In an interaction with Saurabh Sharma, he shares the condition of employment, education, and security and his vision for the people of Delhi.
It has been almost a year since Arvind Kejriwal resigned. What has changed since then in Delhi and how do you think people would respond to you in February 7 election?
Arvind Kejriwal had resigned over the Jan Lokpal Bill after 49 days. We had slashed the electricity bill, given free water and curbed graft in almost every government department in just 49 days. After we had left, the Delhi government, again imposed the inflated charges on the people. These issues have been haunting the people of Delhi for the last one year. Nothing has changed in the last one year. People have very high hopes from Arvind Kejriwal. We are confident of getting full majority this time.
AAP has started attacking the BJP over communal issues rather than taking them over the development agenda. In almost every jansabhas you talk about ‘religious conversions’, the controversial remarks of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Trilokuri riots. Why is this shift in your approach?
There is no shift in our approach. Development is very important for us and will remain so. But there are certain equally important issues also. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power on the issue of development for all but you can see what his ministers are doing. Hope you remember the controversial remarks of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. This shows the real mindset and agenda of the BJP. On the controversial issue of conversion, the Prime Minister is silent. It is an indication that the development agenda of the BJP is superficial and the party has a hidden agenda.
But Sadhvi Niranjan had apologised and the BJP has made its stand clear that it has nothing to do with the conversion issue.
I have observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple occasions. He never takes any clear stand on such issues. Modi has his hidden agenda. That will be exposed very soon.
You are an executive member of AAP and you have a substantial amount of stake in the decision-making body of the party in Delhi. What is your vision for the national Capital?
The issues in every nook and corner of Delhi are similar. You go and meet people, they will talk about water, electricity, cleanliness, hospitals, corruptions in government departments and security. Common people deal with these issues almost on a day-to-day basis. AAP will give its first priority to resolve these issues.
Your government had taken some decisions and they were stalled, following the resignation of Kejriwal. Would you start your second innings from where you left last time or do you have something new to offer?
We are fighting against corruption. The Jan-Lokpal will be our first priority. We want to secure the future of our youths by guaranteeing them education and good life. Almost 55,000 vacancies are available in the Delhi government. We will take immediate steps to fill them and provide employment to people. Education, employment and security are the issues that we will focus on which we could not work much the last time we were in power.
Do you now believe that the BJP has got a real contender against Arvind Kejriwal in Kiran Bedi?
The BJP has realised very soon that it would lose this election, that is why they inducted Kiran Bedi at the very last moment of the election as a face-saver. But it won’t happen that way. BJP’s new formula is “Jeete to Modi, Haare to Bedi” (If BJP wins credit goes to Narendra Modi and if it loses, it’s a discredit for Kiran Bedi).
It has been almost a year since Arvind Kejriwal resigned. What has changed since then in Delhi and how do you think people would respond to you in February 7 election?
Arvind Kejriwal had resigned over the Jan Lokpal Bill after 49 days. We had slashed the electricity bill, given free water and curbed graft in almost every government department in just 49 days. After we had left, the Delhi government, again imposed the inflated charges on the people. These issues have been haunting the people of Delhi for the last one year. Nothing has changed in the last one year. People have very high hopes from Arvind Kejriwal. We are confident of getting full majority this time.
AAP has started attacking the BJP over communal issues rather than taking them over the development agenda. In almost every jansabhas you talk about ‘religious conversions’, the controversial remarks of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Trilokuri riots. Why is this shift in your approach?
There is no shift in our approach. Development is very important for us and will remain so. But there are certain equally important issues also. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power on the issue of development for all but you can see what his ministers are doing. Hope you remember the controversial remarks of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. This shows the real mindset and agenda of the BJP. On the controversial issue of conversion, the Prime Minister is silent. It is an indication that the development agenda of the BJP is superficial and the party has a hidden agenda.
But Sadhvi Niranjan had apologised and the BJP has made its stand clear that it has nothing to do with the conversion issue.
I have observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple occasions. He never takes any clear stand on such issues. Modi has his hidden agenda. That will be exposed very soon.
You are an executive member of AAP and you have a substantial amount of stake in the decision-making body of the party in Delhi. What is your vision for the national Capital?
The issues in every nook and corner of Delhi are similar. You go and meet people, they will talk about water, electricity, cleanliness, hospitals, corruptions in government departments and security. Common people deal with these issues almost on a day-to-day basis. AAP will give its first priority to resolve these issues.
Your government had taken some decisions and they were stalled, following the resignation of Kejriwal. Would you start your second innings from where you left last time or do you have something new to offer?
We are fighting against corruption. The Jan-Lokpal will be our first priority. We want to secure the future of our youths by guaranteeing them education and good life. Almost 55,000 vacancies are available in the Delhi government. We will take immediate steps to fill them and provide employment to people. Education, employment and security are the issues that we will focus on which we could not work much the last time we were in power.
Do you now believe that the BJP has got a real contender against Arvind Kejriwal in Kiran Bedi?
The BJP has realised very soon that it would lose this election, that is why they inducted Kiran Bedi at the very last moment of the election as a face-saver. But it won’t happen that way. BJP’s new formula is “Jeete to Modi, Haare to Bedi” (If BJP wins credit goes to Narendra Modi and if it loses, it’s a discredit for Kiran Bedi).