"Doing more harm than good to Delhi by holding on to office": Tiwari rips Kejriwal over HC observations

New Delhi: Responding to the Delhi High Court's critique of jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the non-supply of textbooks to more than 2 lakh students in the city, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Saturday tore into the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, accusing him of prioritising personal political interests over the welfare of Delhi's children.
"It is because of Arvind Kejriwal that Delhi is currently in the grip of a constitutional crisis. He is in jail because of his actions. His complicity in the liquor policy scam has been determined. It's now established beyond any reasonable doubt that he took bribes and was brought to justice. If a sitting chief minister is arrested and put behind bars, he or she must resign so that the government can run smoothly," Tiwari, who is a seeking a fresh term from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket, told ANI.
Taking the attack to the CM further, the BJP leader said the former did not take oath as chief minister to build the futures of students in Delhi, as he claims, but abuse his position and indulge in corruption.
"He is not interested in doing any genuine work for the greater good of Delhi. Be it students, their mid-day meals, or books, he is not worried about their interests. He did not become CM to work for the children here but to stay in power and continue with his corrupt ways. After the HC ruling, there is nothing more to say. Even the court said he put self before the national interest. By stubbornly holding on to his office, he is doing more damage to Delhi than good," Tiwari said.
"I believe that the time has come for Arvind Kejriwal to be punished electorally," the BJP leader added.
Earlier, on Friday, the Delhi High Court came down heavily on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the non-supply of textbooks to 2 lakh students.
The bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, and also comprising Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, showed displeasure with the AAP-led MCD, saying he put personal interest over national interest by not resigning despite his arrest.
Justice Manmohan said the Delhi government was least bothered about students not going to school, not having textbooks, and the disturbance in their studies.
The court also reserved harsh words for Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, saying he has turned a blind eye to the 'plight' of students.
"This is arrogance of power at its highest," the court added, in a scathing observation.
Voting for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi is scheduled to take place on May 25, during the sixth phase of the ongoing general elections. The counting for all seven phases is scheduled for June 4.