Worked for your welfare, but you voted for BJP: Kejriwal to auto drivers

Making his appearance in the national capital after several days, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday participated in the Diwali Milan event of the party’s auto wing. Kejriwal said he worked for the betterment of auto drivers in the last 10 years, but they forget him and voted for the BJP.

“Our government worked for you all. For 10 years, our government served Delhi, and I never forgot you. Maybe once you forgot me. I’ll have to wait for five years now. It pains me to see your jhuggis being bulldozed, children’s books crushed under debris and families forced onto the streets,” the AAP chief remarked in his address.

Terming his bond with auto drivers as “old and deeply rooted,” Kejriwal said: “I still remember when we contested the 2013 elections. Back then, you were equally troubled by the Congress government as by the present regime. I used to come among you when no one spoke for auto drivers.”

The AAP chief claimed that his government had provided several benefits and exemptions to auto drivers during its tenure and worked extensively for their welfare. “They (BJP) had promised seven big benefits to auto drivers during the elections, but not even a single was fulfilled,” he said.

Calling for their support, Kejriwal said, “Just wait for a little while. Once again, all of you will bring back your AAP government with a thumping majority. It feels wonderful meeting you all today.”

The former Delhi Chief Minister said: “Earlier the Delhi Government had its own portal for paying fitness fee, permit fee and other charges. Now it has been centralised. Even a single spelling mismatch between Aadhaar card and registration certificate prevents vehicle fitness approval. OTP is required for everything — paying fee, downloading fitness certificate, permits or pollution certificate. If this continues, 20 per cent of Delhi’s autos will be off roads within six months. If we complain against corrupt officers, no action is taken and our vehicles fail to get clearance.”

During the event, auto drivers claimed that the fee, which was earlier reduced to zero by the then AAP government, was being reintroduced. “Now they’re planning to increase it again to Rs 600 or Rs 700,” one of them told Kejriwal.