IN AN EXCLUSIVE interview with THE WEEK, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia says that the tangible benefits of his government’s schemes would ensure that the people would vote the AAP back to power. Excerpts:
What holds the AAP in good stead in these elections?
Wherever we go, people are talking about our work. Tangible benefits are being experienced in terms of savings made through the government’s health care schemes, or when people shift their children from private to government schools, or as a result of the zero power and water bills. These schemes are especially important when the economy is going through a bad phase and [there is] price rise.
But the AAP did not win a single seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
This election is about the issues of Delhi. People were clear, even at that time, that they would vote for us in the state elections.
What is the USP of ‘Brand Kejriwal’?
People are able to relate to him. They think of him as a family member, as an elder son or an elder brother, as someone who is improving their lot.
The BJP is going with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face.
They do not have anyone to project as a chief ministerial face. Also, people can see what happened when Uttar Pradesh went with Modiji. Electricity rates went up and education became costlier. There are reports of children being fed salt and rotis as midday meal.
The Congress and the BJP have questioned the Delhi government’s education model.
The figures they come up with are incorrect and come from doubtful sources. In six years, our education budget went up from 16 per cent to 26 per cent. In BJP-ruled Haryana, it has come down from 15 per cent to 13 per cent in the same duration. In Uttar Pradesh, it dipped from 16 per cent to 13 per cent. And in Punjab, where the Congress is in power, it went down from 14 per cent to 10 per cent.
The AAP has axed 15 MLAs. Was it because of anti-incumbency?
We had carried out surveys in all constituencies. [They] showed that the people were not happy with 15 MLAs for reasons such as inaccessibility or failure to carry out development work. If we gave [them] tickets, the party could have [been] in trouble in those seats.
You have given tickets to established Congress leaders who recently joined the AAP. Can your party still claim to be different?
Some people have joined as they were influenced by our work. And we also felt that their sphere of influence was good. Why should we not give them tickets?
These elections are taking place in the shadow of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
We do not feel the country needs CAA. It needs improvement in the education sector; it needs new hospitals. Should the government not be concerned about the basic necessities of the people who are already citizens?
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How will the street protests impact the elections?
It will not be an issue. [People] have decided to vote on the basis of the work done by our government.
How do you view police action against students in Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University?
As the education minister, as a parent, I am deeply concerned. When I saw the violence happening in JNU, I was shocked. I thought what if my son was studying there and I was in some other corner of the country, what would I have gone through? It was a scary thought. I got calls from numerous parents whose children are studying in universities that come under us. I assured them that they have nothing to fear.
Did you see any similarity between these protests and the India Against Corruption movement?
If people are on the streets, the government should listen to them. Yes, violence should not be tolerated. But should the government not engage with them? The BJP government has been a complete failure when it comes to dialogue. It is arrogant.
Of late, you seem to have softened your stance towards the Centre.
There is a reason for that. Before the Supreme Court [order] in July 2018, all the files were to be approved by the lieutenant governor, who would raise weird objections. The Supreme Court ruled that the elected government had the final say in all subjects except for land, law and order, and services. After that, we have been able to roll out our schemes without waiting for the LG’s approval. That is the reason the clashes stopped.
