The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, accusing him of wasting taxpayers’ money on advertisements for government schemes and criticizing the lavish renovation of his official residence.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra dubbed Kejriwal “Advertisement Baba,” claiming that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader had overspent on media campaigns to promote the Delhi government’s initiatives.
Patra highlighted two specific cases to back his allegations. “Arvind Kejriwal should be called ‘Advertisement Baba’ from today onwards… The Delhi government spent ₹54 crore on the ‘Business Blasters’ scheme, but the advertisement for this scheme alone cost ₹80 crore,” Patra said, referencing a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). He further criticized the disparity in spending, stating that the cost of advertising for some other schemes was disproportionately high. “In another scheme, ₹1.9 crore was invested, yet ₹27.9 crore were spent on advertisements,” he added.
The BJP MP also targeted Kejriwal over the renovation of the Chief Minister’s residence, which has become a point of contention. “As per the CAG report, on 17th March 2020, the Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi proposed a renovation plan for Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, which included demolishing the building and adding an additional storey. Surprisingly, in just one day, the proposal was approved,” Patra claimed, calling the speed of approval “questionable.”
Patra’s remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of Kejriwal’s government over spending practices, with the opposition accusing him of prioritizing personal luxuries and flashy media campaigns over the needs of the public.
The Delhi government has yet to respond to these allegations, but Kejriwal and his party have previously defended their initiatives as being in the best interest of the people of Delhi. However, the BJP’s accusations add fuel to the ongoing political fire, with critics questioning the transparency and accountability of Kejriwal’s administration.