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‘Kejriwal only used Dalits for votes…’: Ex-AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand

A former minister who resigned from AAP to join BJP in the run-up to the Delhi polls, Raaj Kumar Anand, the party’s Dalit candidate from Patel Nagar, speaks to The Indian Express on how he thinks Dalits have been neglected and disrespected by AAP and BJP’s prospects in the elections.

raaj kumar anandRaaj Kumar Anand.

A former minister who resigned from AAP to join BJP in the run-up to the Delhi polls, Raaj Kumar Anand, the party’s Dalit candidate from Patel Nagar, speaks to The Indian Express on how he thinks Dalits have been neglected and disrespected by AAP and BJP’s prospects in the elections.

You are fighting against AAP this time. On what basis are you seeking votes?

One of the major problems that Patel Nagar faces is water… Despite working a lot (to resolve this issue), people are still facing issues… So, I promise that if I’m elected again, work on laying a new pipeline will speed up and people will get 24×7 drinking water… I will get this done in just six months… Besides, improvement in drainage system and sewer connection… making overhead wires in narrow lanes safe… are my priority… Patel Nagar also lacks English-medium government schools… My priority will be to address these issues. I believe when the double-engine sarkar will be formed in Delhi, all these works will be expedited.

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After I was elected from Patel Nagar (in 2020)… the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the first one-and-a-half years of my tenure… when the chief minister (Arvind Kejriwal) was constructing Sheesh Mahal for himself and other senior leaders were not stepping out of their houses, I was arranging vehicles for sanitation workers, oxygen and vaccination for people…

Besides, I have carried out development works in my constituency – from repairing roads, arranging (drinking) water, etc… People appreciated me and I was even named the best MLA of Delhi.

We have conducted a survey and found that Patel Nagar has colonies that still do not have water connections or pipelines… With the help of officials, I made a proposal to lay water pipelines… As the estimated cost for the project was Rs 700 crore, I sent the proposal to the CM and it was cleared… So, I can confidently say that I have worked and the people are with me.

Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr B R Ambedkar sparked a row. Will this impact BJP’s prospects?

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His words have been twisted… if you listen to the entire speech, you will realise he meant to say that only garlanding Baba Saheb won’t help, you have to follow his path and the Constitution he created.

The Dalit community, especially Ambedkarites, are very smart… They know how the Opposition tries to manipulate things to gain votes… Ahead of every poll, Congress will start saying ‘Constitution is in danger’ but I want tell them, Constitution is not in danger, your politics is in danger after PM Narendra Modi has come. The Constitution is to be worshipped, not changed…

Why did you resign from the Cabinet? AAP claimed you resigned as you were under pressure, CBI and ED would have raided your premises.

Everyone knows the raid that took place at my house was due to the liquor (policy) scam… It was Arvind Kejriwal’s gift… If I had not been a part of AAP and its government, this raid would have not taken place… They (ED) were looking for some links as I was a minister… It was nothing but just a routine check.

You said Dalits are being disrespected by AAP?

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I don’t think I said anything wrong… the party… raises the slogan of ‘Jai Bhim’ and puts the picture of Baba Saheb at all its offices and during press conference… this is just to show off…

Reservation is a right, you cannot change that but it does not mean you sideline them… AAP has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs… despite several requests, the top leadership did not nominate a leader from the reserved category… not even one Dalit or a backward caste leader… In the last 11 years, AAP did not make any Dalit a chairman of any college, commission or mandi…

On the other hand, Modi ji chose a Dalit and Adivasi as president and there is a law minister belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. Kejriwal only used Dalits for votes and diverted the funds meant for SC category for other works.

How was your relationship with Kejriwal? What do you think went wrong?

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I objected to Dalit leaders and workers being disrespected… multiple times… If I cannot work for the Dalits despite being the social welfare minister, what is the purpose of being a Dalit minister?

But whenever I tried to raise these issues and talk about spending funds meant for the reserved category… he used to only discuss politics, publicity and party agenda… he asked me to blame L-G and Centre. When I started raising the issue again and again… he started ignoring me…

How is the working culture in BJP different from AAP?

BJP is the largest democratic party in the world… I like three things about this party – tradition, culture and love for the country… sacrificing your life for the country and its culture and tradition is politics… While AAP’s politics is all about blame game…

Do you believe in Sanatan Dharma?

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Of course, I believe in it… I am a Hindu. I think after Narendra Modi’s arrival, Sanatan Dharma is writing a new history…

At work, have you faced discrimination?

Everywhere, a Dalit politician has to work harder than others. There is no doubt in this… Things are changing gradually… but it makes me sad to think that even today, atrocities in the name of caste continue… but I believe when the BJP forms the government, this will not happen in Delhi.

BJP has failed to perform well in Dalit majority and reserved seats?

This time, it will change… Dalits will vote for BJP because they are now realising who is on their side… I even appeal to Muslims to look at the welfare schemes implemented by the Modi government… people should compare schemes and decide and not based on caste or religion…

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