'Don't repeat the mistake of making Class 12-pass PM in 2019': Kejriwal's classist remarks against Prime Minister Modi
Kejriwal said that people made a Class 12-pass the prime minister of the country but they should not repeat the mistake in 2019.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday made shockingly classist remarks against Narendra Modi as he questioned the Prime Minister's education.
Addressing the "Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao" rally in presence of opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu, Kejriwal said that people made a Class 12-pass the prime minister of the country but they should not repeat the mistake in 2019.
While Prime Minister Modi says he holds a post-graduate degree in political science, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has questioned the authenticity of the degree and has demanded details of his education.
Referring to questions raised on Modi's educational qualification, Kejriwal said, "Last time you made a Class 12-pass the prime minister of the country. Do not commit the mistake this time and find someone who is educated because a Class 12 pass (person) does not have the understanding where he is putting his signs."
This is not the first time Kejriwal has raked the up the issue of Prime Minister Modi’s degrees. Questioning his decision of demonetization, Kejriwal in December 2016 had said Modi was not able to grasp the “devastating consequences” of demonetization due to “less education”.
"Whole country reeling under demonetization scandal. People want know educational qualifications of PM. Does he understand economy?," he had tweeted.
Attacking the Modi government at an opposition rally at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, Kejriwal said, "This dharna will uproot the Modi government just as it removed the then government (of Congress-led UPA) in the country after the historic anti-corruption movement gathering at Jantar Mantar on April 4, 2011."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo also charged Modi with being involved in corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal.
Alleging that the Modi government purchased Rafale fighter jets at an increased price, Kejriwal accused the prime minister of directly responsible for price escalation.
"Narendra Modi himself negotiated with the company of Rafale," he said, waving a purported paper from a Defence Ministry file.
He said if the truth behind Rafale deal were to be uncovered, the prime minister will have to resign.
"Does it behove the prime minister of the country to negotiate price of an aircraft with a company. It has now proved that Modi is involved in corruption in the Rafale deal," he charged.
Kejriwal lauded Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the way she tackled the recent issue of CBI officials bid to question Kolkata police commissioner in an under-investigation case, saying it was an attack by Modi on the elected government in West Bengal.
"The West Bengal government is an elected government. It's not a paternal right (bapauti) of Modi. If the commissioner was arrested, the message would have been conveyed across the country that one needed to fear the Modi government, not a state government," he said.