Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and party candidate from north-east Delhi Dilip Pandey on Thursday met a delegation of teachers and students from Stanford University and discussed the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the current political scenario in the country. The 20-member delegation comprised of students and teachers of the Law department of the University. The interactive session was also attended by Durgesh Pathak, organisation building in-charge of AAP and member of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The discussions were held on the upcoming general elections, current scenario of the country, Delhi's governance model and AAP, a statement from the party said.
"Delhi is facing a ridiculous situation; the powers of the elected Delhi government are limited and have been curtailed by the Modi-led Union Government. "We are fighting these elections on the plank of full statehood to Delhi. Once Delhi gets full statehood, most of the problems Delhi faces due to multiplicity of agencies would be solved," Pandey told the delegation.
The AAP had already announced to contest parliamentary election on the issue of Delhi's 'full Statehood under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Earlier on Wednesday, AAP convener Gopal Rai had hit out both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janta Party, saying that the AAP will not allow these parties to get away from the issue of full statehood easily. Pointing out the earlier remarks of Delhi congress president Sheila Dikshit, he had said that Dikshit raised the issue of multiple agencies which created hurdles in developmental works due to lack of coordination among agencies. "It is shocking that somebody who has been a CM of Delhi is today saying that statehood for Delhi cannot be an issue for Lok Sabha elections," he said.
The delegation wanted to know about the works of the Delhi Government. On a query from the delegation, AAP leader Durgesh Pathak explained how his was different and has an edge over its political rivals.
"We are a bunch of people with good intention and we have shown it through the Delhi Model of governance. We care for the people. AAP is a fresh breeze of air in the politically vitiated atmosphere of the country. "We are fighting against divisive forces that are out to damage the social fabric of the nation. We are here to stop them from ruining the country. I am confident that they will be thwarted in their attempt," he told the delegation.
Pandey also explained on the campaign design of the party and how important was the door to door campaign for the party which has limited resources to reach out to the people through main-stream media. "Door to door campaign gives you an upper edge over your rival. They feel a personal connect with AAP. We reach out to each and every household of Delhi personally and that makes a different," he said. "BJP and its present leadership of Modi and Shah don't have faith in constitution. They have ruined all institutions of the country. It is very important to defeat them in order to save the country at any cost. AAP will leave no stone unturned in defeating the fascist forces," he said.
