DISPUR: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has responded to political attacks from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by stating that every village in Assam is better than the slums of Delhi. His comments came during a press conference where he expressed his willingness to accept Kejriwal’s invitation to visit Delhi and show him the reality of the slums.
In a press conference, Sarma said that he himself had been in the election campaign in Delhi and had witnessed the appalling conditions of the slums where 60-70 percent of the population live in dire conditions without access to basic amenities like water. He further added that the Delhi we usually see, such as Assam House or Maharashtra Bhavan, is not the real Delhi, but a facade.
केजरीवाल के साथ हम दिल्ली के दौरे पर जाएँगे, पर Lutyens और South Delhi नहीं। केजरीवाल के साथ उन जगहों पर जाएँगे जहाँ मैं ले कर जाऊँगा, जहाँ दिल्ली के 80% लोग रहते हैं। केजरीवाल ने दिल्ली के झुग्गी झोंपड़ी वाले लोगों का ज़िंदगी नर्क बना दिया है। न्यूनतम सुविधाएँ भी नहीं हैं। pic.twitter.com/0woWaA33qe
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 2, 2023
Sarma’s comments come in response to Kejriwal’s criticism of the Assam government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kejriwal had alleged that the Assam government was not doing enough to contain the virus and had asked the Chief Minister to learn from the Delhi model. Sarma has refuted these claims, stating that the situation in Assam is much better than that in Delhi.
The Assam Chief Minister’s comments have sparked a political debate, with many people supporting his claim that the villages in Assam are better than the slums of Delhi. However, some have criticized him for making such a statement and questioned the validity of his claims.
Earlier on April 2, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal while addressing a public meeting in Assam said that Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government was formed in 2016 and our government in Delhi was formed in 2015. But we developed Delhi and they did dirty politics. Arvind Kejriwal had also invited Himanta Biswa Sarma to come for lunch.Top of Form
Overall, the political attack between the two Chief Ministers has brought to light the stark differences in living conditions between different parts of the country. It also highlights the need for better infrastructure and basic amenities in slum areas across the country.