New Delhi, July 17 (Agency) Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibe on “revadi culture”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his government’s schemes for free education, healthcare and electricity were not “freebies” but efforts to lay the foundation for the nation building. “By providing free power, health and education, AAP Government in Delhi is not distributing freebies, but laying the foundation for the nation building. We are criticised for providing basic facilities to those who can’t afford them. Is it illegal or immoral in any manner?” Kejriwal said.” Through Farishtey scheme we saved 13,000 lives with timely free treatment to injured people in accidents. Ask their families, if Kejriwal is distributing ‘Revadis’ or doing a virtuous thing,” the Delhi CM added during his digital address.
Citing the latest audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, he also said despite providing basic facilities free of cost, Delhi is a revenue surplus state. His reaction was a retort to PM Modi’s remarks who earlier in the day cautioned people against what he called a “revadi culture” of offering “freebies” for electoral gain.Kejriwal went ahead to say that if he has his way, education and health services will become free for all in the country.Taking his attack further on the “freebie” comment, Kejriwal, without naming anyone, the Delhi CM said the actual freebie is distributed when massive loans and projects worth thousands of crores are given to industrial friends. “The actual freebie is distributed when a country’s PM asks his counterpart from another country to give tender to his industrialist friend,” he added to his retort indicating reports about PM Modi where he was alleged to pressurise Sri Lanka Government to favour Adani enterprise for an energy project in the island nation.