Today I have come to you with an appeal to save the country, I need the support of every Punjabi in this fight to save democracy and the constitution - Arvind Kejriwal

Ferozepur/Chandigarh, May 26, 2024: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with traders in Ferozepur on Sunday. Kejriwal heard the problems of the traders and assured them of a solution. AAP National General Secretary Dr Sandeep Pathak, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP candidate from Ferozepur Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar were present in this meeting.

Addressing the gathering, Arvind Kejriwal told the Arhtiyas (commission agents) of Punjab that Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls you middlemen. But we consider you the backbone of our economy. We have great respect for you. He said that just as farmers and laborers are important for the development of the country, traders, businessmen and industrialists are also important.

He said that I came to Punjab a year ago. At that time, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and I, held meetings with traders for several hours in many cities including Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali and I myself noted down their every problem. After my departure, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held several business meetings and on that basis, took several important decisions like the 'One Time Settlement' scheme to solve the problems of traders.

Kejriwal said that before our government was formed, the condition of industry in Punjab was very bad. For 75 years, Punjab's industry was a victim of nepotism. Traders were leaving the state and going to other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, but in the last two years, the trend of industries leaving the state has ended and the new industry is coming to Punjab.
Investments worth about Rs 56,000 crore have been made in Punjab in two years. A reputed company like Tata Steel has set up its second biggest plant here after Jamshedpur. Companies from countries like Germany and Netherlands are also coming to Punjab now. The biggest reason for this is that the law and order situation in Punjab has improved a lot in the last two years and the establishment of a large number of industries here proves this to be true. Apart from this, we have simplified the government process for the industry and freed them from the hassles of government offices.

He said that our government has ended corruption in Punjab, due to which a lot of government money is being saved now. With that money, we are giving free electricity to the people of Punjab. Today, 83 percent of Punjabis are getting zero electricity bills. Apart from this, we are building mohalla clinics at various places and improving the condition of government hospitals. At the same time, we are converting government schools into Schools of Eminence. All this is happening because our intentions are clear and we are working honestly.

He said that I need your support for the rapid development of Punjab. I request you to strengthen our hands. If you give us 13 seats, our strength will increase in the center. Then no one will be able to stop Punjab's funds and even the Governor will not be able to stop any bills of Punjab. Right now the central government has stopped about eight and a half thousand crores of Punjab. This is happening because we are weak in the Lok Sabha. 

He said that the central government is harassing Punjab. Punjab has a coal mine in other state, when we started bringing coal from there, the central government said to bring coal to Punjab via Sri Lanka and Gujarat. When Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann opposed this, then the central government gave a direct train to bring coal. If we had more MPs in Parliament, this would not have happened.

Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab have made the biggest contribution in the freedom struggle. That is why today I have come to you with an appeal to save the country. Today the constitution and democracy of the country are in danger. To save it, you will have to come forward again. If we do not defeat Narendra Modi this time, then the democracy and constitution of the country will be destroyed. Then the situation in the country will become like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Russia.

He said that Imran Khan was put in jail during the elections in Pakistan, due to which his seats decreased. In Bangladesh too, Sheikh Hasina put all the opposition leaders in jail during the elections, and became the Prime Minister again. Similarly, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin either put the opposition leaders in jail or got them killed, then he became the President with 87 percent votes. Today the situation in India is also the same.

He said that this election of India is being conducted dictatorially. Before the elections, I and three big leaders of my party,

Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain were put in jail. In Maharashtra, they broke Shiv Sena and NCP.  In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren was put in jail. You tell me, is this the way to contest elections in a democratic country? 

Kejriwal said that if Modi wins the election this time, he will change the constitution of the country. He will end the electoral system from the country and will end the reservation given to backward and scheduled castes by the Constitution. He said that this has been the aim of RSS and its associated organizations from the beginning. Therefore, in this election, we have to end dictatorship by any means. We will eat one less meal, but we should not let dictatorship be implemented in the country.

Kejriwal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders are in extreme arrogance. Look at the state of their arrogance that their national spokesperson Sambit Patra says that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Modi ji. Whereas Jagannath means Jagat ke Nath. That is, the one who does welfare of the whole world. On Lord Shri Ram, these people say that Modi ji has brought Shri Ram home. Just think, can any human being bring God to earth! God has created the whole universe, but the BJP people have now started thinking that Modi ji has created the universe. Therefore, it is very important for the country to defeat the arrogant BJP.

Before the address of Arvind Kejriwal in the Ferozepur townhall meeting (particularly with the traders of the border area), the traders of Ferozepur shared their issues and suggestions with the AAP national convenor. Kamal Kishor (rice mill industry) said that the centre government has stopped market fees and RDF export refunds. It is affecting the mandis, market committees and their development He said that it should be started again. 

Shashi Sharma applauded Mann government's OTS scheme where small businessmen, traders etc. were given an opportunity to settle their long pending issues through one time settlement. He said that OTS scheme is closing on June 30th and the time period should be extended. In response, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that with OTS scheme the pending dues of 1 lac were 100% waived off and the dues between 1 lac to 1 crore were 50% waived off by the government. Thousands of businessmen and traders settled many cases through this scheme and the remaining should settle till June 30th.

Sheetal Munjal said that she has a cosmetic shop in Abohar. Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party government has come to power in Punjab, the business community is satisfied. Earlier, the officers used to harass them every 2-3 months in the name of checking documents without any reason, but since the Aam Aadmi Party government has come to power, no officer harasses them. The Aam Aadmi Party government is doing a very good job.

Joshi Badeja said that he has a readymade clothes shop in Abohar. He said that under the Aam Aadmi Party government, the businessmen of Punjab are doing their business without any fear, in the coming 3 years the business will go very far. Joshi Badeja said that under the AAP government, no officer harasses the businessmen, now whoever the officer is, he completes the work of the businessmen on time.

Praveen Kumar Jagga said that in the earlier governments, businessmen had to face a lot of problems, but since the Aam Aadmi Party government has come to power in Punjab, businessmen are doing their business without any problems.  In the Aam Aadmi Party government, even the bureaucracy is not harassing any businessman. The AAP government has provided a very good environment for businessmen to do business in Punjab.