Show if any promise fulfilled: Arvind Kejriwal to Punjab CM

Chandigarh, November 27

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today reached out to contractual teachers protesting in Mohali for more than 160 days, striking a chord with the common man in the state that will go to polls early next year. Teachers and employees have been seeking regular jobs.

He also addressed public grievances regarding hefty power bills in spite of a waiver announced by the state government, and exorbitant rates of sand and gravel despite the government-fixed rate of Rs 5.50 per metric tonne. He claimed that AAP, if voted to power, would present a governance model different from the present Congress and the previous SAD-BJP governments.

“Charanjit Singh Channi (Punjab Chief Minister) has put up boards in the state, claiming to have regularised the service of 36,000 employees. But you (protesting teachers) tell me that the assurance remains on paper. No doubt, schools are spic and span, but where are the teachers? Teachers are atop towers, protesting and demanding regular jobs,” he said.

Furnish electricity bill waiver proof

I am submitting before public one lakh power bills of Delhi consumers, whose tariff has been reduced to zero. Can the Punjab CM furnish 1,000 such bills? I challenge him. Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Convener

The Delhi CM challenged his Punjab counterpart to prove the Congress government had delivered on its promises. He projected the Delhi model of governance, as per which his government had made several policy interventions to improve the education system.

Later, Kejriwal asked PTI teachers, who have been atop a water tank in Sohana for more than 40 days, to come down as one of them, Sippy Sharma, was not in good health. She, however, refused to climb down. He said: “In Delhi, even a labourer’s wages have been fixed at Rs 15,000 per month while teachers are sent abroad for upgrading their skills. However, in Punjab, well-educated teachers are getting only Rs 6,000 per month. My advice to you is to vote wisely.” — TNS