In A Letter To PM Modi, Kejriwal Seeks Discounted Metro For Students, Demands Equal Expense Bearing

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has demanded a 50 per cent rebate for students in Delhi Metro fares. On this, Kejriwal added that equal expense bearing on the said metro discount for scheme students between AAP and the Central government should be done, PTI reported.

"Women in Delhi are already enjoying free bus rides. Now, we will extend the same benefit to male students to ease their financial burden and promote education accessibility. The metro fares are expensive for students. I have requested PM Modi to introduce this scheme, and we are ready to bear half the cost,” Kejriwal wrote in the letter.

This development comes hours ahead of the BJP releasing its manifesto for the Assembly polls in the city.

Later, addressing a press conference, Kejriwal announced free bus rides for male students if his party is re-elected in the February 5 polls, PTI said. The AAP government already provides free bus travel to women in the city.

The announcement, however, cannot be implemented immediately due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) currently in place in Delhi. Kejriwal assured that the scheme would be a priority for his government if re-elected. In the letter, Kejriwal also said the initiative could be rolled out after the elections.

BJP national president J P Nadda is scheduled to announce the party's manifesto for the Delhi Assembly polls at 2 pm, at a press conference in the state unit office.

Delhi Polls

In the pre-poll battle, political leaders started targeting each other when on January 13 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that they keep mum on the issue of caste census as they do not want backwards, Dalits, tribals, and minorities to get their due share.

Specifically targeting Kejriwal at his first public meeting for Delhi, Gandhi said that the AAP convenor was following "Modi's strategy of propaganda and false promises" despite rising pollution, corruption and inflation in the national capital. Gandhi also promised a caste survey in Delhi if the Congress formed the government in the national capital.

On January 14, Kejriwal targeted Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and the BJP. In a post on X, he said: "I said just one line about Rahul Gandhi, and the reply is coming from the BJP. Look how much trouble the BJP is facing. Perhaps this Delhi election will expose the 'Jugalbandi' going on behind the scenes between Congress and BJP for years."

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.