Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s padyatra, which has been in full swing since August 16, made a powerful presence in Rajendra Nagar assembly constituency on Saturday. Greeted by a massive crowd, Manish Sisodia was welcomed with a traditional turban and garland.
Amid the enthusiasm, dismissed bus marshals approached Manish Sisodia, expressing their grievances against the LG and BJP. Manish Sisodia assured them that CM Arvind Kejriwal, once he gets out, is ready to challenge the LG and reinstate the marshals. “The BJP jailed Arvind Kejriwal to halt progress,” he said, adding that if elections were held now, AAP would sweep all 70 seats in Delhi. During this time, Rajendra Nagar MLA Durgesh Pathak, councilors and other workers were present.
Addressing the party workers and the crowd assembled at Rajendra Nagar on Day 13 of his padyatra, Delhi’s former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said first of all I want to thank you very much and congratulate you. “Thank you because when I was in jail for 17 months, you all sent your best wishes. God must have also been saddened that which party people are these, which man has Modi Ji locked up. Everyone is praying for this man,” he said.
Manish Sisodia said when I was in jail, I saw many kinds of people were locked up there _ some were wrongdoers, and some people were locked up there after being falsely implicated. I saw that when someone goes to jail, people break ties with him, but the relationship that the entire party family maintained with me for 17 months, I cannot repay its debt even in 17 births.
“I am speaking from the depth of my heart. It is evident how much people were loving, respecting, praying for me. People used to forget the problems of their homes and go to the temple, gurudwara, mosque and would pray once that one of our brothers is in jail, please release him too. For this, I want to thank all the sisters and brothers,” he said.
The senior AAP leader said that he is grateful that the people of his party stood like a rock with him in these trying times. When the Bharatiya Janata Party is breaking parties in the entire country by using the ED and the CBI, if a case is filed against one or two MLAs in any state, the entire party breaks; if a case is filed against one or two ministers, the entire government falls. We have seen that in the last 8-9 years they have toppled at least 10 governments in this way everywhere. Starting from Uttarakhand to Arunachal to Maharashtra. But the AAP stood united.
He said though I had a complaint that why did God send me to jail, I was building schools. But I used to thank God that no matter if I am in jail, but my party is so great that you have given so many good people to this party that people are standing united like a family in this time of crisis.
Manish Sisodia said you have prayed a lot for Arvind Kejriwal ji and very soon he will also be among us with a lot of enthusiasm.
The former deputy chief minister said when I came out of jail, the BJP people started writing on social media, started giving bytes in the media that Manish Sisodia has come smiling after serving 17 months in jail. I said why should I come crying, I have not done anything wrong, I have come with a puffed chest. “These BJP people thought that if you put him in jail for 17 months, if you put Arvind Kejriwal ji in jail for six-eight months, then their morale will break. They thought that I will come crying, but I came smiling, roaring. I have come with more energy,” he said.
Manish Sisodia said he had no reason to break. “Why would I break, why would I panic? If I had done something wrong, then I would have panicked. I did not do anything wrong, and I did not panic or break. Rather I came out stronger. And secondly my family did not break, so I did not panic. A man can break down due to two things only. First, If he has done something wrong, then he gets scared thinking what will happen to him. I knew that I would get bail and the day I get bail, I will be a pain for them. Secondly, the reason for my panic could have been that my family might break, my family has become stronger,” he said.
The Ex-Deputy CM mentioned, “When I came out, many people in the party said that you have come after so many days, go and spend a holiday with your family. But I said that I have not done penance alone, but each of our workers has done penance with me for these 17 months. That is why I will go among them, sit with them, but will not go on leave. My leave is among you people. I and our workers were not afraid of the jail, but ever since I have come out, the BJP people have become worried that this Manish Sisodia has come, the people of Delhi are showering so much love on him, now in a week or ten days Arvind Kejriwal will also come, then what will happen? Thinking this, the BJP people are losing sleep.”
Manish Sisodia shared that he has been doing padyatras for the last 20 days and meeting people. People are coming and hugging him, crying with joy. People are saying that the BJP people are doing wrong. They are arresting honest people and the opposition and putting them in jail. They are saying that this is a blatant atrocity. People believe that Arvind Kejriwal is working in Delhi, the BJP has put him in jail to stop him. The BJP people are also understanding that Manish Sisodia has just started the padyatra and the AAP cadre have become so enthusiastic. If Arvind Kejriwal comes, the whole of Delhi will carry him on their heads. Scared of this, BJP folks are making strange statements.
“When I go among the people, they say that if elections are held this month, AAP will win all 70 seats and will get at least 70 percent votes. If elections are held in Delhi today, AAP will win all 70 seats. Last time, we got 54-55 percent votes, this time we will get 70 percent votes. That is why we have to work very hard,” asserted Manish Sisodia.
A huge crowd came out on the streets to meet Manish Sisodia
A huge crowd gathered to welcome Manish Sisodia whose padyatra reached Rajendra Nagar on Saturday. Local MLA Durgesh Pathak, councilors and party workers welcomed him with garlands and turbans. During the padyatra, Manish Sisodia met everyone including shopkeepers, street vendors, rickshaw pullers, women, elderly people.
Parents said, “Children are very happy with your arrival
During the padyatra, a parent came forward to meet Manish Sisodia. He expressed happiness and said, ‘our children are very happy with his release. If the children are happy, then we are also happy’. On this, Manish Sisodia said that the children are happy. This means the future is happy. During this, many children gave him roses and welcomed him with the tricolor flag and a poster of ‘Welcome Back Manish Sir’.
Children said, “The education in government schools is excellent”
During the padyatra, many children studying in government schools met Manish Sisodia. They told that their school has been built anew and good teachers have come in it. Manish Sisodia asked the children how is the education going on in the school? To which the children told that the teachers teach well. The former Education Minister assured the children that he will visit their school someday.
Bus Marshals told their pain
During the padyatra, the Bus Marshals met Manish Sisodia who had come to meet the people and told him about their pain. The Bus Marshals said that LG Sahab removed 12,000 bus marshals in one go and they became unemployed. You do something for us. On this, Manish Sisodia assured that the AAP government is constantly fighting for this, they will work on it.