Kejriwal should give up politics of confrontation: Swami Agnivesh

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 29

At a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi is mired in several controversies, a former member of Anna Hazare’s anti-graft agitation, Swami Agnivesh, on Monday asked New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to give up politics of confrontation for the benefit of people.

“The Chief Minister is on a collision course with the Lt Governor of New Delhi on the issue of granting full statehood to New Delhi. In my view, no government, be it the erstwhile UPA government or the present BJP government, would be able to grant full statehood to New Delhi. As it is the capital of India, there are several complexities involved and political parties would prefer to maintain a status quo on New Delhi. So, Kejriwal should shun obduracy and work wholeheartedly for the people of New Delhi,” said Swami Agnivesh.

While commenting on the budgetary allocation made by AAP for education in the state budget, Swami Agnivesh said hefty budgets for education seldom serve the purpose, “ It has been seen that the budget remains unspent, despite handsome allocations. Such allocations would not be able to solve the falling standards of education in government schools. It would have been laudatory, if Kejriwal and his ministerial colleagues had set a standard by sending their children to government schools. It would have sent a good message,” added Agnivesh.

Leading the Sarv Dharam Sansad movement, Swami Agnivesh has launched a campaign to help the youth fight alcoholism and drug addiction.

“Liquor consumption and use of drugs has become rampant among our youth, we have decided to educate our youth against this habit by launching a drive - Nasha Mukti in Dehradun also,” Agnivesh added.