Bangalore, Mar 16 (PTI) Bangalore, Mar 16 (PTI) Coming out with his guns blazing
against Narendra Modi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today
declared he was ready to take on BJP's prime ministerial
candidate from Varanasi but linked his final call to the
people's approval there.
Accepting the challenge for a face-off with Modi, a
combative Kejriwal said AAP wanted him to contest against him
but he would hold a rally at Varanasi on March 23 and would go
by people's response, indicating a final decision hinged on
it.
"I will go to Varanasi on March 23. We will have a rally
in Varanasi. Whatever people of Varanasi will say that will be
final. If people of Varanasi decide to give me this
responsibility, I will accept it wholeheartedly," the AAP
leader told a rally, as his supporters cheered him lustily.
Kejriwal's announcement, still with a tinge of suspense,
came a day after the BJP top bass announced the name of Modi
for Varanasi, where a set party veteran Murli Manohar Joshi
has yielded to the Gujarat strongman after days of reported
hard bargaining.
"I have not come here for victory or defeat. We have come
here for struggle. I accept this challenge," said Kejriwal, as
he wound up his two-day visit to Karnataka, where AAP is
aiming big contesting all the 28 Lok Sabha seats.
Pouring out scorn and vitriol on Modi and tearing into
his development model,he also ridiculed Gujarat Chief Minister
over reports that he would contest from another seat in his
home state, apart from Varanasi.
"...if he does it, it will be like he is leader of Gujarat
but not fit to be Prime Minister of the country," he said.
Kejriwal said, "....he has to contest from one seat.
Contesting from two seats.. doubt will certainly arise in the
minds of people as to why he is searching for a safe seat."
"We want a brave Prime Minister. Do we after-all want a
Prime Minister who is looking for a safe seat," the AAP leader
said ridiculing Modi, against whom he has scaled up the attack
after his recent visit to Gujarat.
Kejriwal, whose party leaders had earlier indicated that
he may challenge Modi, said "...friends, there was meeting
within the party. The party told me that I have to fight
elections against Narendra Modi."
He said AAP had given him ticket "but party giving ticket
is not important to me. The day people of this country give
ticket to me, I will fight against Narendra Modi."
Acknowledging that fighting Modi was a "big challenge",
Kejriwal said the Gujarat Chief Minister had to be defeated.
"I know it is a big challenge. I know it is not a small
challenge. We are not here for power or money. We have come
here to sacrifice our lives for the country.....I feel I'm
blessed if I get an oppertunity to sacrifice my life for the
country as Baghat Singh did", he said.
He said, "I have not come here for victory or defeat. We
have come here for struggle. I accept this challenge."
Accusing Modi of representing "old style crony
capitalists" of the country, Kejriwal said, "Modi travels in a
helicopter, gives speeches and leaves."
Referring to his recent Gujarat visit when he tried in
vain to meet Modi without appointment with elements of drama,
he said he was stopped by 1,000 policemen five kms away. "Why
is Modi so scared of me?"
Kejriwal hit out at BJP for taking back former Karnataka
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, despite corruption charges
against him, and said he would be made Telecom Minister if
Modi became the Prime Minister.
Similarly, he said, B Sriramulu, a one-time close
associate of mining baron and now jailed Janardhana Reddy, who
was re-induced into BJP, would be made the mining minister and
Amit Shah facing allegations over snooping on a woman Home
Minister under Modi.
Also attacking Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal alleged he and Modi
were being funded by RIL chief Mukhesh Ambani in the elections
to gain control of government irrespective of whoever wins.
While flaying Modi, Kejriwal again targeted the media
for not presenting the real picture about Gujarat. "Why is
media lying? Why has the media lied to the people of this
country about Gujarat?"
"Modi's words are white lies, he lies openly, and media
shows it and they don't question him. "If I tell some
thing.....they (the media) show that Arvind has taken two
bed room house, three bed room house..... show on media where
farmers are committing suicide (in Gujarat)."
"They (the media) don't show that. They don't show truth
about Gujarat; I would like to ask the media why it has been
lying about Gujarat for about a year now. Why has it done a
false propaganda about Gujarat for the last one year..."
"Whatever happened so far has happened. Still there is a
month's time for elections. Will the media display courage in
showing truth about Gujarat from today...," he asked.
B D Narayankar
Tweet: The battle of #Varanasi: #ArvindKejriwal is as confused as a hungry child is in a #topless #bar
http://bdnarayankar1968.blogspot.in/2014/03/ready-to-contest-against-modi-in.html?m=1 … #NarendraModi
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