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On record
‘BJP for transparency in the system’ |
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good news
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On record You hold the distinction of being the Chief Minister for three terms in Delhi and cruising for a record fourth term. What is the guru mantra? The Congress government has completed three terms and would of course like to record a straight victory for the fourth time also. The three consecutive victories have been due to our concerted efforts resulting in development and prosperity. Ours has been a caring government in the true sense. As far as the guru mantra is concerned, it is development and welfare of all sections of society, including the poor and underprivileged. We would continue to concentrate on this. Fifteen years in office and you look confident as ever and enjoy the image in the Congress as the most acceptable face to the middle-class. How do you prepare to counter the BJP? We have changed the image and look of the city which went a long way in consolidating the Congress. The BJP, the principal opposition party in the city, had been raising the issue of price rise. This is a national and international phenomenon. Our government has always remained sensitive to the needs of the people. We have been taking steps to provide relief to the consumers. Whenever an unprecedented price rise was felt, we ensured the sale of ‘bhagidari atta’ and marketing of essential items like onions and potatoes at a very reasonable price through mobile vans. Why should denizens of Delhi vote for you, especially in the backdrop of allegations of scams of the UPA government and price rise? The development that has taken place in Delhi can be easily seen and felt. The all-round development has benefited people across Delhi. As far as allegations are concerned, the opposition has been raising a hue and cry without coming forward with any proof. Which among the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party is your principal opponent? The new political party AAP has still to face the electorate in Delhi. The contest has always been between the Congress and the BJP. How do you plan to counter Vijendra Gupta of the BJP and Arvind Kejriwal in your constituency? I would not like to comment on any other political party. I am going to my electorate in the New Delhi Assembly constituency with full confidence as I had been in contact with people. Both my opponents will come to know of their fate on December 8. Prior to the 2008 Assembly elections, the Delhi Government distributed provisional regularisation certificates to unauthorised colonies, but there is no movement. How do you respond to your opponents’ claims that you did not deliver? The provisional certificates were given after getting due concurrence from the Union Urban Development Ministry. As many as 895 unauthorised colonies were regularised at one go, that too as per the guidelines approved by the ministry.
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‘BJP for transparency in the system’
Having come late in the fray as the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, what are your chances? The chances are better for the BJP. In this age of modern era, people get to know within a minute about new developments. How have Vijay Goel and his team taken to the development? Are they working with the same vigour? Yes, he is working hard and getting the support of leaders and workers. If the BJP is voted to power, what will be your priority? Our priority will be to give a clean, transparent and honest government to Delhi. The programmes and policies will be people friendly and capable of diagnosing the ailments and the treatment. We shall try to develop a transparent system where issues like corruption are addressed at the initial stage before anybody is able to resort to corrupt practices. We will focus on issues pertaining to women security, youth, environment, employment, solar power, universal health insurance, cleaning and beautification of the Yamuna. We shall undertake development in the fields of education, construction of low-cost houses for the poor, JJ dwellers and also strengthening the transport system from a common man’s house to the Metro station. Will the AAP harm the BJP calculation? People of Delhi are wise. They will not waste their votes. What do you have to say about the Congress slogan — Anubhav hai, raftaar hai, Congress phir is bar hai. Yes, there is raftaar but only in corruption, scams and price rise. People shall teach them a lesson. There are about 15,000-20,000 Muslim votes in the 20-25 Assembly constituencies. Sikhs are also in a strong position in three of the four constituencies. They can be a deciding factor. Does the BJP have any policy to uplift the minorities? We have never considered the minorities as untouchables and have always given them uniform and better attention. Muslim youths have realised that they are merely used as a vote bank. Now they cannot be taken for granted. The
BJP has alliance with the SAD. Akali leaders had announced the
construction of a memorial for the 1984 riot victims at a park in
Punjabi Bagh. The government stopped them. What will the BJP do if it
comes to power? The demand of the SAD is not unjustified, but it needs a careful thought. The Congress has raised a rape allegation against you when you were the Health Minister of Delhi. It just shows how low the Congress can stoop. I have set up the highest level of transparency and accountability in public life by undergoing a DNA test in spite of the reluctance of the police as my name was not mentioned in the complaint. If I had committed the crime, what was the Congress doing all these years? I am willing to contest the Delhi polls only on this issue as well as another complaint lodged by the Congress before the Election Commission.
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good news
IT was a cold December morning last year, when three boys, aged under 12 years, walked up to the office of TheatreAge at Government School, Sector 24, Chandigarh. Led by the mother of a student, the boys from Maloya Colony were brought to the school for admission. The night before, the children were a witness to a gruesome brawl in the slum. The boys, who were drug addicts, stand transformed today as zealous students. “I knew orders and threats would not have worked on these innocent minds. Having spent more than 18 years on the job, I have managed a decent collection of toys, games and eatables to draw these children. I did not ask them to study at all. Children have immense energy and cannot sit idle. I made them play or eat as per their wishes. One day, they all came to me and asked for books,” says Zulfiqar Khan, director of TheatreAge. The stories of many other children engaged in various activities on the campus are not very different. The common thread that binds them is their poverty. Some of them were polishing shoes and others gathering scrap before their life changed and they set foot in school. Residents of Kumhar Colony and Maloya, in particular, remember Khan walking in their area and urging parents to send their children to school. The children can now be seen making paintings, rehearsing plays or trying their hand at computers. Things have changed dramatically over the years. No longer does Khan have to visit any colony or slum to coax children to attend school. The endeavour has been undertaken by parents of other children and old students who are spearheading the movement and are more than willing to offer any guidance. However, not all who enrolled in the school could sustain their interest in education. Many of them dropped out, but a few set an example for other underprivileged children of adjoining areas to emulate. Over 2,000 children have benefited from this movement initiated by Khan, who passed out from the department of Indian theatre, Panjab University, in 1992. Letting go of the chance to try his luck in Bollywood, where several of his contemporaries made a name for themselves, Khan chose to use theatre as a tool for ‘employment and enlightenment’. The first street play (more than 40 have been performed to date) was staged by them in 1993. At present, TheatreAge is helping over 50 students, a majority of whom are from a humble background. Veerpal would polish shoes outside Panjab University, but is now the head makeup man with a news channel. He was a member of the first group which started the journey with street plays. Similarly, Sambhu, who used to polish shoes in Sector 17, is working as a peon in the office of the AG Punjab. Raman Kumar, who used to spend his time drawing in school, has graduated in fine arts and is making paintings to support his studies for the master’s degree. TheatreAge has also given wings to the dreams of girls like Savita, Bindu and Jyoti, who are pursuing a course in the Home Nursing Institute, Sector 15. “There are many who make a fresh beginning in their life. At the same time, there are many failures. I do not promise a revolution in society. I am just doing my bit to help these kids dream and offer them a chance to improve their lot. Even one success story is heartening enough for me to keep going,” says Khan. Except for the government school building provided by the UT Administration, TheatreAge has no permanent source of grant. The initiative is run on a novel mechanism of collecting money from selling old newspapers. “We have about 1,800 regular members as donors and 100-odd occasional contributors. We manage to collect Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 every month. We want to buy an accommodation so we can offer hostel facility to these children. A number of them fall back into the old routine after school and lose a chance to give their life some meaning,” Khan adds.
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P Chidambaram, union finance minister Partap Singh Bajwa, punjab congress president Peter Roebuck, former somerset captain Hrithik Roshan, bollywood actor
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IT is a triangular fight for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in her New Delhi constituency as she faces Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvinder Kejriwal, who has lately become a popular figure in the national Capital, and Harsh Vardhan, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate. She spoke on various issues. Excerpts: 
Harsh Vardhan
I feel the time has come to hand over the torch to the younger generation. There are enough young men and women in the country who can take part in the government and provide good governance.
He (Sukhbir Singh Badal) should share the secret of multiplying money. The transport and hotel businesses of the Badals are flourishing while public transports and state tourism industry are under losses. How
can that be?
Once on a train from Shimla to Delhi, there was a halt at a station. Since Sachin was nearing century, passengers and railway officials waited for him to complete the century. This genius can even stop time in India! 
Only a stupid person would not be humble. Whatever power has been bestowed upon us has been done by others. It may be because of your hard work, but if you think you can be great in isolation, you are the stupidest person in the world.