(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Clad in his signature styled plain shirt, cotton trousers and sandals, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the face of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who was on a two-day visit to the Emirates to receive an award for Asia's most inspiring and young social change maker at the World Brands Summit, tried his best to maintain some distance from the media. He may lack the charisma of some politicians but his plain countenance, candid statements and appearance somehow seem to connect with many people who are keen to fund his party's campaign.
The UAE has been a happy hunting ground for the AAP stalwart whose supporters were seen rushing to get their pictures taken with him during a visit to a Gurudwara and later at a Dubai hotel. He later took some time out for a chat with Khaleej Times, albeit reluctantly, on why he thinks his party should be given a second chance, flying business class and more.
Excerpts from the interview:
We hear you have received an award ... Congratulations!
Thank you. But I think I do not deserve this; it is the people (of India) who deserve it more than I do. Individuals (like me) are merely vehicles that try to bring about a change.
How was your flight to Dubai? People argue that flying business class doesn't go well with the image of a modestly attired aam aadmi (common man), especially when you have been critising the travel plans of others.
What's wrong with a business class ticket? Believe me, I didn't come without a ticket. We paid for it. What kind of future are we looking at? Are we looking at a future where aam aadmi (common man) is able to travel business class or are we looking at a future where we take out people from business class and put them in trains? In fact, I defined aam aadmi in my speech in Delhi Assembly. Let me reiterate: Aam aadmi is a person who wants a corruption-free state, an efficient government and administration. Aam aadmi doesn't mean indigent or a poor person. A resident of Greater Kailash (a locality in Delhi) can be an aam aadmi, who wants an honest administration in this (India) country. He is striving for an honest society. Khaas aadmi (special person) is the one who is taking advantage of the prevailing corrupt system of governance in the country, and doesn't aspire for change because of his selfish interests.
So, a person who travels business can be an aam aadmi, and also the one who travels economy or on a train, bus, cycle or a rickshaw. Certain people are trying to malign the image of our party.
After the elections in Banaras (Varanasi) I flew back to Delhi on an economy class ticket. For more than 24 hours, news channels were abuzz with debates and discussions on why I (flew) ... economy class! I wish to ask, what sort of India do we aspire (for)? One where airlines do not operate, and where bullock carts are run (because these are the right vehicles of transportation for aam aadmi as per certain affluent people)?
I never said that the middle class cannot or should not travel business class. You people (media) are trying to impose your definition of middle class or aam aadmi on us, which is not right.
All eyes are on the soon-to-be-organised Delhi elections. Do you think people will give you a second chance despite the fact that you stunned everyone by an asinine move, an relinquished power after 49 days?
We will win. Let me give the example of Dubai. Dubai has risen from the land of sand and no oil to a bustling world city with state of the art infrastructure in a few decades. Development here took place because of the combination of two reasons: Its visionary leadership and hardworking people.
Development is of two types: One with corruption, and one without. Development with corruption benefits only a handful of people; whereas development without corruption benefits across the cross section of society.
Talk to people in Delhi and they will tell you the difference our government made in just 49 days. We aimed for a corruption-free society; and had almost rooted it out in 49 days. As per a survey by the Times of India newspaper, policemen, officials in municipality, government hospitals had stopped taking bribes (during the time of my government). I had taken strict action against five officers, which sent out the message loud and clear that corruption will not be tolerated.
On cutting costs in government...
We pared down the charge for electricity for poor people at a cost of Rs200 crore, but recovered much more than that through VAT (value added tax). During the time of my government, the tax department collected Rs5,500 crore compared with Rs3,500 crore in the previous quarter.
There is no dearth of money in government, but there is a serious deficit of good intent. I believe, within five years, we can revise the tax rates in Delhi and bring it down. I strongly believe that lesser rate of tax encourages greater collection and lesser evasion.
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