Bid to finish off AAP didn't work: Kuldeep Kumar
Bid to finish off AAP didn’t work: Kuldeep Kumar
From a newspaper delivery boy to a small time worker who did odd jobs for AAP to leader of opposition in East Delhi Municipal Corporation and an MLA’s post from Kondli – Kuldeep Kumar has come a long way. And though a scheduled caste, he has been given a ticket from an unreserved constituency. Excerpts from an interview:
What are the main election issues in East Delhi?
Law and order is a huge problem. Drug abuse has taken the shape of a pandemic. My priority will be to rehabilitate addicted children and put a stop to the sale of narcotics. Murders and rapes are also frequent in East Delhi. When Gautam Gambhirji was MP, the committee on law and order rarely met. I will make that committee active. I will also work as a bridge between Delhi govt and Delhi Development Authority. Delhi govt has a lot of funds and my responsibility will be to get land from DDA for hospitals, schools, community centres, libraries and mohalla clinics. I will also try to bring Delhi Metro to areas such as Mayur Vihar Phase III. Regularisation of unauthorised colonies and clearing the Ghazipur landfill are also priorities. I also commit to be available to people 24×7.
AAP lost the last two MP elections here and BJP has done relatively well in east Delhi in both assembly and municipal elections.
People are complaining that their MP never visited their area in the last decade. The constituency saw no development. I have the benefit of the lack of work done by the last two BJP MPs. (Former deputy CM) Manish Sisodiaji brought about a revolution in the education sector and I will reap its benefit too. Also, BJP failed to fulfil its promises of providing two crore jobs, checking price rise, providing pucca houses to the poor and depositing Rs 15 lakh in everyone’s bank account.
Do you think the alliance with Congress will help?
Yes, being in alliance will definitely make a difference. There is a strong vote bank in Delhi now supporting the alliance candidates.
What kind of coordination do you have with Congress on the ground?
You can see one of their block presidents sitting with me (points towards a man who claimed to be from the Laxmi Nagar unit of Congress). This election is not about making Kuldeep Kumar win from East Delhi; it is about saving the Constitution, saving democracy. On one side there is an alliance which promises to give employment, bring down inflation and provide farmers with minimum support price for their crops. On the other are people talking about changing the Constitution and running the country under a dictatorship.
What are your views on your rival here?
BJP announced its candidate more than a month ago, but he is still holding introductory meetings. If somebody who has been a mayor needs an introduction, one realises he has never worked on the ground.
How do you counter the questions about the arrest and alleged involvement of CM Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case?
People understand that Arvind Kejriwalji, Manishji and other party functionaries have been jailed in fabricated cases to crush AAP. People stand with us on the issue of the wrongful arrest of Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. People in Haryana, UP and other states have started asking if Delhi can get free and 24×7 power or free water, why can’t they?
Why did AAP select you to contest this election?
The party commissioned a survey and my name emerged on this basis of the work I have done earlier as a municipal councillor and then as MLA.
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