RS: I have seen your affidavit. You have got assets worth 71.56 crores. But it could have been 500-700 crores had you not entered politics.
AJ: See, This sacrifice has to be made and I said I don't repent it. And after joining politics, today I go to UN and address people; I speak at international conferences of WTO, I speak at international universities, I initiate debates in parliaments. It has its own joy. It can't be weighed in money.
RS: Now I'll talk about your joy in politics. You got the opportunity of becoming the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha. And you performed well in 5 last years. PM Manmohan Singh use to smile sometimes when you made a speech in the house. Now You have left a comfortable life of Rajya Sabha for wandering in the streets of Amritsar.
AJ: I have attended ‘Aap Ki Adalat' many times in the past. Earlier, Rajat Ji used to charge why was I sitting there comfortably and not contesting elections. Now when I'm contesting elections, you have changed your charge. I believe that both the houses are equal but when you go to the people you get a better understanding of society. I believe that my political journey was incomplete even after spending so years in Rajya Sabha and doing so much of political work for the party. May be that void will be filled after contesting elections.
RS: Those who know BJP, say that the 2-4 names that were in race for PM candidate included your name as well. You spoiled your case by saying two years back that Narendra Modi should be the PM candidate.
AJ: In our party, there are many leaders of the same age group. Some of them are Chief Ministers while some of them are in national leadership. Everybody has got his strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, only one person could become number 1. I was getting the sense for last two years that there were many capable leaders in the first line of our party but there was a tangible preference for Modi among our workers, supporters and people at large.
Therefore, despite knowing the fact that my name was also in the race, I started saying for last two years that a groundswell was being formed in favour of Narendra Modi. And actually what happened later on, the party took the decision after 1 year on Sep 13 although people and workers had decided that 1 year back. Therefore, it was a reality that I had realized. And there were many other people who started realizing it along with me.
