'Yogi built crematoriums and sent people there': Kejriwal on UP COVID management

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday, making jibes at UP's Covid-19 management strategy which he said was only good for filling crematoriums. The state had the "worst Covid management in the world," Mr Kejriwal said at a massive rally in Lucknow today, ahead of the assembly elections that are just weeks away.

"It is regrettable that over the last five years, the Yogi Adityanath government has not only built crematoriums in Uttar Pradesh, but also made arrangements to dispatch many people there," said the AAP chief, whose party is contesting all 403 seats in the state.

"They did such a terrible job of managing the pandemic that they had to give 10 crore rupees to advertise their supposed success in American magazines," Kejriwal alleged during his speech. "If they had done such a good job then why do they need advertising?"

The reference here was made to a three-page advertisement that was published in the India section of the Times magazine in December 2020 that Indian media reported as an endorsement of the UP government's efforts to control the pandemic, by the Times magazine.

Kejriwal said that the UP government was fit only for building cemeteries and crematoriums whereas his Aam Admi Party was more used to providing the public with hospitals and schools, which he wished to bring to UP as well. In addition to this, he made several promises such as free electricity and programmes for women empowerment.

₹1000 would be transferred to women over 18 if an AAP government was to come into power, Kejriwal proclaimed. 10 lakh jobs and unemployment allowance would also be provided he said, according to a report by news agency ANI.

The elections to the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are due early this year. After coming to power for the second term in Delhi, Kejriwal is hoping to expand its base in the neighbouring UP. AAP has made similar promises in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa that are also headed for Assembly polls this year.