While the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government has time and again blamed the Centre for its non-cooperation in policy matters and day-to-day administrative affairs, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) West Delhi Lok Sabha candidate and sitting MP Parvesh Verma thinks the other way round. After being accused of dynasty politics and being questioned by opponents— Balbir Singh Jhakhar from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Mahabal Mishra from Congress — about work done by him in last five year, Verma spoke to The Pioneer about his achievements and the caste based politics in the constituency. Excerpts:
Opposition alleges that you were elected MP because of your father. You are accused of not meeting people in your constituency. Your comment…..
My father Dr Sahib Singh Verma was a great leader and is one of the most loved leaders in Delhi even today. I am lucky to be born as his son. I received my lessons of public life from him. I am proud of the fact that his good works and honest politics have positively aided me in getting people’s trust. But that does not mean that people vote you only for that. If you don’t work or solve people’s problems, you cannot survive in public life. I regularly meet people whether it is in my constituency or at my residence. To take an example, I helped more than 400 people who had approached me to get health treatment in various hospitals to receive money from Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Do you think that you are one of the beneficiaries of dynastic politics, considering that your party keeps on accusing the Congress of promoting such politics in the country?
Till my father was with us, he ensured that no one else from my family entered politics. And even after he left, I contested my first election after proving my worth in the party for seven years working for the organisation. I started my political journey from the grass-root level serving at various positions. Dynasty politics means that a post is reserved for the member of a family. In BJP, even if you are a son or daughter of a big leader, we start our journey as a Karyakarta and then climb the ladder based on our abilities and merit.
What are the issues in your constituency and how do you plan to solve if elected again?
Traffic congestion and air pollution are major issues today. Traffic congestion needs to be solved in dual ways. Firstly, it needs to be done by widening existing roads, building underpass and furthering infrastructure for that. Secondly, we also need to work on reduction of vehicles on road. This will also prove to be a solution for the other problem which is air pollution. By strengthening public transport, private vehicles can be reduced which will ease both traffic congestion and air pollution. We also need to encourage car pooling and building of cycle tracks to tackle with these problems.
AAP’s candidate is from Jat community. Do you think the division of Jat votes will make it tough for you?
The Congress and the AAP have been constantly trying to divert the discourse on caste and religion of their candidates because they have nothing to offer based on their work. But people will not get into all this and will direct their vote for development of New India under Narendra Modi. As a public representative, I do not believe in the lens of caste, class, religion or gender. I focus on how my work is reaches equally to all people. It is for that reason that people across all sections of society have trust and faith in me.
You have blamed AAP led Delhi Government for creating hurdles in development works in West Delhi. How they impede the development?
When I got elected as an MP in 2014, Delhi used to be under President’s rule. During that time, I was able to do even that works in my constituency like sewer lines which were under the powers of State Government. However, after the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP came into power in Delhi, all these works stopped. Delhi Government did nothing to solve these problems under their responsibilities and did not even cooperate with me when I tried to reach out to them on behalf of my people.
The AAP is contesting election as full statehood which is one of its poll planks. Your comment…..
If we recall, right from the day Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister, he has been complaining and passing blames to some or the other for his own inability to deliver. When Lok Sabha elections were approaching, he brought this demand of ‘Full statehood’ as an excuse to divert attention from his failures and under-performance in Delhi.
