‘I have lodged my dissent against Metro’: MP Kirron Kher as project awaits Centre’s nod

Kher: I am against it. The latest thing I have heard is that it is going to go to Madhya Marg… that’s crazy. I do not want the city to be dug up. I have said that you keep it on the periphery…let the people come to the periphery… then we will transfer people in electric buses, like, whoever wants to reach PGI, Panjab University etc. I cannot let the city get uprooted. In the transport committee meeting held two days ago, I have lodged my concerns. I know the hell people go through and also that it is not financially viable. People who have made Metros in Gurgaon and other areas… ask the officers, the ticketing also will be so high.

Q: Have the authorities responded to your concerns?

Kher: Yes, they have. A lot of them agreed and noted it. Aage toh yeh log hi decide karte hain (Going ahead, they (the officials) will be the ones deciding).

Q: In the House meeting Tuesday, you said you will contest the 2024 polls from Chandigarh.

Kher: AAP councillor Prem Lata asked me, “Aap ladne wale ho? (Will you be contesting?). I said, yes, why not? It was just banter. I am always there for the party and party work but I cannot take a stand that I will contest. Who am I to decide? It is the party that has to decide.

Q: AAP councillors have alleged that you addressed them as dunger (animals).

Kher: Woh maine pehle bhi bola hai, dunger (I have said this earlier too)…what is wrong with the word? It means jaanwar (animal) in Punjabi. What is abusive in that? They are behaving like animals. Have you seen the way they were behaving in the mayoral polls? Such unacceptable behaviour they show…they want to deviate from the actual issue. This agenda [on solid waste management] was so important. It is for the people of Dadumajra… to free them of the stench, to free them of flies…I am not interested in the petty politics they are indulging in. Why are you delaying it intentionally? My main intention was to get this agenda passed to free people from this issue.

Q: What led to the heated exchange between you and AAP councillor Jasbir Singh?

Kher: He [Jasbir Singh] was shouting and asking about accountability for taxpayers’ money. I just went up to him asking what about the taxpayers’ money that [Arvind] Kejriwal used to build his sheesh mahal (glass palace). Then, he abused the Prime Minister. They cannot abuse the Prime Minister, that too in public. Disrespecting the Prime Minister and President is not right. Have any of us ever abused Dr Manmohan Singh, Indira Gandhi ji or Rajiv Gandhi ji? We may have disagreed but never disrespected them. He abused our Prime Minister Modi ji…and then said that I used those words…

Q: You have been holding meetings with the administration and civic body in the last few days. Any issue that is a priority?

Kher: There are over 25,000 issues but this issue of waste management was a priority and that was the reason I had come to the general House so that a permanent solution to people’s problems in Dadumajra could be found.