New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to thank him for voting towards the Authorities of Nationwide Capital Territory of Delhi (Modification) Invoice, 2023, within the Rajya Sabha.
“Your unflinching dedication in the direction of the ideas of our Structure will likely be remembered for many years, and can deeply encourage the approaching generations of parliamentarians,” Kejriwal mentioned within the letter, despatched Tuesday.
This comes a couple of decade after Kejriwal accused Singh, then the Prime Minister, of being “corrupt” for allegedly utilizing his place to favour an organization. As one of many principal architects of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption motion, Kejriwal performed a key function in laying the groundwork for the unseating of the Manmohan Singh authorities on the Centre in 2014.
“I write to you expressing gratitude on behalf of the two crore folks of Delhi on your assist in rejecting and voting towards the GNCTD (Modification) Invoice, 2023,” Kejriwal wrote. “I wish to place on file the heartfelt appreciation that the folks of Delhi have for you for championing their rights on the ground of the Rajya Sabha, regardless of your deteriorating well being.”
Singh is a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.
After a high-drama debate Monday, Opposition events managed to assemble the assist of 102 MPs towards the invoice, whereas the ruling NDA secured 131 votes. The invoice was thus handed.
In his letter, the Delhi chief minister mentioned the presence of Singh conveyed a “story of calm, grace and conviction to protect India’s democracy and federal construction towards all odds”.
“Your sheer presence within the Rajya Sabha additionally despatched a loud and clear message to all these forces working to weaken Indian democracy that any such makes an attempt will likely be met with fierce resistance by political leaders reducing throughout age and get together strains,” he mentioned.
Kejriwal added that the “the wrestle for securing the rights of Delhi’s residents” has entered a brand new section, and referred to as for Singh’s “assist and steerage within the combat towards forces which can be undermining the Structure”.
In the meantime, in two separate letters to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi Tuesday, he additionally thanked the get together for voting towards the invoice.
“I’m sure that your unflinching loyalty in the direction of the ideas of our Structure will likely be remembered for many years. We sit up for your continued assist within the combat towards forces which can be undermining the Structure,” he wrote.
Different Opposition leaders to obtain such letters embody Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United), Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, and Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Social gathering (NCP), all of whom have joined palms beneath the banner of the ‘INDIA’ alliance.
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‘Manmohan did not examine corruption’
Kejriwal’s letters to Singh and Congress leaders are riddled with contradictions.
Whereas the Congress and the AAP have come collectively as “like-minded” events within the INDIA alliance, they’ve been bitter rivals for over a decade.
Kejriwal first got here to nationwide prominence by way of the Anna Hazare-led India Towards Corruption motion in 2011, a marketing campaign that sought to nook the then UPA authorities on corruption allegations and search the passage of the Jan Lokpal invoice to arrange an anti-graft ombudsman.
Suspicions of Congress leaders’ involvement within the alleged 2G and Commonwealth Video games rip-off acted as catalysts for the motion.
In 2012, Kejriwal, whereas attacking Reliance Industries throughout a press meet, mentioned, “It’s Mukesh Ambani who runs the nation, not Manmohan Singh.” He additionally attacked the Prime Minister, calling him “corrupt for abusing his place to grant favours to the corporate”.
The allegations have been dismissed by Reliance.
In 2013, Kejriwal tweeted {that a} “corrupt Congress” had “made Manmohan Singh its face at Centre”.
A corrupt Congress made Manmohan Singh its face at Centre. Manmohan did not examine corruption inside congress and his personal Govt.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 23, 2013
Kejriwal’s feedback concerning the Gandhis have included, “Modiji, I’m not a Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi you could scare me. I’m not a Robert Vadra (Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law) you could have a setting (secret deal) with me. The Modi authorities doesn’t file instances towards Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi or Vadra however it targets me.”
Whereas a bid to deliver the AAP and the Congress on the identical desk failed in 2019, issues have cooled down between the 2 sides these days. The 2 events sit collectively in Opposition meets, though their items in Punjab and Delhi — the place the AAP has unseated the Congress — combat towards one another.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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