Those who left AAP were 'opportunists': Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hit out at those who recently left party, calling m "opportunists" who were greedy for posts and tickets.

Kejriwal, who launched his party's campaign for upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Punjab by addressing a rally here, also attacked Congress-led state government and said it had "betrayed" people as it failed to deliver on its poll promises.

Senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and entire state unit leadership, including Harpal Cheema and Aman Arora, also attended rally.

"Some people left AAP few days back. Our political opponents started saying AAP has begun to disintegrate. body in country has cour to disintegrate party," he said.

"Congress, Akali Dal and BJP have tried ir best in last five years to weaken party but God has been with us," AAP national conver said.

"Those who have left AAP were t worthy of staying in party. y were opportunists and were greedy for tickets and posts. y tried to break party. God wielded broom and all bad persons are w out," Kejriwal said.

Two rebel AAP leaders from Punjab -- Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Jaitu MLA Baldev Singh, besides senior lawyer H S Phoolka, have quit party this month. Khaira was suspended from party in vember last for indulging in "anti-party activities".

Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at Centre of creating hurdles in development works in national capital and trying to kill him.

" Modi government tried to t allow us to run government in Delhi. We want to build hospitals, schools but y continued to create hindrance in our efforts. But we fought m and did good work," he said.

"I have been attacked four times in last two years. Have you ever heard of any chief minister being attacked? y conspired to kill me," he claimed.

Training his guns at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Kejriwal said former had t houred any of pre-poll promises, including those of farm loan waiver, raising pension and distributing smart phones.

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"Two years ago, you ensured victory of Captain sahib (Amarinder Singh) with a huge majority. y had filled forms for giving you jobs. I want to ask you to raise your hands if anybody here has been given a job yet. t even a single job has been given by state government," AAP leader said.

"Two years have passed. Captain betrayed people," Kejriwal said.

Delhi chief minister also accused Punjab government of igring Dalit community, backward classes and poor.

Alleging that Singh's government was handing over functioning of all government hospitals and schools to private entities, Kejriwal asked, "How can he be called chief minister when governance is going into hands of private people?"

He claimed his government in Delhi had "transformed" condition of government schools, enabling children belonging to Dalit, Schedule Caste and Backward Class communities to avail quality education.

"Last year, Dalit children secured over 90 per cent marks," he said.

Similarly, condition of government hospitals has been improved, where medicines are given and tests conducted free of cost, Delhi chief minister said.

"We have w planned that Delhi government would bear expenditure of private coaching for children of Dalit community," Kejriwal said.

He also reminded people that his party made Harpal Cheema and Budh Ram, both Dalits, leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly and chairman of party's core committee, respectively.

Kejriwal appealed to people to vote for AAP in upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"You have seen SAD and Congress. Last time, re was a miss (in AAP forming government in Punjab). People tell me how it had happened. AAP was to win at least 100 seats, but Congress and Akali Dal conspired against us," he said.

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"Friends, do t make any mistake this time. Ensure (AAP's) victory on all 13 Lok Sabha seats under leadership of Bhagwant Mann," Kejriwal said.

He said Mann was only MP to raise Punjab's issues in Parliament.

"If need arises, Parliament will be disrupted for sake of Punjab and we will ensure justice for you," he said.