Zee Media Bureau/Manisha Singh
New Delhi: Addressing party workers at Jantar Mantar here, after the good showing of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that though they were able to demolish the arrogance of the Congress and the BJP, they had a long battle to fight.
He also said that they had not gathered at the venue to celebrate. "How can we celebrate till there is corruption in this country," Kejriwal said, adding, "This wasn`t Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia`s election. This was the people`s fight."
Further, he said that when people thought nothing can be done, the movement of the AAP gave them hope. He promised to make the country corruption-free.
He thanked the people who voted for them for helping in trying to change the history of India. "This country witnessed history on December 08," he said.
At the same time Kejriwal exhorted his party workers not to become arrogant. "We have a long battle to fight," he said, adding "We have been given a huge responsibility by the people. We have to serve the people of this country."
The AAP convenor also lashed out at both the BJP and the Congress and said that both the national parties were same. "Both indulge in corruption and both indulge in communal politics." He also asked members from both the parties to join AAP. "Those honest people within the BJP and Congress who are feeling suffocated should join us," he said.
On the issue of government formation in Delhi where the AAP has won 28 seats, he took a dig at the BJP who has emerged as the single largest party with 31 seats in the 70 member Assembly. "If BJP doesn`t get majority at the Centre, will they not stake claim to form the government?" he asked.
The AAP has said that it was ready for re-polls and the BJP has asked its newly-elected MLAs to be ready for fresh elections, maintaining that it did not have the mandate to form a government.
On social activist Anna Hazare`s fast in his native village to press for Jan Lokpal Bill, Kejriwal said, "We salute Anna Hazare`s movement and we are with him in his endeavour to get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed. We will go and meet him tomorrow but will sit in the crowd," he said. Anna has said that he will not allow anyone from political parties to share the stage with him.
Kejriwal ended the speech by asking the people to contribute to its funds so that the AAP could fight the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.
Meanwhile, AAP leader Manish Sisodia dared Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to fight election against another AAP leader Kumar Vishwash.
