he said. However, BJP has refused any such allegations.
On the issue of unemployment, AAP had earlier promised that if they form the next government in the coastal state, they will provide a job to at least one member of each family.
(With inputs from PTI)