Arvind Kejriwal’s protest against slum demolitions at Jantar Mantar has sparked a heated political clash, with both the BJP and Congress accusing the former Delhi Chief Minister of hypocrisy and political theatrics. The AAP chief’s aggressive stand, framed as a fight for slum dwellers’ rights, has drawn sharp reactions, with critics alleging Arvind Kejriwal ignored these communities during his tenure and is now using them for political mileage.
BJP questions Arvind Kejriwal’s credibility and record
Delhi BJP president Virender Sachdeva dismissed the AAP’s “Ghar Rozgar Bachao Andolan” as a “desperate stunt,” accusing Arvind Kejriwal of trying to divert attention from the AAP’s failures in governance. He questioned the AAP government’s actual record in providing houses to slum dwellers over the last decade and criticised Arvind Kejriwal for letting the Narela housing project fall apart due to his “stubbornness.”
During the Jantar Mantar protest, Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying slum dwellers by not fulfilling his “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makan” promise, claiming it turned into “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Maidan.” Arvind Kejriwal called the Prime Minister a “liar” and urged slum dwellers not to vote for either the BJP or Congress, positioning himself as their sole advocate.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj supported Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism, asserting that if the BJP was offended by being called “jhootha,” the party should consider the word “asatya,” but the reality of broken promises remained unchanged. He also attacked the current Delhi government led by Rekha Gupta, accusing it of ruining the city within five months, citing long power cuts, rising school fees, and corruption.
In response, Sachdeva accused Arvind Kejriwal of attempting to “rewrite history,” claiming that during the pandemic, it was BJP workers who provided food and shelter to slum dwellers while the AAP government tried to evict them. He condemned the language used by Arvind Kejriwal and senior AAP leaders for the Prime Minister, calling it reflective of a “Naxalite mindset” and reminding that Delhi had already rejected Arvind Kejriwal’s “dishonest politics.”
Congress joins the attack, calls protest ‘crocodile tears’
The Congress also criticised Arvind Kejriwal’s protest, calling it a display of “crocodile tears.” Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav posed ten direct questions to Arvind Kejriwal on social media, questioning his credibility on slum issues and highlighting AAP’s contradictory actions.
Yadav pointed out that in 2021, Arvind Kejriwal approved the “Jhuggi Hatao” scheme as Chief Minister, questioning why he now claims to support slum dwellers. He also alleged that former minister Satyendar Jain had announced the closure of the “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makan” scheme in 2022, asking why Arvind Kejriwal was protesting now despite his government’s earlier decisions.
The Congress accused Arvind Kejriwal of using slum dwellers for votes while spending public money on luxuries, referencing the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy. Yadav further criticised the AAP for its silence in the Supreme Court during critical hearings on slum demolitions, questioning whether political pressures kept the party from defending slum dwellers’ rights.
The BJP and Congress’ coordinated criticism reflects the political stakes around urban poor voters in Delhi, as slum demolition issues continue to be a flashpoint for parties seeking to project themselves as protectors of vulnerable communities while attacking Arvind Kejriwal’s governance and political positioning.
