Rahul Gandhi holds 'Mashal Juloos' protest against AAP govt; attempts to corner PM Modi

New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday lead a 'Mashal Juloos' protest against Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the ongoing power and water crisis in the national capital here.  

The march began in the evening today from Samta Sthal to Rajghat.

While addressing the party works here Rahul took a dig at both Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his bete noire Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It is an age of Internet, selfies.. In India, Modiji and Kejriwalji think they can fool people everytime," he said.

The Congress VP further said, "When MCD workers went to Delhi CM to put forth their grievances, CM said that I can give you 1 month salary,can't do anything more. Main jhooth bolke rajneeti kar hi nahin sakta hoon, mere andar ye hai hi nahin. A person who says that can never understand the problems and pain of MCD workers."

"For India to progress, governments need to stop making false & unrealistic promises and instead work to help the people," he added.

Rahul, who was atop a vehicle in a huge convoy accompanied by Congress leader Ajay Maken besides other prominent local Congress leaders, said that Kejriwal had made tall promises about solving the city`s electricity and water problems, but was now trying to divert the issue by raking up `odd-even` and pollution issues.

Kejriwalji promised uninterrupted electricity & water, but after coming to power all these promises were forgotten — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 28, 2016

While invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Rahul said, "I indulge in politics based on Mahatma Gandhi's ideology, I can never indulge in politics of lie and false promises."

Meanwhile, some of the vociferous agitators also raised anti-Kejriwal slogans, while some were heard criticizing the Delhi government. Heavy presence of police personnel was seen at the Congress` march today.

As per ANI, AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Dilip Pandey and Raghav Chaddha were detained by the police near Rahul Gandhi's protest venue her.

ANI quoted Pandey as saying that they had informed the Congress Party of holding a discussion on this issue and they were waiting there for that only. "We thought they believe in democracy, dialogue and debate, but it seems they do not believe so. Otherwise, we would have told them, how Sheila Dikshit and Maken were involved in a money laundering scam of Rs 8,000 crore. It is not right to do drama in such a situation. Rahul is just doing drama. He doesn't care about the people of Delhi. He should stop acting," he added.

The `Mashaal Juloos` march had earlier met with a major hurdle when the Delhi Police barred the use of fire-lit lanterns, considering it as a hazard.This, however, refused to dampen the spirit of the party workers, as they gathered in large numbers and raised slogans such as - Sonia Gandhi ki jai, Rahul Gandhi ki jai. A speaker was loudly urging the workers to rally behind Rahul Gandhi and support him saying, "Rahul Ji ke saath chalein".