Kejriwal misses date with Modi

Modi refused to meet Kejriwal who posed over a dozen questions with regard to claims of development in Gujarat

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was first restrained and later failed to get an appointment to meet Gujarat chief minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at his official residence in Gandhinagar on Friday.

On his way to Modi's residence in Gandhinagar, Kejriwal's car was escorted by two police vehicles - one in the front and the other behind. The AAP chief was stopped by the Gandhinagar police some 10 km ahead of Modi’s residence and was not allowed to move forward.

Gandhinagar superintendent of police (SP) Sharad Singhal told Kejriwal that one person from the AAP will have to first take appointment with  Modi and then only can they go ahead. Kejriwal was not allowed to go and seek an appointment. Instead, deputy Manish Sisodia was asked to do so, and under escort of the Gandhinagar district superintendent of police.

Sisodia, then met Modi’s private secretary A K Sharma at the chief minister's office and sought an appointment in writing. “Met the PS (private secretary), gave him request for appointment. He says Modiji will decide and we would be informed soon,” Sisodia tweeted, indicating that they have been denied permission to meet Modi then. After coming back from Modi's office, Sisodia informed Kejriwal of the denial of appointment. Kejriwal, then, decided to go to the Ahemdabad airport to leave for Jaipur for a function.

However, Gandhinagar SP Singhal denied that Kejriwal's car was stopped. “We didn’t stop Kejriwal's car; they stopped themselves. I took Sisodia to the chief minister's office, where he gave a written request for appointment. Chief Minister's office responded by saying that Modi will take decision on the matter and they (AAP) will be informed in two or three days.”

Contrary to police claims, Kejriwal was restrained about 10 km ahead of Modi's residence and his car was cordoned by police officials. They even had an anti-rioting van and a water-cannon van on standby in anticipation of any untoward incident. The vans had arrived at the locations around 10.30 am, well before Kejriwal announced in Ahmedabad that he was going to meet Modi.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal listed 16 questions on the development claims made in Gujarat, to discuss with Modi. Addressing media persons the AAP leader said: "Modi gives data and talks about Gujarat development. When we analysed, we found that most of the claims were nothing but white lies."

Kejriwal also raked up the gas-pricing issue. "Modi should make his point clear on the issue of gas pricing," he said, adding: "The Gujarat government has demanded that gas pricing should be $16 (per million British thermal unit or mBtu). Earlier, UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had given a go-ahead to raise the price of gas from $4 to $8 (per mBtu)."

The AAP leader took on the Modi government over the issue of closing down of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corruption, unemployment, poor educational and health infrastructure and farmer suicides.

Kejriwal also questioned Modi over appointing tainted ministers in his cabinet. "You have convicted persons in you cabinet such as Babu Bokhiriya who has been convicted for three years by the court and is out on bail now. Purshottam Solanki, who is accused in a Rs 450-crore scam is also part of you cabinet. Can't you find honest persons among six crore (60 million) Gujaratis for you council of ministers?" Kejriwal asked.

He also accused Modi of favouring Ambanis and Adanis. "You have appointed the son-in-law of Mukesh Ambani family, Saurabh Patel, as minister for energy, petroleum and petrochemicals. In a way, you have handed over the control of Gujarat's natural resources to Ambani family, Why did you do this?" he questioned.