The 32-hour siege of the Central Secretariat over an issue as trivial as transfer of some police officers by Delhi’s Chief Minister and his Cabinet has left the Opposition BJP fuming along side thousands from the citizenry. The leader of its legislative Party, Dr Harsh Vardhan has dubbed the agitation as the worst example of ‘political depravity’ as also a blot on the Delhi politics that has, over the decades, been governed by the issue of development. Vardhan maintains there is no space for theatrics, populism and anarchy in Delhi. In an exclusive to The Pioneer, the BJP leader led a scathing attack on Arvind Kejriwal, his Ministers and their undemocratic style of functioning. He accuses the Delhi Government of compromising with arch-rival Congress over the issue of corruption as he also extends to AAP the charge of betraying people over water, power and women safety. He discussed at length a range of issues, including the present Government, its impact, the upcoming lok Sabha elections and BJP’s strategy for the same. Vardhan has no plans to contest the lok Sabha polls but he’s sure of a resounding victory to BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Here are the excerpts from his conversation with RAKESH RANJAN
How do you see the present form of governance in DelhiIJ
This is the worst form of governance in a democracy where the Chief Minister of the State takes pride in calling himself an anarchist. Arvind Kejriwal does not even know the meaning of anarchy. Maximum miseries in the world, including World War I have been the result of anarchy. By spilling on to the roads over a trivial issue, Kejriwal and his Ministers have exhibited their utter disrespect to the Constitution, Government establishments and the democracy at large. The mockery of the Republic Day parade reflects the perverted mindset of the AAP leaders.
What could be the political implications of this dharnaIJ
It was a fuss over nothing. In no civilised society is the Chief Minister of a State seen hurling abuses at Ministers, police officers, judges, senior lawyers and senior politicians. Unfortunately the entire Cabinet made a beeline behind Kejriwal supporting his unethical move. The AAP has lost all moral right to talk about fighting corruption and transparency in governance. India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi; there is no space for anarchy in it. The dharna was organised with a personal objective and the public got nothing out of this.
What is going to be the future of this GovernmentIJ
The Aam Aadmi Party has formed an unethical Government with illicit support from the Congress. This Government does not know how to govern. It is full of contradictions. Its Ministers have become habitual lawbreakers and they act in a grossly irresponsible manner. A helpless Congress has been using the AAP as a face for fighting BJP. It is the Congress helping AAP to create disturbances of this sort. But this will prove to be a futile exercise. The BJP will not allow them to have a free run. I suspect the longevity of the AAP Government.
How would you react to the conduct of AAP Ministers, particularly Somnath BhartiIJ
The law Minister of Delhi Government has become the lawbreaker. A Minister abusing and assaulting Nigerian women and his highhandedness with the police officers on duty speak volumes about his arrogance and insensitivity. Bharti and Rakhi Birla clashing with police officers have earned the Government a bad name. However, the most irresponsible has been the conduct of Chief Minister Kejriwal who chose to shield Bharti despite a court ordering an FIR against him. The dharna was actually intended to deflect attention from
core issues.
Does the BJP believe that the AAP’s poll promises have been compromised withIJ
The AAP Government has put the issues of power, water, corruption and women safety on backburner. The Government has turned a deaf ear to the protest by contractual teachers outside Delhi Secretariat for the last one week. The announcement of 667 litres of free water and subsidised power up to 400 units is again a betrayal as its benefit will be limited to a small section of people. Kejriwal has also made a U-turn on the issue of corruption by not initiating investigation against Sheila Dikshit and other Congress leaders in corruption cases. Instead, it is hell-bent on gaining control of Delhi Police through undemocratic means.
Does BJP support the demand for bringing Delhi Police under the State GovernmentIJ
Rather than getting control over Delhi Police, the BJP demands full Statehood for the national Capital. This will automatically bring police along with several other powers under the Delhi Government.
Has the BJP devised a strategy to expose the Aam Aadmi PartyIJ
There is nothing left to bring before the public; the AAP stands exposed. The BJP cannot stoop to the level of unruly AAP leaders. No member of this outfit, including the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues, has so far answered the issues raised by me in the legislative Assembly.
How well is the BJP prepared for the lok Sabha polls scheduled in a couple of months from nowIJ
We (BJP) are ready for polls at any time. The countrymen have made up their mind to elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. They will surely vote for the BJP. Only a formal declaration is left to be made. In Delhi, the BJP will win the maximum out of the seven Parliamentary seats.
In the recent Assembly Polls, the BJP ended up losing eight of its strongholds. What went wrong in the pollsIJ
The BJP could not estimate the presence of Aam Aadmi Party on these seats. They (AAP) kept on targeting us wrongfully but we did not pay much heed. This is where the party committed a mistake.
Do you intend to contest the lok Sabha pollsIJ
I have no specific plans for the lok Sabha elections. As of now, I have to lead my party in Delhi Assembly. The Central leadership of the BJP will decide on the candidates for the Parliamentary polls.