Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 | Rahul Gandhi attacks Kejriwal, says no difference between him and Modi

The Leader of Opposition said neither Kejriwal nor BJP can develop Delhi the way Congress had done it during Sheila Dikshit’s government.

New Delhi: In an election speech that may further deepen fissures in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a scathing attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claiming that there is “no difference” between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “propaganda and making false promises”.

Launching his campaign for Delhi Assembly elections in north-east Delhi’s Seelampur, Rahul asked Kejriwal whether he had spoken any word against Gautam Adani and whether he supports Caste Census and removing the cap on 50 per cent quota.

He said neither Kejriwal nor BJP can develop Delhi the way Congress had done it during Sheila Dikshit’s government.

Kejriwal hit back at Rahul through a post on X, “Today Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not comment on his statements. His fight is to save Congress, my fight is to save the country.”

Rahul’s remarks come as the Opposition alliance is facing turbulence since his party’s poor performance in Haryana and Maharashtra polls, with Trinamool Congress seeking a change in leadership, some questioning Congress’ alleged lack of initiative in rejuvenating the bloc and a few announcing support for AAP in the Delhi polls.

His 22-minute speech was preceded by Delhi Congress leaders attacking the AAP, claiming that it has destroyed the capital and alleging that Kejriwal is a “trickster”, who remained silent when "minorities were attacked" and worked against Dalits.

Beginning his speech with his familiar themes of the "need for saving the Constitution" and the fight against RSS-BJP ideology, he turned to attack Kejriwal but along with Modi. Kejriwal had earlier accused the Congress, which was relegated to political irrelevance in the capital, of working with the BJP to defeat them in the Assembly elections.

“Kejriwal said he would eradicate corruption, make Delhi like Paris? Has he? What actually happened -- one cannot move around due to pollution and inflation is rising. Like Modi does propaganda of his false promises, Kejriwal also adopts the same strategy. There is no difference,” Rahul said.

“Poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer. Around 100-150 crorepatis are taking advantage. Adani and Ambani are doing the marketing for Modi. Have you ever heard Modi, Kejriwal talking about Adani? They won't,” he said.

Rahul also accused Kejriwal and Modi of not talking about giving representation to the poor, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and minorities and said they make big speeches but do not do anything.

“When I speak about Caste Census, both of them do not talk about it and they do not want to give them representation. You ask Kejriwal and Modi whether they support Caste Census...whether they want the cap on 50 per cent quota to go,” he said while recalling that it was under Congress that the country got laws on Right to Food and land acquisition, loan waivers and scholarship.

He promised a “revolutionary” Caste Census in Delhi if Congress comes to power.

He also said he and Congress will stand with victims of violence and added that when they say they would open 'mohabbat ke dookanein' (shops of love), they do not mean to say that they would do it only after people vote for them.

Urging people to make Congress victorious as “neither Kejriwal, nor BJP can do what we can” in developing Delhi, he said his party stands for equality, 'bhagidari' for poor and minorities.

“Modi and Kejriwal do not want the SCs, STs, Backward and minorities to get their due. Backward people are not getting their due and there is unequal distribution of resources. We want the poorest of the poor, whether they are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians, to dream big...head big companies," he said.

"Till I am alive, I will protect every Indian from assault, be it Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians," he added.