New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) It was a trip to Gujarat as part of Arvind Kejriwal's "fact-finding" team that "revealed the sham development claims" of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and convinced him to fight the Lok Sabha polls, says Ashish Khetan, the investigative journalist turned AAP candidate for the New Delhi seat.
Khetan, 38, who quit his media job to join the Aam Admi Party (AAP) after last December's Delhi assembly elections, says the Kejriwal-led study tour "shook" him and he decided to take the plunge. Khetan, who runs the investigative news portal gulail.com, said in Gujarat they found "immense corruption and deplorable conditions".
"We had formed teams that visited several government departments across Gujarat. Our people found rampant corruption in the departments and amassive staff crunch," Khetan told IANS in an interview.
"Despite the claims of development, the people are living in deplorable conditions. The Gujarat condition seemed similar to the claims of development of (former chief minister) Sheila Dikshit in Delhi. That hurt me a lot," he said.
"So when senior party members proposed that I contest from New Delhi I finally agreed," he said.
Khetan is pitted against Congress heavyweight Ajay Maken and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi for the April 10 election.
Khetan is the second former journalist being fielded by AAP in Delhi. Ashutosh, a former IBN 7 anchor, is contesting against union minister and Congress heavyweight Kapil Sibal from the Chandni Chowk seat.
Sitting in the party office in Hanuman Road in the heart of the national capital, Khaitan, who knew many of the party members even before AAP was formally launched in 2012, said Dikshit's claims of development in Delhi has not improved the lives of the common man.
He says if elected he will raise the aam admi issues at the national level.
"For me nothing is a local issue. All issues which relate to the aam admi (common man) are on my agenda and I will take them to the national level," he said.
"Water, power, roads, corruption in Delhi Development Authority (DDA), employment and health would be my main focus agenda in my constituency."
The New Delhi Lok Sabha seat covers a huge area. The Lok Sabha constituency covers affluent upscale areas like Jor Bagh and Greater Kailash, to government colonies like Lodhi Road and R.K. Puram as well as slums, including Katputhli Colony. The AAP hopes to tap the large middle class and the slums in the constituency.
Khaitan said MPs are "scared" of raising questions in the house. "They even escape from attending parliament sessions. My party will end this culture and we will raise more and more questions.
"The first thing I will do is to start raising in parliament all the issues which directly relate to people," he said.
"According to a media report, Ajay Maken's presence was just 33 percent in the just-concluded parliament session," Khetan said.
Khetan is confident of getting the votes of AAP supporters in the New Delhi assembly constituency that voted overwhelmingly for Kejriwal in the Delhi elections, routing Sheila Dikshit.
"Definitely, it will benefit me. People of New Delhi assembly constituency are happy with AAP," he said.
Khetan earlier worked in Tehalka as editor, investigation, and in Headlines Today in the English news channel.
Won't let you down, Modi assures farmers
New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said farmers from across the country have written to him about their problems and he will not let them down.Addressing farmers
Court rap over riots worries Mulayam, Akhilesh
Lucknow, March 27 (IANS) A Supreme Court rap over official carelessness and laxity vis-a-vis the Muzaffarnagar communal riots is bad news for the ruling Samjwadi Party ahead of the Lok Sabha
Homoeopathy can combat swine flu: Expert
Mumbai, Feb 20 (IANS) An association of medical practitioners in Maharashtra Friday urged the government to utilise homoeopathy to combat the swine flu epidemic that has gripped many parts of
Modi shares pain of cyclone affected in Vanuatu
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he shared the "pain and sorrow" of all those affected by the cyclone in Vanuatu."The devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in
Navy says was in 'loop' in suspect terror boat operation
New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) The Indian Navy Tuesday said it was in the "loop" during the operation on the suspected terror boat which was burnt by its occupants following a chase Jan 1, and dismissed
Congress dismisses exit polls
New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) The Congress Tuesday dismissed the exit polls which predicted the party's worst defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, saying the pollsters deserve a Nobel Prize for
Court strict on Covid protocol in the plane: Delhi HC said - If passengers do not follow the rules, then throw them out, impose fines, and put them on the no-fly list
The Delhi High Court has ordered strict adherence to the Kovid protocol in airports and flights. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi said that those who do not wear masks at the airport and
Sonia, Rahul cast vote
New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi Saturday cast their votes for the Delhi assembly election.The Congress president was flanked by former Delhi
The government said- stop Rahul Yatra: the country has to be saved from Corona, Congress said- did Modi go to Gujarat wearing a mask
The central government has appealed to Rahul Gandhi to stop the yatra. For this, the increase of corona epidemic has been cited. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has written a letter to Rahul.
Mucormycosis: Steroids being the biggest cause, diabetes and covid patients more at risk
Dr. Guleria said that the spores of mucormycosis (black fungus) are found in soil, air, and even food. However, they are weak and do not usually cause infection. He said that there were very few cases
