Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia spoke with local auto drivers who praised Arvind Kejriwal’s government for improving their lives in his Auto Samvad event in Burari on Sunday. The auto drivers credited Arvind Kejriwal for waiving various fees and providing Rs. 10,000 financial aid during the pandemic, ensuring their dignity and consistent support during tough times.
Manish Sisodia emphasized the crucial role of auto drivers in Delhi’s daily life, carrying not just passengers but the hopes and responsibilities of the people. He noted that all the drivers expressed their desire for Arvind Kejriwal to return as Chief Minister, appreciating his ability to deliver on promises and earn their trust. During this, MLA Sanjeev Jha and AAP’s Auto Wing in-charge Gaurav Singh was also present at the event.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia shared a post on his X handle, stating, “Today, I had a conversation with auto-rickshaw drivers at Burari Ground. Hearing their stories was deeply moving. It was heartwarming to know that auto drivers are very happy with the work done by Arvind Kejriwal Ji’s government.”
“One auto driver shared how his daughter received a quality education in a government school and is now a teacher at Delhi’s Kendriya Vidyalaya. Another mentioned that he has now transferred his child from a private school to a government school and is very satisfied with the decision. All auto drivers are extremely pleased with the initiatives Arvind Ji has taken for them in Delhi. They no longer have to make repeated visits to the Transport Authority. The burden of various fees has been lifted. Thanks to Arvind Ji, their families are now living with dignity in Delhi,” his post states.
“The pace of Delhi runs on the hard-working wheels of these auto drivers. They don’t just transport passengers; they carry people’s dreams, needs, and responsibilities to their destinations. From early morning to late at night, navigating traffic and challenges, bringing smiles to every passenger’s face is a part of their lives. All the auto drivers want Kejriwal Ji to become the Chief Minister again, because he hasn’t just made promises, he has delivered results,” concludes Manish Sisodia’s post.
At the Auto Samvad, Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia stated, “Arvind Kejriwal has a special place in his heart for auto drivers, and they, in turn, hold immense respect and affection for him. Many times, Arvind Kejriwal says that I’m obsessed with schools and education, and in the same way, our leader Sanjeev Jha constantly thinks about the welfare of auto drivers day and night.
Manish Sisodia further stated, “During the 17 months I spent in jail, I was as concerned about my wife and children as I was about the students studying in Delhi’s schools. I kept thinking that their education should not suffer. I would even ask over the phone about their studies, the results, and whether JEE and NEET preparations were going well. Even from jail, I felt a connection with your children. I was just as worried about their education as I am about my own son’s studies.”
The senior AAP leader added, “I travel around Delhi often, and whenever I stop at a red light and an auto driver pulls up beside me, we end up chatting for a while. Those conversations feel like heart-to-heart talks, as if two members of the same family are speaking. Just now, someone shared that he moved his child from a private school to a government school. Another told me that his daughter studied at a Delhi Government school and is now a teacher in a Kendriya Vidyalaya.”
He further added, “Whenever I visit schools in Delhi and a child tells me their father drives an auto, it feels like they’re the children of my own brother. Since 2013, Delhi’s auto drivers have been a big part of getting the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal, and me to where we are today. No matter how much we do for you, it will never feel enough. We just want to do everything we can for you.”
He continued, “I remember when I was Delhi’s Finance Minister, files would come to me for approval. Even waiving a single rupee in the government would make officials hesitate to sign. But Arvind Kejriwal firmly said that if it means waiving even lakhs of rupees, it should be done. This isn’t just about the fees, it’s about the struggles auto drivers faced, running from pillar to post to pay them. All those hardships have now been eliminated.”
Manish Sisodia asserted that if your children study in government schools, Arvind Kejriwal is working for them. If your parents want to go on a pilgrimage, he is working for that too. If you want your electricity bill to be zero and 24-hour power supply, he is making that happen as well.
“It’s not just about what Arvind Kejriwal has done for you as an auto driver; it’s about your child’s future. That child is the future of your family, and Arvind Kejriwal wants to ensure that their future is bright—so they can grow up to be a doctor, engineer, IAS officer, or entrepreneur,” he added.
He further added that if someone in your family falls ill—whether it’s your parents, siblings, or anyone else—you shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for their treatment. In states where the BJP is in power, you can ask your relatives, and they’ll tell you that when someone falls ill, the real concern is whether they’ll have to sell their auto to afford treatment. In Delhi, no one has that worry because they know Arvind Kejriwal is there.
The senior AAP leader said, “The people of Delhi know that if they have a minor illness, there are Mohalla Clinics. If it’s a major illness, there are government hospitals. And if it’s something even bigger that can’t be treated at a government hospital, the government will cover the treatment costs at private hospitals, even if it runs into lakhs. This is what Arvind Kejriwal does.”
He asserted that the Delhi Government covers the costs. If an accident happens anywhere in Delhi, the government takes care of all the medical treatment. I’ve met many auto drivers who’ve rushed accident victims to the nearest hospital, where the government ensures they receive the necessary care. The police don’t harass them for doing so; instead, the government rewards their efforts. Through the ‘Farishte’ scheme, thousands of auto drivers have saved lives, demonstrating their commitment to the city’s well-being.
Manish Sisodia criticized the BJP’s governance in 22 states and urged people to ask their relatives about the condition of government schools in these regions. “Wherever your relatives live, call them and ask about the state of government schools. They are not improving hospitals either. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, even primary healthcare facilities are in a terrible state,” he said.
Highlighting the poor state of electricity in BJP-ruled states, Manish Sisodia added, “The situation is so bad that forget about villages; there are hours-long power cuts even in towns and cities. People report that in many areas, electricity doesn’t come at all—only the bills do. This is the reality in all BJP-ruled states.”
Manish Sisodia highlighted the transformative impact of Arvind Kejriwal’s government, asserting that people across the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, recognize the improvements made in Delhi’s schools under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership.
He said, “Electricity is available 24 hours a day. In Delhi, if Kejriwal is there, it means schools are good. Meanwhile, in BJP-ruled states, there’s only the BJP—no schools, no hospitals, and no electricity. We are helping every single resident of Delhi live a better life.”
Reflecting on the raids conducted by the ED and CBI, Manish Sisodia said, “When they raided my house, they assumed that after being a minister for so long, I must have some money. They seized my phone, which only had the numbers of teachers and children. They found nothing. Eventually, they said they would find something in my bank locker. When the CBI opened the locker, all they found was my son’s silver rattle, a gift from his grandmother when he was a child. My wife had kept it safe.”
Manish Sisodia said that the BJP had targeted him as part of a strategy to weaken Arvind Kejriwal and halt the progress being made in Delhi’s schools. “They had orders from the BJP that to stop Arvind Kejriwal, they first had to catch me, as I was building schools in Delhi. They took me and charged me with sections usually applied to terrorists so that I wouldn’t get bail. I spent 17 months in jail,” he said.
Manish Sisodia further claimed that during his imprisonment, he was pressured to abandon Arvind Kejriwal and align with the BJP. “They put a lot of pressure on me, telling me to leave Arvind Kejriwal’s side and join them. But I said that Arvind Kejriwal is with the people of Delhi, and I am with him. I didn’t break or bend. I came back and resumed working with the same courage for the people,” he said.
Manish Sisodia highlighted how Arvind Kejriwal himself had endured similar challenges, including a six-month jail term, yet remained unwavering in his dedication to Delhi. He remarked, “Despite everything, Arvind Kejriwal continues to work for Delhi with even more determination than before.”
Calling for public support, Manish Sisodia further said, “Arvind Kejriwal has done so much for you, and today he needs your support. He has worked tirelessly for your children, hospitals, mohalla clinics, electricity, water, and every aspect of your life. Now, it’s time to bring Arvind Kejriwal back.”
He further pointed out the irony in the BJP’s stance on free electricity. “Today, even BJP leaders’ homes in Delhi receive zero electricity bills. These same people once loudly opposed free revdis. But two years ago, Arvind Kejriwal gave them a choice: if they didn’t want free electricity, they could skip filling out the form and pay their bills. Yet, BJP leaders were the first to submit those forms for free electricity. Let’s remind them that no matter what they say, it’s Arvind Kejriwal who ensured their electricity bills remain zero—even if they are staunch BJP supporters,” concluded Manish Sisodia.
