Taking digs at Modi, Rahul, Kejriwal files nomination from Varanasi

Pitching his aam aadmi credentials, Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday filed his nomination for the high-profile Varanasi Lok Sabha seat and accused Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi of spending huge sums of money in the ongoing electoral battle, which he said was all about eliminating corruption.

The anti-graft crusader submitted his documents to the Returning Officer after a two-and-a-half-hour roadshow which was attended by the top brass of the party, hundreds of volunteers and a large number of people.

Special Coverage: Election 2014

Please …

Before entering the fray from the holy city, the Aam Aadmi Party leader held a roadshow describing the polls as a fight to ‘save democracy’ and appealed to the people to bring a change in the political system. “This is not my fight. This fight is for those who want to eradicate corruption. The fight is for those who want to see the Ganges clean. This is a fight to have good roads in Varanasi and eliminate poverty,” he said.

Kejriwal accused Modi, his formidable opponent in the battle for Varanasi seat, and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of spending huge sums of money on electioneering. “I was told Modi is spending Rs 5,000 crore in the election. Gandhi is also spending a lot of money. You watch TV, read newspapers, see billboards, they are there and everywhere. So much money has been spent on advertisements. This is black money,” he said. 

Please …

Kejriwal said he did not have money power but was fighting the elections to bring a change in society. “I have Rs 500 in my pocket. I have no money to fight elections. But I am fighting it to bring a change in society.”

Kejriwal added, “I am a fakir. I have no money. I will run a campaign on your money. You decide what you want,” Kejriwal told the roadshow.

Please …

Surrounded by his supporters, some holding the party’s election symbol broom, Kejriwal attacked Modi for his proposed visit to Banaras Hindu University to pay tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya before filing his nomination on Thursday.  “Malviyaji, who was the founder of the university, never allowed any political person or police to enter the BHU campus. But tomorrow Modi and scores of his supporters and a large number of security personnel will enter the campus. It will be against principles of Malviyaji,” he said.

Attacking Modi for his helicopter democracy, Kejriwal said “from BHU, the BJP leader will take a chopper to go to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. It is surprising. Why can’t he travel by road to Kashi? The people of Varanasi will have to decide what kind of democracy they want,” the AAP leader said.