Traders will teach BJP a lesson in upcoming polls: J P Aggarwal

Four-time MP in Lok Sabha and one-time in Rajya Sabha, Jai Prakash Aggarwal has again been fielded by the Congress from Chandani Chowk Parliamenatry Seat. Aggarwal thrice represented Chandni Chowk in 1984, 1989 and 1996 while he represented North-east Trans-Yamuna parliamentary Constituency in 2009. In an exclusive interview with Roushan Ali, Aggarwal said that traders will teach BJP and its sitting MP a lesson in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. Excerpts:

Do you feel any Modi wave or under-current wave in Walled City areas?

There is not any sort of wave in our constituency, rather anti-incumbency is in very high-level due to three big challenges such as demonetisation, GST and commercial sealing. Traders will teach BJP sitting MP HarshVardhan a lesson in this seat as he did not help the traders.

Do you consider now a triangular contest in your seat?

Not at all, both the BJP and the AAP candidates are far behind me in political race, because Chandni Chowk is hub of business, where demonetisation had already hit the en masse traders hard with the shortage of money. The sealing of thousands of shops in Delhi has made the lives of thousands families of traders miserable. But when the issue of sealing surfaced in 2006, Congress led UPA government had brought 170 amendments to the master plan, built 2,700 roads, and 22 areas were declared industrial hubs which generated massive employment.

Do you feel nationalism could be big poll theme this election?

Present Modi government is complete failure as their promises made just before 2014 elections such as jobs, 100 smart cities, start-up and stand-up India scheme and infrastructural development. India is passing through a major crisis such as jobs, farmers' distress and intolerance in society.

People think that AAP candidate Pankaj Gupta may damage Congress' vote banks. Is it so?

I don't feel so, because AAP candidate Gupta is completely a fresher and unknown face in this constituency. Both BJP at Centre and AAP in the national have been involved in cat fights but they never really thought about the welfare of the business class and people.

Chandni Chowk seat has huge Muslim voters but the Congress doest not have any MLA.

The Congress does not believe in communal polarisation and BJP could also not get in polarisation on the basis of communal line.

Congress does not have any MLA while AAP has nine MLAs and Muslim face as minister. There is a talk that AAP candidate Pankaj Gupta may get extra edge. What you think?

It is hardly a matter because the parliamentary election is always different from Assembly polls. AAP is still not considered a serious player.