With the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections on the horizon, Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi, took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a gathering to mark the foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which coincided with India’s Constitution Day. In his speech, Kejriwal accused the BJP of engaging in what he termed "slum tourism," highlighting the party’s tendency to use slum areas for photo opportunities ahead of elections.
Kejriwal contrasted AAP’s governance approach with the BJP’s political tactics, which he claimed focused on photo-ops in the city’s slums. "Just like people go on vacations to places like Goa, BJP leaders go on ‘slum tourism.’ Today evening, some BJP leaders will visit slum areas and stay there. This is a mockery of poverty," Kejriwal stated.
The AAP leader also took the opportunity to remind slum dwellers of the BJP's past actions, urging them to be wary of the party’s future plans. He warned that the BJP could use bulldozers to demolish their homes, referencing the party’s controversial anti-encroachment drives in the past. Kejriwal, who claimed to have spent a decade of his life living in slums, said, "I urge slum dwellers to be aware of BJP's politics, as they can demolish their homes in the future."
In his address, Kejriwal also stressed the importance of recognising the contribution of sanitation workers, calling on party members to invite them into their homes. "I am inviting sanitation workers from the New Delhi area to my house for tea tomorrow. From the day after tomorrow, I urge all MLAs and councillors to invite them to their homes as well. Visiting their homes is easy, but it is important to invite them to ours," he said.
Reflecting on AAP's foundation, Kejriwal congratulated the country on its Constitution Day, stating that the party’s birth on the same day was no mere coincidence. He added that it felt as though a "higher power" had recognised the threats to India’s Constitution and had chosen AAP to protect it. "The name Aam Aadmi Party embodies its mission—championing the rights and needs of ordinary citizens," he remarked.
In a final symbolic gesture, Kejriwal highlighted the significance of the broom, AAP’s election symbol, describing it as a tool to "cleanse the nation." While acknowledging that the broom may stir up challenges, he emphasised that the party’s most significant achievement was the governance model it had developed. "Our most significant achievement is the governance model we have created for our country," he concluded.