In a major announcement ahead of the upcoming elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched the ‘Aam Aadmi Bachat Patra’ (Savings Certificate), campaign highlighting the substantial financial relief that AAP’s governance provides to Delhi’s families. Arvind Kejriwal asserted that under the AAP government, households are already saving ₹25,000 per month through existing welfare schemes, and new initiatives—such as the Mahila Samman Yojana, Sanjeevani Yojana, free bus travel for students, and a 50% discount on metro fares—will increase these savings to ₹35,000 per month.
Arvind Kejriwal framed the upcoming election as a direct financial choice for Delhiites, declaring, “If you press the ‘Jhaadu’ (broom) button, you will save ₹35,000 every month. If you press any other button, you will lose ₹35,000.” He warned that the BJP has already announced plans to discontinue essential welfare schemes, including free electricity, water, education, healthcare, and public transport for women, if they come to power.
Addressing the media, Arvind Kejriwal emphasized that the national budget will be announced on Saturday, and people are anxious about its impact. He pointed out, “Budgets often lead to price hikes, affecting household finances. In contrast, AAP’s government in Delhi has introduced various welfare schemes that benefit middle-class and lower-income families, providing savings of approximately ₹25,000 per month. With newly announced initiatives, this figure will rise to ₹35,000 per month.”
Arvind Kejriwal cautioned that pressing the ‘Jhaadu’ button would ensure these savings, whereas pressing the ‘lotus’ button (BJP’s symbol) would result in the loss of these benefits. “The decision now rests with the people of Delhi—whether they want to save ₹35,000 per month under AAP or suffer a ₹35,000 financial blow under BJP.”
Arvind Kejriwal broke down how AAP’s schemes result in ₹25,000 in monthly savings per household:
- Free electricity: Saves ₹4,000–₹5,000 per month per family.
- Free water: Saves ₹2,000–₹2,500 per month.
- Free bus travel for women: Saves around ₹2,500 per month.
- Free quality education: If government schools were not free, parents would need to enroll their children in private schools, incurring a minimum of ₹5,000 per child per month. For two children, the cost would be at least ₹10,000.
- Free healthcare in Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals: Even minor illnesses cost ₹2,000–₹2,500 per doctor visit. Most families visit a doctor at least twice a month, costing around ₹5,000.
“Thus, adding up these benefits, families save approximately ₹25,000 monthly,” he noted.
Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that the BJP has already declared it will end these five key benefits—free education, electricity, women’s bus travel, Mohalla Clinics, and free water. “If these schemes are discontinued, every family will suffer a loss of ₹25,000 per month,” he said.
Arvind Kejriwal outlined how his newly announced schemes will save families an additional ₹10,000 per month:
- Mahila Samman Yojana: Every woman will receive ₹2,100 per month. If a household has two women, the family will receive ₹4,200 monthly.
- Free bus travel for students & 50% metro fare discount: This will save students ₹2,000–₹2,500 per month.
- Sanjeevani Yojana: Complete free medical treatment for senior citizens in both private and government hospitals, saving ₹3,000–₹4,000 per month.
“These schemes will collectively help families save at least ₹8,000–₹10,000 per month, in addition to the existing ₹25,000 in savings,” he announced.
Arvind Kejriwal also announced the launch of a city-wide campaign where AAP workers will visit every home to fill out ‘Savings Certificates.’ Volunteers will work with families to calculate their savings under AAP’s current and future schemes. Arvind Kejriwal himself will visit a household to complete the first Savings Certificate, following which AAP leaders, candidates, and volunteers will conduct a door-to-door drive across Delhi.
He emphasized that every rupee collected from taxpayers is spent on public welfare under the AAP government. “This includes Mohalla Clinics, schools, hospitals, free electricity, roads, and metro expansion.” He also condemned the BJP for diverting public funds to benefit a handful of billionaires.
Arvind Kejriwal said that BJP governments have written off massive loans for a few billionaires. He cited an instance where ₹47,000 crore was loaned to a billionaire, and ₹46,000 crore was later waived off. “Another billionaire received a ₹6,500 crore loan, of which ₹5,000 crore was forgiven. In total, ₹10 lakh crore in loans has been waived for 400 billionaires in the past five years.”
If the BJP comes to power, Arvind Kejriwal warned, they would not only shut down welfare schemes but also redirect Delhi’s treasury towards their billionaire friends, leaving ordinary citizens to suffer.
Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the BJP is more interested in looting public funds and acquiring land rather than solving public issues like inflation and unemployment. He cited the example of Mumbai’s Dharavi, where BJP allegedly handed over land meant for the poor to a billionaire. He warned that if BJP wins in Delhi, they will demolish slums and hand over land to builders and corporate friends.
Ahead of the Union Budget, Arvind Kejriwal urged the Prime Minister to declare that billionaire loans will no longer be waived. He argued that if such waivers stop, India’s GST and income tax rates could be halved, providing relief to the middle class.
