Kejriwal to take on Modi in Varanasi

It is one of the most anticipated political battles on the ghats of the Ganga here in this Lok Sabha election. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal announced on Tuesday, after seeking a referendum of sorts, in front of around 40,000 people, that he would take on the Bhartiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, from the city.

“I am ready to accept this challenge,” roared Kejriwal at the rally venue, the Benia Bagh. “I am not here to become the Member of Parliament. I would have asked for a safer seat in that case. I am here to defeat the person who has looted this country.”

He challenged Modi to get into a debate with him about his (Gujarat) development model. “A few days back, when asked about foreign direct investment in retail, Modi asked why traders fear competition. If he comes to power, he will bring foreign inflows in this sector,” said Kejriwal.

He also attacked the Congress party, their principal opposition when the party was born in November 2012. “Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have the nation’s wealth outside India, even more than the Britishers (before independence),” he said.

The venue of the rally was located at the intersect of the Hindu-Muslim community at the heart of the city. At Benia Bagh, the focus shifted from one C to another, corruption to communalism. Scathing attacks were made on political parties, on charges of orchestrating riots across the country.

People thronged the venue in the party’s maiden political rally here; many were on rooftops to catch a glimpse of the controversial leader.

Touching on local issues, Kejriwal said Varanasi had not developed since the Congress party's Kamlapati Tripathi was the Lok Sabha member from here in 1980-84. “After that, roads, electricity and water have all become a major issue,” he said, also talking about the poor condition of the Ganga.

He raised the issues of gas pricing, BJP-Congress collaboration and the reason he had quit the Delhi government in February. He urged supporters to turn this election into a “revolution”, by not allowing a parliamentary passage to Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

Almost every leader of the AAP who took the stage had their talk centred on secularism. On the posters, the three key issues highlighted were stopping of riots, not allowing FDI in multi-brand retail and promoting secularism.

The Shahi Imam here endorsed the AAP convener by offering him his cap, which the latter accepted whole-heartedly. A few leaders of the Momin Conference, an organisation which lobbies for oppressed classes in the community,  shared the dias with the AAP brass. Party leader Sanjay Singh attacked all the other parties — SP, Congress, BJP and BSP — of playing a role in polarising citizens.

Mujeeb Khan, a businessman who travelled 300 km from Kanpur to attend, said the AAP was the first party he’d ever joined. “I like their motive of taking on corrupt leaders but can't say if they can win the elections here,” he said.

A policeman outside asserted faith in Kejriwal’s leadership. “I am a localite and I have seen how Brahmins and Muslims are in support of Kejriwal this time. He has a strong chance here,” he said.