Arvind Kejriwal Unveils 'National Town Hall' on E-20, to Present Over 2 Lakh Petitions to PM Modi

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has announced a 'National Town Hall' initiative aimed at building public support over the E-20 issue. He also said he plans to personally deliver more than two lakh petitions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal claimed that the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan demonstrated the strength of public and youth-led movements. He urged the Prime Minister to address the E-20 issue promptly, warning that delaying action could trigger a large-scale nationwide protest.

Kejriwal said the Town Hall, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will serve as a platform for discussions involving experts, affected individuals, and members of the public. While residents of Delhi-NCR will be able to attend in person, participants from other parts of the country can join virtually. The party has also released a registration number to facilitate participation.

Highlighting growing public support, the AAP leader said an online campaign launched by the party has already gathered over two lakh letters, which he intends to submit to the Prime Minister during his visit next week. Kejriwal also criticised the handling of student protests in Bihar and other states, saying police action against demonstrators sends the wrong message and reflects inconsistency in the government's approach.

Commenting on the Centre's anti-paper leak legislation, he argued that strong laws alone are not enough unless there is genuine political will to crack down on examination-related corruption. According to him, without firm action against those responsible, legislative measures would have limited impact.

Responding to opposition demands for the resignation of Punjab's Education Minister over alleged paper leak incidents, Kejriwal defended the AAP government's record. He said Delhi had not witnessed a single examination paper leak during the party's decade-long rule, while Punjab had maintained a clean record over the past five years. He clarified that a recent incident involving two students attempting to cheat with smart pens was detected immediately and did not amount to a paper leak. The AAP chief also highlighted Punjab's improvements in education, claiming the state had risen from 27th place to the top position in national education rankings since 2022. He said the government's achievements in the sector have become a source of discomfort for its political opponents.