R.K. Dhawan was one of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's most trusted aides. Later Dhawan was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and was a minister in the Narasimha Rao government. He speaks to Saurabh Shukla about his plans for the New Delhi constituency.Q. Many people doubted that you would get the nomination. A number of leaders from your party are said to have opposed it allegedly at the behest of Sonia Gandhi, do you think that's the case?A: This is absolutely baseless. In fact I have been meeting Sonia Gandhi regularly and her blessings are with me. I don't believe in advertising my meetings with her. There is not even an iota of truth in these statements which have been made by my opponents to malign me.Q. Does this have something to do with the Thakkar Commission? It is believed that you fell out of the good books of the Gandhi family and that has haunted your political career ever since.A: I can't tell you how much harassment my family and I had toundergo for four years after Indira Gandhi's assassination. But I was cleared by the Government of India. I had cordial relations with Rajiv Gandhi and his family. Do you think that he would have had anything to do with me, if he suspected me. These are all rumours spread by people who are jealous of me.Q. Why should the voters in New Delhi vote for you? A number of people feel that the previous Congress MP from the area was quite inaccessible. Don't you think your electorate might feel the same about you?A: I want to clear this myth that after becoming MPs, Congressmen don't keep in touch with the electorate. People know about my work and are aware of my capabilities. Above all I'll be loyal to my electorate.Q: It has been alleged that you are spending a lot of money on the elections. In fact a big crowd had gone along with you to file the nomination.A: This is ridiculous, any body who is willing can accompany me on my campaign. I even carry my own megaphone and don't use loudspeakers. In fact the thousands of people who accompanied me, shows their enthusiasm at my candidature. I never brought them along, they all came on their own.Q: The Congress has not projected anybody as Prime Minister if it comes to power, while the BJP has projected A.B. Vajpayee. Do you think that would mar your chances?A: The Congress party doesn't name a leader in advance, we don't want to encroach on the wishes of the MP's who will be elected. We don't want MP's to be rubber stamps.Q: What is your agenda for the New Delhi constituency?A: Contrary to what people think, New Delhi is not just a constituency made up of the elite. You have government servants who need basic amenities like water and houses. In many colonies even the boundary wall is missing. I'll work to sort out these local issues. Above all I'll be accessible to people in my constituency.
