Kejriwal pitches Delhi model for nation, slams Centre on Manipur

India cannot become a global leader till every citizen gets 24x7 electricity supply, quality education and health care, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday, showcasing the Delhi governance model and attacking the Centre over continuing violence in Manipur.

- Alok K N Mishra

In his Independence Day speech, Kejriwal spelt out his vision for the country's development, focussed on free and reliable power supply, good government schools and mohalla clinics --- his government's flagship programmes and accused successive governments of having failed to provide these basic amenities. He also attacked a new law that gave the Union government control over Delhi's bureaucracy, said giving every citizen 200 free units of powers will cost Rs 1.5 lakh crore, and asked the audience whether they wanted this amount for free power or loan write-offs for industrialists.

"We hear that some states have 7-8 hours power cuts. I want to ask you which developed country of the world has power cuts. Unless we address the 7-8 hours of power cuts we cannot become vishwa guru (global leader). We will have to provide 24-hour power to the people," he said at north Delhi's Chhatrasal stadium.

"India has an installed capacity of 4.2 lakh megawatt of electricity. The peak power demand is 2 lakh megawatt. Even then we do not get an uninterrupted power supply. Mismanagement, corruption, and lack of vision are the reasons behind this," Kejriwal added.

Kejriwal-a prominent leader of the Opposition INDIA grouping - also attacked the Union government over ethnic clashes in Manipur and the recent communal violence in Haryana.

"Manipur is burning. One community is fighting another community, they are burning each other's shops, raping each other's women. In Haryana also two communities are fighting with each other. In this age of science and technology if we keep fighting with each other, how will India become a global leader? If India has to become the global leader, then 140 crore people will have to live like a family and team," Kejriwal said.