New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday expressed confidence in the saffron party’s victory in the recently-concluded West Bengal polls, claiming that corruption and lawlessness under the TMC government drove people towards the BJP.
“I spoke to many people, including journalists and people on the ground, and everyone is saying that the BJP is winning in West Bengal. The BJP is winning because the TMC has indulged in widespread lawlessness and corruption. Also, the good work done by PM Narendra Modi is another reason why the BJP is winning in Bengal,” Maliwal, who recently joined the BJP, said.
Responding to criticism over her decision to join the BJP, Maliwal said she was motivated by the works of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I joined the BJP only because of the work done by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. When the terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, the prime minister led responded with Operation Sindoor during which our forces entered enemy territory and eliminated terrorist bases and killed terrorists,” she said.
She further claimed that Naxalism in the country has been eradicated and credited the central leadership for legislative measures, such as the instant triple talaq ban and the passage of the women’s reservation law.
“In the same way, Naxalism in the country has been completely eradicated from its roots. That too is because of Modi and Shah. A law like triple talaq was brought in the country to ban the practice. Similarly, the women’s reservation bill, which was a very important law, was also introduced with significant efforts. Many works are being carried out in the country that inspired me to join the BJP,” she said.
Rejecting accusations of “betrayal”, Maliwal hit out at AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of abandoning his principles.
“Some people are saying that I have committed betrayal. I want to tell them clearly who a betrayer is. A betrayer is the one who deviates from their core principles. Kejriwal has betrayed the entire country and the Anna movement, he had said that leaders of the Congress, Samajwadi Party and others were corrupt, now he is in alliance with them”, she said.
“I want to ask Kejriwal whether Sharad Pawar is corrupt or not, whether Lalu Prasad Yadav is corrupt or not, and whether Mulayam Singh Yadav is corrupt or not. He had earlier called them corrupt, but later joined hands with them. Does that mean when he stands with someone, all allegations of corruption will be cleared?” she said.
The BJP leader also alleged that Kejriwal had gone back on his statements regarding alliances.
“He had said, swearing on his children, that he would never join hands with the Congress, yet he did. Is that not betrayal? Is it not betrayal to have a woman party worker assaulted in his own house and then pressure her to withdraw the complaint?” she said.
Training guns at the AAP government in Punjab, Maliwal alleged misuse of public funds, saying that the Bhagwant Mann-led administration is using public money on personal luxuries.
“Is it not betrayal to the people of Punjab that the condition of the government there is so poor, and public money is being spent on personal luxuries? ‘Sheesh Mahal’ has been built repeatedly, first in Delhi, then in Chandigarh, and now again in Delhi. Is that not betrayal?” she said.
She asserted that the term “betrayal” should apply to those who, according to her, have broken the trust of the people.
“Today, Arvind Kejriwal’s name is used across the country for lies, deceit, lawlessness and corruption. I believe there can be no bigger betrayal than this,” she added. PTI VBH VBH KSI KSI KSI KSI
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