PEOPLE OF PUNJAB WANT TO VOTE IN AAP, SAYS KEJRIWAL
CHANDIGARH: On a three-day whirlwind tour of Punjab this week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sought the people’s electoral mandate in the 2017 polls. He talks about the issues close to him in an interview with HT. When asked about a chief ministerial candidate, he said: “It is not important for the people of Punjab right now. The people want to topple the present regime and bring AAP. They are not asking who the CM will be; they want to know how we will curb the drug menace and corruption.
CHANDIGARH: On a three-day whirlwind tour of Punjab this week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sought the people’s electoral mandate in the 2017 polls. He talks about the issues close to him in an interview with HT’s Prabhjit Singh. Excerpts:
How do you view the Punjab polls? The elections will be fought against corruption and drugs. The wave is in our favour because we promised a corruption-free and drug-free Punjab. I want to appeal to the people to contribute financially too as AAP does not have money.
SAD and Congress say AAP is the party of outsiders. Both Badal and Amarinder are saying so because they do not have anything else to counter us. AAP is the party of Punjabis as the state’s own people are running the show. Both Badal and Amarinder have looted the people and thus, I am their common target.
Will you re-open the corruption cases against the Badals and Amarinder? I will put both of them on trial for corruption. Politicians from other parties will also face trials.
Will your party announce the chief ministerial candidate? It is not important for the people of Punjab right now. The people want to topple the present regime and bring AAP. They are not asking who the CM will be; they want to know how we will curb the drug menace and corruption.
There is a buzz about you being the Punjab CM. Is it true? There is no such discussion in the party right now. We are focusing on how to solve the problems of the people.
How do you see the dissidence in the party over tickets? This happens in every party. The issue is hyped by the media.
What is the fate of the two-member inquiry against Sucha Singh Chhotepur? He took money for tickets and admitted it in front of Manish Sisodia. He apologised but the inquiry does not matter now as he is already out (of the party).
How was your experience with Dr Dharamveer Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, who are yet to be removed from AAP after their suspension? They are good men. I wish they come back after they cool down. They have to shed their personal grudges.
What is the AAP’s ideology? We believe in honest politics. BJP’s nationalism is ‘goonda’ nationalism. Law and order is collapsing in our country because of the BJP’s nationalism.