Mumbai:
The Aam Aadmi Party’s advertisements in newspapers here highlighting “achievements” of its one-year rule in New Delhi today drew flak from opposition parties which questioned the Kejriwal government’s austerity promises.
“Arvind Kejriwal is a hypocrite. It has been proved once again today. Earlier, he advocated austerity by public representatives, but today, he is following the same path as everybody else. He has surpassed others with this (the advertisement),” BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said.
He sought the Delhi Chief Minister’s explanation for the “personal advertisements funded by the state exchequer”.
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) president Sanjay Nirupam said the AAP was still working like a “political movement” and not as a “governance party”.
“The Kejriwal-led party has miserably failed on all the fronts. It has failed not only in curbing corruption, but also in controlling its own MLAs. Seven MLAs have so far landed in jail,” Nirupam said.
NCP Mumbai president Sachin Ahir dubbed the advertisement as a cover-up tool as he flayed the party for spending taxpayers’ money.
“I can’t understand the point of expending huge money of taxpayers (in the advertisement) in the newspapers in Mumbai. This advertorial is a tool to cover up the party’s failures of the last one year.”
“Where are your principles of simplicity and austerity that you promised to Delhi people? Where are your tall promises made to Delhi voters? Have you constructed so many schools and hospitals that you are spending taxpayers’ money on your propaganda?” he asked.
A senior AAP leader, requesting anonymity, also expressed dissatisfaction over the advertisement and termed it as an “avoidable” exercise.
“I am extremely embarrassed seeing wastage of the taxpayers’ money. This is not what we used to invoke during the ‘India Against Corruption’ movement. I never support such wastage (of money) on personal propaganda,” the AAP leader said.
