Hardeep Singh Puri Slams Delhi CM Kejriwal For Announcing Free Rides For Women Without Making Any Proposal

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday (6 June) took a swipe at Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal for announcing the scheme of providing free-ride to women in buses and Metro trains without making any proposal given the Union Government hold equal 50 per cent ownership of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), reports LiveMint.

"Kejriwal has a problem of a different kind. He gives a full page advertisement, announcing that the scheme will start in next two-three months, but they don't have any proposal for it," Puri was quoted in the report as saying.

He further added, "a scheme should not be like this - first its announcement and then preparing its proposal." Furthering his swipe on the AAP government in Delhi, Puri added, "Ask them (AAP government) as to how many buses they have against the sanctioned 11,000 buses in Delhi,"

At present, there are around 5,400 buses operating in Delhi, of which 3,700 are run and managed by the DTC, while another 1,700 are cluster buses which are privately owned and managed under the DIMTS. As per the court order, there should be at 11,000 buses in Delhi. Thus, there is a shortfall of more than 5,500 buses in Delhi for public transportation.

"We will sort out Delhi's problem. This phenomena is here only for another six months. I have no doubt. These are people who came at number 3 (In the Lok Sabha elections). They are disruptionist," Puri said thrashing the Delhi government for making an announcement without making a proposal.

Commenting on Puri's accusation, the Deputy CM Manish Sisodia asserted that Delhi government had a concrete plan and there was no lack of funds.