‘I build houses for poor’: PM Modi’s jibe at Kejriwal's 'sheeshmahal' at Delhi rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack at former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal while addressing a public meeting in the national capital.

“The country knows it well that Modi never built a home for himself but has built more than 4 crore houses for the poor,” the Prime Minister said.

Further, taking a dig at Kejriwal, he stated, “Mai bhi koi ‘sheeshmahal’ bana sakta that. Lekin mere liye toh mere desh wasiyon ko pucca ghar mile, yahi ek sapna tha (I could have also built a sheeshmahal, but for me, it was a dream that my countrymen should get permanent houses).”

The BJP has been targeting Kejriwal for allegedly spending a huge amount of money on his official residence when he was chief minister, and described his erstwhile home as "sheeshmahal".

Modi's comments came after he inaugurated several development projects, including 1,675 flats for residents of Jhuggi Jhopri (JJ) clusters and the World Trade Centre, in Delhi. Modi handed over the keys to eligible beneficiaries of EWS flats at Swabhiman Apartments in the Ashok Vihar area.

Calling AAP as 'aapda' (disaster), he said voters of national capital have made up their minds to free themselves from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the upcoming polls. "Voters of Delhi have made up their minds to free Delhi from this 'aapda'. Every voter of Delhi is saying, 'aapda ko nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge'," the Prime Minister stated.

On the one hand, the Centre is making a lot of efforts and on the other, the Union Territory government stands for brazen lies, he said, accusing the AAP government of committing corruption in a host of sectors ranging from school education to fighting pollution and liquor trade.