New Delhi, Feb 3: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday slammed the concept of a “double-engine government” and stated that it would crush everyone under its wheels.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal slammed the concept of a “double-engine government,” and alleged, “It has become clear that if such a government comes to power, it will crush everyone under its wheels — the poor, the middle class, everyone.”

He also launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accusing him of bias.

“People have sacrificed a lot to ensure free and fair elections, but today, the way the Election Commission has surrendered before the BJP raises serious concerns. It feels as if the Election Commission does not even exist anymore,” he said.

Kejriwal further questioned whether the CEC was being offered a post-retirement position, stating, “Rajiv Kumar is retiring at the end of this month. What has he been promised that he is willing to put democracy at stake? Is it a governorship? Or even the presidency? Is there any post bigger than the country itself?”

Urging Kumar to act with integrity, he said, “I appeal to Rajiv Kumar to do his duty and not be swayed by the lure of a post. He has served for 40-45 years, and the country has given him a lot. Do not sacrifice democracy for personal gains.”

He also raised concerns over alleged repeated attacks on his party’s workers and volunteers, as well as journalists in the national Capital.

“People across Delhi, and even the entire country, are wondering what the source of all this is. The one question that is on everyone’s mind is — From where is this violence originating?”

He alleged that AAP workers and the public were being openly threatened and coerced into joining the BJP.

“In the last few days, we have seen increasing attacks on people, AAP workers being assaulted, and the public being threatened. They are being told to either join the BJP or face consequences. There are open fights, violence, and all this is happening while the police stand by, watching helplessly,” he said.

Questioning the role of law enforcement, he remarked, “Some people ask the police why they are not taking action, and they reply, ‘There is an order from above.’ So, who is the police scared of?”

Kejriwal also raised the issue of alleged police manhandling of journalists.

“For the first time, we are seeing such open attacks on journalists during an election. Yesterday in Delhi, seven journalists were assaulted — one had his head broken, and another was kept in police custody overnight. Shockingly, the attackers were let go, while journalists covering the incident were arrested,” he said, emphasising that the incident occurred just a kilometre away from Parliament.

Further accusing the Centre of instigating violence against AAP’s female workers, Kejriwal said, “Women who are campaigning door to door are being attacked. Over the past few days, our vehicles have been vandalised; and our campaign materials seized. The public has now made up its mind to defeat this hooliganism.”

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has criticised the Union Budget 2025, highlighting the absence of any specific allocations for Maharashtra despite it being the highest tax-contributing state.

Responding to the Union Budget in a social media post, Thackeray pointed out what he sees as a stark contrast between Bihar’s prominent mentions and Maharashtra’s complete omission. “Not a single mention of Maharashtra is an outright insult to the state that contributes the highest taxes, including one of the highest GST consistently,” he said.

The former minister questioned the budget’s approach to unemployment, noting that while the government speaks about income tax rebates, it fails to address how citizens can earn enough to qualify for these benefits. “When unemployment is at its highest, there’s no mention of a solution to it,” Thackeray remarked.

On infrastructure development, Thackeray criticised the government’s capital expenditure plans, alleging a “contractor-based economy” where “favourite contractors get contracts” resulting in “horrible roads” on major Maharashtra highways. He highlighted that while rupees 11.1 lakh crores was proposed last year, only rupees 10.1 lakh crores were actually spent.

Regarding aviation infrastructure, Thackeray questioned the government’s UDAAN scheme announcement for 120 new airports, specifically noting the omission of Pune’s new airport despite local demand and representation. He also raised concerns about previously launched airports that have since ceased operations.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also addressed everyday challenges facing citizens, including increased transport fares and food inflation. “The common person still grapples with a hike in State Transport Buses and auto rickshaw fare hike in Maharashtra. The people still face inflation in daily market buys like onion, tomato, potato,” he stated, questioning the government’s strategy to make essential items affordable without reducing farmers’ income.

In a pointed reference to BJP’s past promises, Thackeray sarcastically remarked on Bihar’s budget allocations, wondering if the state had received the rupees 1.25 lakh crores package promised by BJP in 2015 and subsequent promises made in 2024.

Mumbai, Feb 1: Maharashtra Committee on Saturday claimed that the Union Budget is just a maze of numbers and mess, adding that the farmers are in crisis as they are protesting for the guaranteed price for their agricultural products but there has not been a single word about them in the budget.

“The highest number of farmer suicides are taking place in Maharashtra, while there is a demand for loan waiver for farmers, the BJP government has not announced loan waiver,” said Maharashtra chief Nana Patole.

He added that increasing the Kisan Credit Card limit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh will not benefit the farmers.

“Inflation is increasing at a high rate, unemployment has increased tremendously, and there is no concrete plan for job creation,” he said.

He added that the Union government has announced that there is no tax up to Rs 12 lakh in income tax, but there is confusion in it too.

“It seems that this announcement had to be made for the benefit of the salaried class and middle class after BJP’s chariot stopped at 240 against its slogan of 400 plus,” he said.

He said that instead of providing substantial funds in the budget for the MGNREGA scheme, which provides employment to the poor in rural areas, the funds have been cut.

“There is no substantial provision in the budget for two important sectors, health and education. The promise of providing two crore jobs every year was made in 2014, but in the last 11 years, not only have jobs not been provided, but there is the worst unemployment crisis. There is no concrete policy in the budget regarding employment generation and jobs. The common man has not been given concessions to fulfil his dream of housing and GST has not been reduced,” said Patole.

He said that Bihar was mentioned consistently in the budget but no other state including Maharashtra was mentioned.

“Bihar is going to have Assembly elections soon, so the Finance Minister has deliberately mentioned Bihar in the budget. The negative response of the stock market immediately after the budget was presented means that this budget has not met the expectations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the party general secretary Sachin Sawant said that the budget has made it clear that the direction of economic policies has been wrong for the last ten years and the policy of the Congress party was right.

“For the last ten years, the government was focused on increasing supply. Corporate tax was reduced by Rs 1.5 lakh crore, but corporate profits did not increase and employment did not increase. Even though corporate loans were written off by banks, neither private investment nor exports increased. During this period, the current account deficit increased and the trade deficit did not decrease,” he said.

He added that the foreign direct investment, which was 3.6 per cent of the gross domestic product during the UPA government, came down to 0.8 per cent.

“Foreign institutions are fleeing the stock market as corporates are not making profits. However, the purchasing power of the people has fallen to its lowest level in the last twenty years,” said Sawant.

He added that the Modi government is the most failed, policy paralysed and economically ignorant government.

“It is clear how far the concept of a developed India is due to their inefficiency and how the monster of unemployment and inflation as well as huge economic inequality is swallowing the common man,” he claimed.