Though I worked with some of the premier news based media organisation of the country for quite some time, it all started with the Anna movement. At that time nobody thought that the movement will later take the form of a political party. (PTI)

What made you quit journalism and come to social activism for which your critiques have often called you opportunist?

Though I worked with some of the premier news based media organisation of the country for quite some time, it all started with the Anna movement. At that time nobody thought that the movement will later take the form of a political party.

I followed Arvind to the extent that yes we should get into power and form a political party with a difference and do something good for the society. In other words transformative politics.

When did your actual point of difference arose with Arvind Kejriwal?

There was this incident at Khirki extension where some thugs led by Somnath Bharti dragged and beat up some women of foreign country and because of which Arvind went on a dharna in front of the rail bhawan. I did not support that.

Thereafter that fake sting operation happened in which I was exonerated but Arvind insisted for me to step down.

In fact the roadblocks created against me were such that I should not make any headway. Look at the allotment of constituency during lok sabha elections. I was given Ghaziabad 20 days before the elections and hooligans to work with who only extorted money from me.

Could it then be said that your increasing distance with Arvind paved way for others like Ashutosh and Ashis Khetan?

Yes, why not? Arvind and Manish keeps these hooligans to make sure that no one in the party rises. I didn’t realise this in the beginning. I thought it is Manish but eventually I got to know it is Arvind.

I gave full three years since 2011-2013 and suddenly they said that I am not a good spokesperson and put Atishi Marlena, Raghav Chaddha as new faces of the party.

Talk about opportunism? See Ashutosh used his position at IBN7 as a platform to promote AAP, shamelessly compromising his journalistic integrity and morals, wrote a book and got the ticket to fight election.

A lot has been in the talks lately about the way AAP chose its members.

One should see Arvind’s flip flops. It is unprecedented. By the time 2014 lok sabha election arrived he was a completely changed man ready to compromise. The way members were chosen were very disgusting.

Some money was exchanging hands I don’t know how. They always kept me out of it as I would never be okay with it.

Though I was a member of National Executive but they would never include me in the PAC (Parliamentary Affairs Committee).

Arvind was never serious on any issue. When we asked him on what basis did he say that he would half the electricity rates? He said on the basis of CAG audit, but the CAG audit never happened! Straightaway this comes from government exchequer not subsidy. That politics anybody could have done.

The very reason why Yogendra and Prashant are out today is same as mine. They wanted to put policies and systems in place to which Arvind is completely aversive.

Still I fought elections thinking that something good might come out of it. After the elections Arvind called me and said if you are so unhappy then why don’t you leave? This he said because someone told him that I did not campaign for the party. Any self-respecting man or woman cannot stay in AAP.

In his recent video message Arvind Kejriwal said that Modi could get him killed. How do you see this as a senior member of the BJP?

I think it’s a clever strategy by him to grab headlines and to distract from the fact of hooliganism within the party. The miscreants he cant control, his abject failure to govern. This is the easiest, cheapest and fastest way to grab headlines and make himself some kind of contender against Modi.

Look at the case of suicide of this woman Soni. The true nature of AAP is out in the open.

Think about this, by the time he was fighting elections in Delhi Modi was already the PM, why then he didn’t say to the people of Delhi that look Modi is already there so I won’t be able to do much for you.

The transfer scam happened, what has it got to do with Modi Ji? Why did Arvind make everything about himself and Modi ji? This is not about CM or PM, this is about the safety of the aam aurat of Delhi!

Given the present attrocities of dalits that surfaced and the gau rakshak controversy, do you think it will affect BJP in the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh which is very important for the party as well?

I think that the BJP has a huge chance and Mayawati sees the advantage, so it will be a contest between the two. I dont much see it to be a quadrangular contest. Off course the anti-incumbency factor will play a vital role.The way prime minister has responded to the ongoing dalit issue has been well taken by the people. This whole rhetoric that was there against that BJP and the RSS has been demolished by Modiji’s timely reply and distancing from these fringe elements.

How much do you see the chances of BJP in Gujarat as also there are anti-incumbency sentiments working?



Well, I will be honest about it. After Modi ji Anandiben had not stood up to the expectations. Overall if you see the municipal elections, a lot of minorities have turned up and showed support to the BJP. I dont see lot social tensions there. Of course the Hardik Patel episode did get some negative traction but the way government has handled it, it won’t affect BJP’s chances.