Kejriwal to contest from Varanasi, challenges Modi for an open debate

Challenging Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to an open debate, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that he will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi.

Kejriwal, who was shown black flags by BJP supporters who also threw ink on him, alleged that it was an act done by Modi's goons.

"What did we do wrong? We were shown black flags; black ink was thrown on us by Modi's goons. Has the BJP ever show black flags to Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, Kapil Sibal, and Salman Khurshid? Has the Congress ever shown black flags to Narendra Modi, Nitin Gadkari, and BS Yeddyurappa? Never," he said.

"Do we need more proof that the Congress and the BJP are hand in glove with each other? Both the BJP and the Congress have been looting this country turn by turn for the last so many years," he added.

He welcomed the Elections Commission's order on the gas pricing issue, and said if gas price would have doubled, the women in our houses would be in trouble.

Kejriwal also justified his decision to quit as the Delhi Chief Minister, and said if he was a greedy person then he would have stuck to his chair.

"Why would I leave the chief minister' seat if I was greedy? I had to leave the chief minister's seat because the Congress and the BJP together didn't allow my Lokpal bill to be passed. Hence I quit chief minister's post based on my values," he added.

He also attacked the media and said that some media person has been proclaiming that Narendra Modi has done a lot of development in Gujarat.

"Media proclaiming that if Modi becomes the PM then he will ensure the country sees development the way Gujarat has seen. For me the country is more important than a party. If Modi was really into development, I would be standing by him. The things I have seen in Gujarat, it is important to stand up against him," he added.

"He is doing the same things that Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have been doing for so many years. Narendra Modi has finished all subsidies. Farmers are committing suicide in Gujarat," he said.

He asked the people whether he should contest the elections against Narendra Modi from Varanasi, to which he got an affirmative response from the crowd.

"I challenge Modi for a debate. I will contest these elections against Modi from Varanasi. I want him to come here and have a debate in the open. He doesn't speak to anyone, comes by helicopters, and holds a rally and then leaves. He has to come here and talk to the people of this country. And if Modi doesn't come then you all should realize that Modi is surely hiding something," he added.