Kejriwal accuses Modi of betraying poor in Capital

Escalating his attack on the BJP over the ongoing demolition of slums in the Capital, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying Delhi’s poor with what he called “counterfeit guarantees”.

Addressing people at Jantar Mantar under AAP’s ‘Ghar-Rozgaar Bachao’ movement, Kejriwal said Modi’s promise of ‘jahan jhuggi, wahan makaan’ has turned into ‘jahan jhuggi, wahan maidan’, alleging that the BJP’s demolition drive is leaving people homeless in extreme heat.

“I had said they would demolish your homes in a year, if they come to power. But they have already destroyed Delhi in just five months,” Kejriwal said.

Taking aim at the Prime Minister’s pre-election outreach to slum residents, Kejriwal said: “BJP leaders came, sat in your homes, played carrom and then sent bulldozers to the same lanes.”

Senior AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh, Atishi and Gopal Rai, joined the rally, accusing the BJP of branding UP-Bihar migrants as “Bangladeshis and Rohingyas” to justify evictions.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “BJP leaders ate food at the houses of poor families and then betrayed them.” Leader of Opposition Atishi said while Kejriwal worked to “remove poverty”, the BJP was trying to “remove the poor” to benefit its billionaire friends. “This fight will go on from courtrooms to Parliament,” she said.

Urging Delhi’s slum dwellers to unite, Kejriwal said: “If 40 lakh slum dwellers stand together, they can shake any government. Don’t trust the BJP or the Congress — trust your strength.”

The AAP claimed the BJP’s demolition spree is not just breaking homes but destroying livelihoods, education and dreams of lakhs of Delhi’s poorest families. The party vowed to intensify its protests if evictions do not stop immediately.