Poster vs poster: BJP tells 'Kejriwal Sir' the things AAP could have done with the Rs 526 crore they spent on ads

New Delhi: Stepping up Delhi’s poster war, state BJP has put up bills across the city questioning the rationale behind Arvind Kejriwal government’s Rs 526 crore expenditure on its advertisement, many of which have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the posters, BJP has claimed that the AAP government could have utilised the money for installing five lakh CCTV cameras or constructing 200 new schools and 50 new colleges in the capital.

“You could have brought 2000 new buses, AC buses in Delhi and you could have solved Delhi’s traffic problem, but you paid no heed to them. You could have looked after the 1,000 unauthorized colonies where there are electricity and water problems,” the advertisement says.

“Five lakh people can get pension for one year and one lakh youth can get employment while 1,000 unauthorised colonies can get drinking water with that amount of money”.

“Governments publicise themselves, but that’s not the question,” The Economic Times quoted BJP’s Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay. “The way they (AAP) have spent Rs 526 crore on advertisment, Delhi’s public wants know if this money could have been used rationally by installing 5 lakh cameras for safety, building 200 new schools and 50 new colleges. But the advertisement will not make their future as you are just advertising for yourselves,” Upadhyay said.

“AAP has been working for the people of Delhi since elections. Even after the hurdles posed by different parties, AAP is working for the people. They don’t know that the Delhi government has started to post guards in buses and installed CCTVs for women security,” AAP leader Dilip Pandey said.

The fresh poster war came in the backdrop of a power tussle between chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.

Last month, the AAP government had put up posters requesting the Prime Minister to allow the city dispensation to work.

In the 2015-16 Budget, Delhi government set aside Rs 526 crore for its advertisement campaign which drew a flak from the BJP and the Congress.

Hitting back at the Kejriwal’s government, BJP has now put posters, issued by party’s vice-president Kuljeet Singh Chahal, questioning the need behind spending such a big amount on the advertisement.

In the posters, Chahal said, “Answer Kejriwal sir, why the people’s Rs 526 crore was spoiled for advertisement.” The posters gives suggestions that with Rs 526 crore, five lakh CCTV cameras could be installed, 200 new schools and 50 new colleges could be opened, 200 new buses and safe drinking water could be provided in 1000 colonies.

The last line of posters also claims that one year pension could be given to 5 lakh families and employment to one lakh youths. Slamming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said spending such a big amount on advertisement is wastage of public money.

“Every government does advertisement but question is such spending of Rs 526 crore raises eyebrows. The last year budget of advertisement was 23 crore and during the tenure of Sheila Dikshit, the budget remained around 10 to 15 crore,” Upadhyay said.

He also said that if Delhi government claims to improve women security, they can install 5 lakh cameras across Delhi out of such hefty amount.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)