A former TV journalist, Isudan Gadhvi, 40, is the nationwide joint basic secretary of Aam Aadmi Celebration. He speaks on BJP’s efforts to “divert” folks from actual points, the Congress’s decline, and AAP’s silence on points just like the Kheda flogging. Excerpts:
The BJP has attacked AAP Gujarat president Gopal Italia over feedback he made concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and girls attending spiritual occasions prior to now.
Gadhvi: The movies will not be the difficulty. They need to dig out outdated movies, not tackle the issue of inflation… say as an alternative, ‘Have a look at Italia’s video and vote for us’. If movies had been the difficulty… many have used offensive language, Hardik Patel has abused so many occasions, even (BJP state vice-president) Gordhan Zadaphia has… They’re troubling Italia as a result of he’s a Patidar, and given the Patidar agitation, they hate Patidars… Italia is not any bootlegger, he was not concerned in any corruption.
I’ve heard that the BJP even made CDs on Hardik Patel, however folks weren’t bothered… They’ve purchased over everybody, they’ve silenced Hardik Patel, Gordhan Zadaphia. Italia is the one one preventing the BJP, and all of the Patidars are with him. Individuals have stopped supporting Hardik as a result of he joined the BJP… The folks of Gujarat are indignant with this act of the BJP… I’ve heard that when Italia goes to the Nationwide Fee for Girls (because of the criticism in opposition to him based mostly on a video), the Patel neighborhood will take out rallies in his help.
The celebration has been specializing in tribal districts. What are the problems you have got recognized in these areas?
Gadhvi: We’re right here for ‘vyavsay-lakshya rajneeti (occupation-oriented politics)’, for the outdated, unemployed youth, poor, farmers, Adivasis. When elected to energy, we are going to implement the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, empower gram sabhas. The Adivasi problems with jal (water), zameen (land), jungle (forest) shall be handled. We are going to construct good faculties and mohalla clinics. Within the Tribal Advisory Committee, the chairperson is the Chief Minister, a non-Adivasi, how can he cope with an Adivasi problem?… Why is an Adivasi not in a position to develop? As a result of there aren’t any good faculties. Such a scholar can not compete with a scholar learning in a metropolis like Ahmedabad. He can’t even attain the benefit to avail the reservation entitled for them… We are going to first work on these staple items… then on the advanced points.
Why did the AAP alliance with the Bharatiya Tribal Celebration break?
Gadhvi: They broke up with us. It had nothing to with us… Many good BTP leaders have began becoming a member of AAP.
Can there be an alliance with them sooner or later?
Gadhvi: Sure… we by no means broke up with them.
Just lately, posters got here up throughout Gujarat cities projecting AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as ‘anti-Hindu’. Are there particular challenges to preventing PM Narendra Modi in his residence state?
Gadhvi: Persons are tired of all this… They put up the posters in such a rush, they need to have labored the identical method on the pandemic, the paper leaks, in opposition to inflation, corruption. Regardless of the BJP is doing, is upsetting the folks, it’s backfiring. Kejriwal by no means mentioned these phrases (on the posters). They’re demeaning gods within the identify of Kejriwal… Ye rakshas vritti hai, Ravan bhi aise hello karte they, Kansa bhi aise hello karte they, aur ye BJP bhi aise hello karti hai (These present their demonic instincts. Ravan would do the identical, as did Kansa, and now the BJP).
However isn’t AAP additionally enjoying the faith card with guarantees like taking pilgrims to Ayodhya, and Kejriwal evaluating himself to Lord Krishna preventing Kansa?
Gadhvi: Each youngster needs their mother and father to have the ability to go on a pilgrimage, however some will not be in a position to afford it. In order quickly because the Ayodhya temple is constructed and AAP kinds a authorities in Gujarat, it’s going to make preparations for any senior citizen who needs to go to it. Funds will be simply organized, from confiscating the property of any BJP particular person.
BJP leaders have additionally been attacking AAP over the ticket it as soon as gave to Medha Patkar, who had led the agitation in opposition to the Narmada dam. Do you assume this can backfire?
Gadhvi: In 2016, the BJP was with (PDP chief in Kashmir) Mufti Sayeed, with a terrorist. We don’t know who Medha Patkar is… There is no such thing as a Medha Patkar in our celebration. If she isn’t in our celebration, why ought to we touch upon it?… Anybody who’s anti-Gujarat ought to be eliminated, even (BJP state chief) C R Paatil. I don’t know what occurred at the moment… That is like accusing the BJP of declaring Sonia Gandhi as the following presidential candidate.
Why has the celebration shunned commenting on the latest communal incidents, together with the Kheda flogging? Or on the remission of convicts within the Bilkis Bano case?
Gadhvi: The main focus ought to be on what will be given to the folks of Gujarat – good regulation and order, electrical energy, good schooling, and so forth. After Narendra Modi left, nobody within the BJP is able to working a authorities. We should always free Gujarat from the BJP, Gujarat isn’t protected… Kanoon vyavastha BJP ke chalane ki bas ki baat hello nahin hai, bahut budhe ho gaye hain (Sustaining regulation and order is not attainable for the BJP, they’ve grown too outdated)… The regulation and order scenario in Gujarat is worse than in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Why are there no minority leaders in your celebration?
Gadhvi: We don’t get into that kind of politics. We solely do kaam ki rajneeti (politics of getting the work performed). Each particular person of each neighborhood ought to be protected, get good schooling, employment, electrical energy….
Given Gujarat’s electoral historical past, do you see room for a 3rd celebration? Why and the way do you see AAP becoming into that area?
Gadhvi: Ours isn’t a 3rd celebration, however a celebration in opposition. The Congress by no means had any vote financial institution. As quickly as AAP entered Gujarat, many joined AAP. A 3rd celebration solely enters a state when both of the 2 present events is weak. Take any instance, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal. Earlier, it was completely different, with veterans like Keshu Bapa (the late CM Keshubhai Patel), they have been (the opposition) from inside. The Congress is completed right here, particularly after the 2021 panchayat elections…
There are two sorts of voters in Gujarat, pro-BJP and anti-BJP. AAP will type a authorities with absolute majority… The Congress is gone, and from BJP, who will need C R Paatil to be a Chief Minister? He has an anti-Gujarat mindset.
What was your vote share within the 2021 native physique elections?
Gadhvi: It was 19% in Rajkot, 28% in Surat and 20% in Ahmedabad. This, after we didn’t have a serious marketing campaign or rally by Kejriwal or any large celebration chief. In Gujarat, just one who wins urban-city seats can type a authorities. There are 66 city seats in Gujarat, the place the BJP has been successful as a result of it was contesting in opposition to the Congress. The BJP isn’t cherished by the folks right here, it’s simply that there’s a weak opposition. If we’ve elections right this moment, AAP will type a authorities with absolute majority.
How do you see your journey in AAP?
Gadhvi: I wished to work for the folks, so I left my job as a journalist… I used to be approached by all of the three – the BJP, Congress and AAP. Then, at some point Arvindji invited me to fulfill him… I joined AAP in order that I can work by myself for the folks. I’m glad with the work I’m doing in AAP. There aren’t any variations within the celebration. I used to be impressed by Kejriwal’s work in Delhi.
What are the planks that elections in Gujarat are fought on, based on you?
Gadhvi: The foremost problem is regulation and order. Everybody ought to really feel protected in Gujarat. Beforehand, there was no main problem. Elections have been fought on communal traces, the BJP would set the narrative, the Congress fell for the lure, the BJP used to win. That is the primary time the problems are schooling and well being. For the primary time, the difficulty of schooling is being mentioned, and Amit Shah went to a college for the primary time. At the moment, Narendra Modi, being a Prime Minister, is speaking about well being… about advantages from the Ayushman card.
Your celebration is the principle opposition within the Surat Municipal Company, its toehold in Gujarat, however it has not made a noise about any points to this point…
Gadhvi: As a result of we’re within the opposition, there was aid in bus fares. We stalled the sale of a corporation-owned plot value Rs 400 crore to a builder, we fought for constructing good faculties, good roads, stopped corruption in tax, ration retailers, and plenty of such issues.