Won’t allow Centre to harass traders: Kejriwal

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 25

Addressing a gathering of members of the Aggarwal community during the Agrasen Jayanti celebrations here today, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said if voted to power, AAP would put an end to the "raid raj" being perpetrated in the name of recovery of income tax.

He asked the Centre to "go after the big fish rather than troubling small traders". He said: "If voted to power, we will stop this practice."

Projecting himself a champion of the rights of traders and industrialists, Kejriwal said: "I have heard the Centre has started income tax raids across the country. Their targets are not being met. I appeal to the government to stop targeting small traders. To meet targets of bringing back black money, I ask them to nab people like Vijay Mallya."

"The Aggarwal Samaj has the most number of traders and industrialists. I believe excessive raids only profit the inspectors. Earlier people in Delhi termed the BJP as the party of baniyas and industrialists, but now they say AAP is the party which takes up their cause," the Delhi CM said, adding that AAP would bank on traders to ensure employment for the rehabilitated youths.

Member of the Vaishya Federation from various states took part in the event, which saw a participation from AAP cadres in huge numbers. Party MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh, convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and leaders Sukhpal Khaira and Sanjay Singh were present.

Protest at AAP rally venue

Jalandhar: Ahead of Kejriwal's arrival at the venue, a protest was held by activists of the District Mahila Congress led by its president Dr Jasleen Kaur Sethi. The activists raised slogans and held placards reading "go back Kejriwal" and "Delhi ko barbad kiya, Punjab nahi" amid a heavy police presence. The activists alleged that the police manhandled them in an attempt to stop them. Tense moments were witnessed after AAP volunteers countered the Congress protest with sloganeering. TNS

Delhi CM visits Beas dera

Later in the evening, Kejriwal visited Dera Baba Jaimal Singh of the Radha Soami sect at Beas. He was accompanied by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann and state party convener Gurpeet Ghuggi. The Delhi Chief Minister met the sect head, Gurinder Singh Dhillon. Notably, Kejriwal visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar during his previous visit to the city earlier this year. Meanwhile, ticket seekers had put up huge posters at the AAP rally venue in Jalandhar, apparently to impress the party national convener.