“Delhi is surrounded by an AAPda…”: PM Modi Accuses AAP of Mismanagement; Kejriwal Dismisses Attacks as 'Personal'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government an "AAPda" (disaster) that has afflicted Delhi for the past decade. Speaking at the inauguration of 1,675 flats for slum residents and two major urban redevelopment projects in the capital, PM Modi accused the AAP leadership of plunging the city into crisis with their governance, which he described as marked by corruption and mismanagement.

"In the last 10 years, Delhi is surrounded by an 'AAPda'. AAP has descended as a calamity on Delhi," PM Modi stated. He further criticized the AAP government by contrasting their actions with his own achievements, saying, "I could have built a 'Sheeshmahal' (glass palace) too, but I chose to build more than 4 crore homes for the poor."

The Prime Minister’s comments were likely a response to a controversy surrounding the Delhi Chief Minister's residence. In October, an inventory released by the Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that high-end appliances and gadgets worth several crores had been installed at Kejriwal's bungalow. The BJP has seized on this issue, using it to criticize the AAP government for alleged wasteful spending.

In his response, Arvind Kejriwal dismissed PM Modi's remarks as "personal attacks" and accused the BJP of failing Delhi for the past decade. Kejriwal pointed out that the BJP had made promises but failed to deliver significant results. “In 10 years, the BJP has not done a single significant thing in Delhi. They promised permanent housing by 2022 but have built only 4,700 houses in five years,” Kejriwal said. He contrasted this with the work done by his government, highlighting, “Compare that to AAP's work—22,000 classrooms, three new universities, and countless developmental initiatives.”

PM Modi, during his speech, stressed the role of the central government in driving infrastructure growth in Delhi. He handed over keys to the beneficiaries of the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation Project in Ashok Vihar, where eligible residents paid only a small portion of the construction cost. Modi also inaugurated two major urban redevelopment projects: the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar and new residential quarters at Sarojini Nagar.

However, Kejriwal countered by accusing the BJP of demolishing slums without offering viable alternatives. "If you had voted for BJP, they would have razed all slums in Delhi," he alleged. "There is no 'AAPda' in Delhi. The real disaster is the BJP," Kejriwal concluded, continuing his criticism of the ruling party’s track record in the capital.​