Yogendra Yadav says AAP to target Modi and BJP // AAP attacks BJP, Modi on silence over 'gas price scam' // Adani-Modi nexus to cost 23,625 cr
Arvind Kejriwal will be AAP's PM candidate and the Lok Sabha poll will be a contest between him and Modi, says AAP leader Yogendra Yadav in an exclusive interview to Ambika Pandit
Q. Opinion polls are suggesting the Congress's collapse in these elections. You've been a pollster. Do you agree?
A. Congress is becoming increasingly irrelevant for the election battle in 2014. I am not saying that the Congress is disappearing. It is a large party and has a presence across states. Our reading is that there is enormous anger — disappointment will be a mild word - against it. So the people have decided to vote them out. In that sense Congress is increasingly irrelevant. People want change but the question is would they settle for a substitute or want an alternative. Substitute versus alternative is the real battle in this election.
Q. What does that mean?
A. It is natural that if the choices are few, people will go for the first available substitute. This is what has happened in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the assembly polls. But the Delhi results have shown that once people are given not just a substitute but an alternative, then a substantial section will go for the alternative. Today, when the Congress is being marginalized, there are substantial sections of Indians who would not want to go for a substitute. This section includes idealistic youth who would not wish to go back to one more party that does business as usual. The poor and disadvantaged simply do not relate to the BJP as a party. Also the Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims are looking for an alternative as they do not have reasons to trust the BJP. In such a scenario the Aam Aadmi Party sees itself as providing that alternative.
Q. Really? AAP as an alternative to BJP nationally? Despite the BJP offering Narendra Modi as PM and Congress Rahul Gandhi?
A. We have repeatedly said that it will be a tragedy for the country if people have to choose between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi as PM.
Q. So, who is your Prime Ministerial candidate?
A. We will fight the election under Arvind Kejirwal's leadership. The only reason why we have not very aggressively projected his name as PM candidate is based on a certain political assessment as to where we stand right now. If we see AAP is in a position to stake serious claims, we will float the name, go public about the claims. Otherwise there is no doubt, whether he contests the Lok Sabha or not, we are fighting the election under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership.
Q. But seriously, how will AAP counter the candidature of Modi?
A. We have decided to take on the BJP and Modi frontally. To begin with by consistently asking questions that have not been asked in the public domain. Perhaps the Congress doesn't feel it is in a position to ask these questions. We will raise certain issues. We will use the social media platform which is a big platform now. We will raise these issues and go to the streets demanding answers. Modi is after all seeking to be PM of India so the questions will have to be raised everywhere across India.
Q. What are these issues?
A. One of them is criminality. How come Modi continues to have in his cabinet ministers who have been convicted? While lots of questions have been asked about Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti's finger (he had raised his finger at the police threateningly during a midnight raid at Khirki Extension), what about the conviction of Babulal Bokharia? How come Amit Shah continues to be Modi's closest lieutenant...someone who faces cases of murder and kidnapping? These are not trivial accusations. What kind of security will this party provide to the "aam aadmi"?
Vibrant Gujarat? Your Coast Is Not Clear, Mr Adani
We will also raise the issue of corruption by demanding to know what exactly is the relationship between Modi and the Adani Group and why has it prospered during his regime. How come the Gujarat government gave away lots of land to industries at some very concessional price, although it was unwilling to give similar concessions to Indian Air Force and Kargil widows? Why are BJP and Modi, who are quick to pick on Congress on every small thing, silent on the biggest scam in recent times involving gas pricing which is done by the Congress government. Where does Modi stand on this issue of gas pricing...why does he not have an opinion on this? Should Ambani and Reliance be allowed to dictate prices? We want Modi to answer this. We will also raise the conflict in Gujarat over the Lokayukta and how the CM has been trying to prevent it.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/interviews/Modi-and-party-our-next-target-Yogendra-Yadav/articleshow/30129401.cms
AAP attacks BJP, Modi on silence over 'gas price scam'
Babu Bokhariya, minister in Narendra Modi's cabinet, convicted for illegal mining
Vibrant Gujarat? Your Coast Is Not Clear, Mr Adani
How Adani got contracts for supplying power despite being the most expensive
Adani-Modi nexus to cost 23,625 cr
Rohit Prajapati and Trupti Shah - Capital, Labour and Environment in Modi’s Gujarat
NAPM Press Release: Sardar Statue, Not for ‘Unity’, but for Polity of Falsehood
Gujarat Government cracks down on right to freedom of expression // Activist and villagers detained
NAPM - Press Release Nov 25 - Modi and the Narmada
NAPM India: Over 100 Organisations Demand World Bank Withdrawal from Tata Mundra Power Project in Gujarat
Snoopgate and the Gujarat Model of Governance
Q. Opinion polls are suggesting the Congress's collapse in these elections. You've been a pollster. Do you agree?
A. Congress is becoming increasingly irrelevant for the election battle in 2014. I am not saying that the Congress is disappearing. It is a large party and has a presence across states. Our reading is that there is enormous anger — disappointment will be a mild word - against it. So the people have decided to vote them out. In that sense Congress is increasingly irrelevant. People want change but the question is would they settle for a substitute or want an alternative. Substitute versus alternative is the real battle in this election.
Q. What does that mean?
A. It is natural that if the choices are few, people will go for the first available substitute. This is what has happened in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the assembly polls. But the Delhi results have shown that once people are given not just a substitute but an alternative, then a substantial section will go for the alternative. Today, when the Congress is being marginalized, there are substantial sections of Indians who would not want to go for a substitute. This section includes idealistic youth who would not wish to go back to one more party that does business as usual. The poor and disadvantaged simply do not relate to the BJP as a party. Also the Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims are looking for an alternative as they do not have reasons to trust the BJP. In such a scenario the Aam Aadmi Party sees itself as providing that alternative.
Q. Really? AAP as an alternative to BJP nationally? Despite the BJP offering Narendra Modi as PM and Congress Rahul Gandhi?
A. We have repeatedly said that it will be a tragedy for the country if people have to choose between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi as PM.
Q. So, who is your Prime Ministerial candidate?
A. We will fight the election under Arvind Kejirwal's leadership. The only reason why we have not very aggressively projected his name as PM candidate is based on a certain political assessment as to where we stand right now. If we see AAP is in a position to stake serious claims, we will float the name, go public about the claims. Otherwise there is no doubt, whether he contests the Lok Sabha or not, we are fighting the election under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership.
Q. But seriously, how will AAP counter the candidature of Modi?
A. We have decided to take on the BJP and Modi frontally. To begin with by consistently asking questions that have not been asked in the public domain. Perhaps the Congress doesn't feel it is in a position to ask these questions. We will raise certain issues. We will use the social media platform which is a big platform now. We will raise these issues and go to the streets demanding answers. Modi is after all seeking to be PM of India so the questions will have to be raised everywhere across India.
Q. What are these issues?
A. One of them is criminality. How come Modi continues to have in his cabinet ministers who have been convicted? While lots of questions have been asked about Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti's finger (he had raised his finger at the police threateningly during a midnight raid at Khirki Extension), what about the conviction of Babulal Bokharia? How come Amit Shah continues to be Modi's closest lieutenant...someone who faces cases of murder and kidnapping? These are not trivial accusations. What kind of security will this party provide to the "aam aadmi"?
Vibrant Gujarat? Your Coast Is Not Clear, Mr Adani
We will also raise the issue of corruption by demanding to know what exactly is the relationship between Modi and the Adani Group and why has it prospered during his regime. How come the Gujarat government gave away lots of land to industries at some very concessional price, although it was unwilling to give similar concessions to Indian Air Force and Kargil widows? Why are BJP and Modi, who are quick to pick on Congress on every small thing, silent on the biggest scam in recent times involving gas pricing which is done by the Congress government. Where does Modi stand on this issue of gas pricing...why does he not have an opinion on this? Should Ambani and Reliance be allowed to dictate prices? We want Modi to answer this. We will also raise the conflict in Gujarat over the Lokayukta and how the CM has been trying to prevent it.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/interviews/Modi-and-party-our-next-target-Yogendra-Yadav/articleshow/30129401.cms
AAP attacks BJP, Modi on silence over 'gas price scam'
Launching a scathing attack on BJP and its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for not raising the issue of 'gas price scam', AAP today said it was strange and surprising that no BJP leader had spoken a word about it. "The main issue is that generation of corrupt money has created a mafia, which controls the entire system of power... all institutions of power, including leading (political) parties like BJP and Modi are no exception to that," AAP National Executive Committee Member Prashant Bhushan said. "That is why Modi has not raised his voice against the biggest scams which occurred in the history of the country very recently and that is the gas price scam where the cabinet has taken a decision to increase gas prices given to Reliance from Godavari gas basin," he told reporters here. Bhushan said it was strange and surprising that neither any BJP leader nor Modi who 'tom-toms' against corruption had spoken a word about it.
Asked about AAP's strategy for the coming Lok Sabha polls, he said the party would contest the elections from as many seats as possible. "We will have to take a final call on it by February, when we will have a reasonable idea on the candidates available". On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and the alleged attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, he said it was unfortunate that the Union Government had not taken up this issue strongly with the Sri Lankan Government. He alleged that both DMK and AIADMK are equally corrupt. "They are equally corrupt. Whether DMK or AIADMK, whether you see Radia tapes or whether you see disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa, both are corrupt. "Unfortunately these corrupt parties are trying to divert issues through regional communal issues rather than the main issue, which is corruption," he said, to a query about regional parties in Tamil Nadu.
Asked if AAP would rope in anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar into the party's fold, Bhushan said he is an excellent activist who has been raising a very important issue (Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant)."We want such an activist in our party. We hope he joins the party or at least supports it". On the AAP's plan for Tamil Nadu, he claimed the party currently has one lakh members in the state and intended to increase it to five lakh. After chairing the District executive meeting, Bhushan said his party has expelled five persons -- K P Narayanan, M Krishnamoorthy, K Balakrishnan, Nazreen Saldana Mina and Y Arul Dass. "They have been expelled from the party and are not authorised to represent the party or claim any association with AAP", he said. Authorised representatives of AAP in Tamil Nadu would be Christina Samy, (Convenor) M Lenin co-convenor, Anand Ganesh (Treasurer), he said.
See also:Babu Bokhariya, minister in Narendra Modi's cabinet, convicted for illegal mining
Vibrant Gujarat? Your Coast Is Not Clear, Mr Adani
How Adani got contracts for supplying power despite being the most expensive
Adani-Modi nexus to cost 23,625 cr
Rohit Prajapati and Trupti Shah - Capital, Labour and Environment in Modi’s Gujarat
NAPM Press Release: Sardar Statue, Not for ‘Unity’, but for Polity of Falsehood
Gujarat Government cracks down on right to freedom of expression // Activist and villagers detained
NAPM - Press Release Nov 25 - Modi and the Narmada
NAPM India: Over 100 Organisations Demand World Bank Withdrawal from Tata Mundra Power Project in Gujarat
Snoopgate and the Gujarat Model of Governance
