In Rohtak, Arvind Kejriwal attacks Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi over gas pricing

NEW DELHI: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday launched his party's national campaign from Rohtak in Haryana attacking the Congress and BJP over gas pricing issue.

Addressing a rally in Rohtak, he took a dig at his critics and claimed his government had done a lot of good work in the short span on rule in Delhi.

Kejriwal accused media of being biased against his party.

The AAP leader justified the subsidies given to the poor in Delhi and said that they will help the poor despite all the criticism by the political opponents. He targeted the Hooda government in the state and said there was land scams all over Haryana.

Kejriwal called Haryana CM Hooda a "dalal" (tout) and a property dealer.

AAP leader Yogendra Yadav outlined party's manifesto for Haryana.

He promised improvements in the field of education, health and bringing a strong lokayukta to investigate 20 years of corruption in the state. Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) passed a "no-confidence motion" against the Hooda government.

Crowds started gathering at HUDA ground for AAP's first rally for its national campaign since morning. AAP leaders present at the Rohtak rally included legislators Madan Lal, Akhilesh Pati, commando Surinder, Rakhi Birla and Manish Sisodia.

Manish Sisodia said, "We are grateful to Haryana for giving us a son like Arvind Kejriwal who has fooled Congress and BJP."

AAP leader Yogendra Yadav alleged windows of his party cars smashed, eggs thrown at party volunteers and toads blocked to stole people from reaching rally site. He said that his party decided to hold the rally in Rohtak where the "snake" reigns.

Kasim Damroyt from Mewat, who has a transport business, said that his drivers did not have to pay bribes at the borders during AAP's 49-day government.

"The police were scared to ask for bribes. We have seen what Congress can do. Now it's time to give AAP a chance," he said as he waited with several others at the Haryana rally ground.

A former associate fellow with NCAER Rupinder Kaur had travelled from Dwarka for the rally. "I've come here to see what he has to say on national issues. This is AAP's first rally and I wanted to be part of it."

Kaur said she was very disturbed by the poor law and order in Punjab, especially related to safety of women and felt that AAP offers an alternative.

Sonipat resident Deepak Dahiya, a software engineer, said that it was obvious that BJP and Congress were working together.

"Kejriwal has raised the issue of corruption which the biggest malaise," he said.