‘Kapil Sibal was the villain of Anna’s movement’

After 23 years in journalism, Ashutosh, who goes by one name, decided to quit his job as managing editor of IBN7 news channel and join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in mid-January. The party has now chosen him to contest from Chandni Chowk to take on political heavyweight and sitting MP, Union law minister Kapil Sibal. Excerpts from an interview:

What prompted you to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and then contest the polls?

When the Anna movement started in August 2011, I realized that it was a non-political movement, which was political in content. I found the discipline and the conviction very strong and so I informally supported them. After AAP won in Delhi, Arvind (Kejriwal) asked me point blank - “Why don’t you join us?” Again, it was he who asked: “Why don’t ASHUTOSH, AAP candidate from Chandni Chowk

you contest?” Had he not asked me, I would not have contested.

Why contest from Chandni Chowk?

I have always believed Kapil Sibal was the biggest villain during the Anna movement. He kept ridiculing and insulting the Anna movement. You are the people’s representative; the venue of the agitation (Ramlila Maidan) is in your constituency. Instead of respecting the people’s sentiments, you are ridiculing them.

But you have been labelled as an outsider?

It is true that I don’t live in Chandni Chowk. If people are upset over it, I respect their sentiments. But the party has taken a call after completing a process. I am a Delhiite through and through. I came here in 1986. I have seen the city grow. When I came, there was no Vasant Kunj. Delhi used to end at RK Puram. Moreover, I owe everything to Delhi. My entire career was shaped in Delhi. I belong to Delhi.

AAP says they did not go by caste or religion when choosing a candidate. But your name’s announcement led to comments of a candidate from a trader community being chosen as your surname is Gupta.

I had dropped my surname when I was in JNU in 1990 at the peak of Mandal Commission. It remained on my official documents, such as my passport. When I decided to contest, I got my surname officially dropped. I don’t know if it will help. India has been a castedominated country but people are more clever now. And AAP has managed to break all such conventional practices.

Large parts of your constituency from the Walled City area have not seen the kind of development. What can we hope in your manifesto?

Redevelopment should not happen at the cost of local culture. Delhi will always be known not by the concrete buildings, but by Chandni Chowk, Ballimaran, its small markets and congested lanes. But we need to draw a blue print of the development for the area without disturbing the local culture. The whole world is crazy about Ghalib and we don’t bother about the Ghalib Ki Haveli. We have actually neglected the Urdu culture.

Do you think, the performance of the short-lived AAP government will help?

Certainly. A lot of things remained incomplete but at least there was an honest government in place. For full text of the interview, log on to hindustantimes. com/Ashutoshspeaks SENIOR OFFICER, Delhi Police