Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is facing widespread condemnation even from his Hindutva supporters after he was accused of splashing crores of taxpayers’ money to ensure LIVE TV broadcast of his Diwali puja on several TV channels in a desperate bid to emulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. One Hindutva supporter, now his core vote bank, termed his action as theatrics, while others questioned the rationale behind pulling off this mega event at the expense of taxpayers’ money to create his new image as the saviour of Hindus.
Kejriwal’s action coincided with Delhi’s air quality turning to severe category due to the alarming rise in air pollution, something his government has miserably failed to check despite being in power for six years.
Thew Air Quality Index or AQI was registered to be at 414 on Saturday, while the 24-hour average AQI stood at 339 on Friday and 314 on Thursday.
Reacting to Kejriwal’s event management exercise, Madhu Ksihwar tweeted, “@ArvindKejriwal ji it seems Delhi Govt hired some Bollywood event management company to choreograph your #DiwaliPujan nautanki. #DiwaliPujan is done at home, not enacted like #EktaKapoorSerial.Won’t win over Hindu voters but surely alienate your core support base among Muslims.”
Kishwar was referring to Kejriwal’s support base among Muslims, who voted en masse to elect AAP leader to power on three occasions. Others questioned his decision to splash crores of taxpayers’ money in staging a religious event in a secular democratic set-up of India.
Kejriwal’s journey: from removing Bharat Mata photo to live Lakshmi Puja.
Even a little bit of unity goes a long away. pic.twitter.com/oKRGQlPaF2
— Suhas (@Suhas_AN) November 14, 2020
So Delhi govt paid to TV News channels to live telecast Kejriwal Govt’s official Diwali puja.
Its not a live telecast, its a live advertisement. pic.twitter.com/d5wnrNeURS
— Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস (@rajudasonline) November 14, 2020
CM Arvind Kejriwal, wife performed puja on Diwali at Akshardham temple & it was telecasted.
I told you, AAP is BJP in making!!
— Zoya (@RangDeTiranga) November 14, 2020
While Kejriwal is doing his best to compete with Modi and his hindutva brigade and spending money to beam live Laxmi puja, Delhi and NCR does not seem to care. Despite ban crackers in full swing.
— Pradeep Magazine (@pradeepmagazine) November 14, 2020
LIVE UPDATES on today’s big stories will appear below:
14:01 PM: Nitish Kumar unanimously elected leader of NDA Legislature Party, PTI reports quoting sources in the ruling coalition
11:04 AM: With 41,100 new #COVID19 infections, India’s total cases rise to 88,14,579. With 447 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,29,635. Total active cases at 4,79,216 after a decrease of 1,503 in the last 24 hrs. (ANI)
With 41,100 new #COVID19 infections, India's total cases rise to 88,14,579. With 447 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,29,635
Total active cases at 4,79,216 after a decrease of 1,503 in the last 24 hrs
Total discharged cases at 82,05,728 with 42,156 new discharges in last 24 hrs pic.twitter.com/wvsRxLdaMD
— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2020
10:15 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes to tribal leader Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary and says his contribution to freedom movement and social harmony will always inspire people. (PTI)
भगवान बिरसा मुंडा जी को उनकी जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। वे गरीबों के सच्चे मसीहा थे, जिन्होंने शोषित और वंचित वर्ग के कल्याण के लिए जीवनपर्यंत संघर्ष किया। स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में उनका योगदान और सामाजिक सद्भावना के लिए किए गए उनके प्रयास देशवासियों को सदैव प्रेरित करते रहेंगे। pic.twitter.com/9trzSfygep
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2020
09:40 AM: Jammu and Kashmir: Wreath laying ceremony of BSF Sub-Inspector Rakesh Dobhal who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Baramulla district on 13th November, held at Srinagar today. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir: Wreath laying ceremony of BSF Sub-Inspector Rakesh Dobhal who lost his life in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Baramulla district on 13th November, held at Srinagar today. pic.twitter.com/zMoDEl7E3s
— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2020