- West Delhi MP has challenged Kejriwal’s liquor policy in Delhi High Court
- Kejriwal is using taxpayer’s money to pay hefty fees of Abhishek Manu Singhvi, his Council
- AAP government is well known for useless spending on public relations, but it’s time to curtail it
Arvind Kejriwal never fails to amaze us. Recently he was in controversy for his opportunistic and contradictory stands on liquor policy. Now, he has hired Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi to defend his policy.
Kejriwal’s Liquor policy challenged in Delhi High Court
Arvind Kejriwal’s controversial liquor policy has been challenged in Court. Parvesh Singh Sahib, Member of Parliament from West Delhi constituency has filed a petition in Delhi High Court against the populist policy.
At the time of writing, a total of 4 hearings have already taken place. Detailing the developments, Parvesh said, “Where this policy is coming, there is a violation of our constitution. I have personally filed a petition in the High Court. So far 4 hearings have been held on this petition. Its next date is March 14. In this petition, I have challenged the new liquor policy. I am quite surprised when I watch the court hearings.”
Read more: Kejriwal, Electric bus plan is solid, only execution is remaining
Abhishek Manu Singhvi defending Kejriwal’s policy
Interestingly, omitting all political differences, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is also a renowned lawyer, is taking the responsibility of defending Kejriwal. Singhvi is well known for his hefty fees for his Court appearances. He charges Rs 30 lakh for one hearing. Singhvi has been critical of Kejriwal’s freebies’ policies in the past.
Informing about AAP’s lawyer, West Delhi MP said, “Aam Aadmi Party has advocated Abhishek Manu Singhvi in this. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is a Senior Advocate. His fee is 30 lakh rupees. To save this liquor policy, the Delhi government spends 30 lakh rupees on lawyers on every hearing. She is covering up her mistake on how to ruin Delhi.”
केजरीवाल की नई शराब नीति के खिलाफ मैंने Highcourt में याचिका दाखिल करी है।
केजरीवाल ने शराब नीति को Defend करने के लिए कांग्रेस नेता,वकील अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी को खड़ा किया जिसकी फीस 30 लाख रुपए प्रति Hearing है। मतलब केजरीवाल शराब नीति को बचाने के लिए एक तारीख पर 30 लाख खर्च रहे हैं pic.twitter.com/YngKiRut9i— Parvesh Sahib Singh ( Modi Ka Pariwar ) (@p_sahibsingh) February 28, 2022
BJP is also starting a statewide campaign against the policy in the state. They have planned to conduct a statewide survey about the policy.
Kejriwal’s Liquor policy is a bone of contention
Recently the Delhi government brought a new liquor policy to increase the number of shops and sales of liquor. Under the new excise policy of the Delhi government, a total of 552 liquor shops, out of the 849 permitted vends have been opened. The government has divided the city into 32 zones and every zone has 8 to 9 wards the Delhi government is ensuring that every zone has 3 to 4 wine and spirit shops.
Read more: Delhi will soon have 1,152 wine shops
Kejriwal and his PR management
Kejriwal government is infamous for its spending on PR, rather than actual developmental projects. In 2021, it was heavily criticised for excessive spending on advertisements. Read how, In November last year, after failing to clean up the Yamuna, the AAP government hired men with hose pipes to eliminate the froth, so that at least the river looks settled to eyes.
Read more: Arvind Kejriwal has appointed men with hose pipes to clean the Yamuna
Even liquor policy is heavily criticised as its budget has come at the expense of schools, hospitals, and civic facilities in Delhi.
It would be better if the money being provided to a leader of a rival faction was utilised by Kejriwal for fulfilling his promises made to the public. By deviating from these, he is not just eroding his own legacy; he is also eroding people’s confidence in the new brand of politics.