Not proud of my celebrity status: AAP MP Bhagwant Mann

You are heard saying that H S Phoolka, state convenor Chhotepur and MP Harinder Khalsa are ‘one team’ and want to ‘rule AAP Punjab’.

Yes, because that is what I felt at that moment. The tape is not a recent one and circumstances in party were not the same as they are now. So in the heat of the moment I said that.

According to you, Gandhi leaked the tape but he has denied that.

Gandhi says that it might be the work of opposition parties but I would like to ask if the Akali Dal or the Congress was named even once in the conversation. If Gandhi did not record or leak the tape and if the opposition did as he says so, then why was only this particular conversation leaked? Why were not the tapes of Gandhi and his conversations with ousted leaders like Yogendra Yadav not leaked?

So you are saying that Gandhi recorded and leaked the conversation?
I am not saying that. It is well understood.

You are also heard saying that it is not the broom or AAP which made you win in the Lok Sabha polls but your ‘celebrity status and personality’. Is this pride speaking?

My words are being misunderstood. I just said that the party alone does not win elections, a lot depends on candidate’s personality and charisma as well. Whatever Bhagwant Mann is today, is because of the people. I do not have an iota of pride over my celebrity status. Ludhiana de Jagraon bridge tey khad ke ajj vi poora din main jhaaru fehra sakda haan, jey party da hukam hovey taan. (If party orders me to then I can stand on Jagraon bridge of Ludhiana for the whole day and wave our broom).

In the tape you have also questioned H S Phoolka over his defeat at Ludhiana, saying his personality did not click.

I have a lot of respect for Phoolkaji. I just said that somewhere the efforts lacked and we lost from Ludhiana. If not from the party’s side, then maybe Phoolka’s personality failed to click with the people. I never questioned Kejriwal or his efforts but winning the elections is a combination of one’s personality and the party’s work.

Two suspended MPs, Gandhi and Khalsa, want action against you for ‘anti-party’ views.

I have not held parallel rallies like them. I have not criticised party chief Arvind Kejriwal. I have always touched their feet and I want AAP to be united again. I will welcome their reinstatement with open arms. Kejriwal has not questioned me even once for the tape. Khalsa and Gandhi were suspended not for speaking against Delhi rule but for holding a parallel rally.

You say that party leadership was not upset but you went to Delhi immediately after the leak? Why?

I was never called for any explanation or clarification by Kejriwal or Sanjay Singh. I went for a general meeting. They have officially said that the matter was blown out of proportion.

Do you think your credibility will take a hit?

People have nothing to do with this tape. It is an internal party matter. Even if they do judge me on the basis of it, I have said nothing wrong. Whatever I said was for the betterment of AAP’s Punjab unit.