Exclusive: Read full interview of Arun jaitley to Rajat Sharma in Aap Ki Adalat (Part I)

New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma on his popular ‘Aap Ki Adalat' show, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley opened up on a range of issues- his candidature from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, his relations with Narendra Modi, his equation with Navjot Singh Sidhu, the approach of Modi led government towards Gandhi family etc. Here is the full transcript of the interview (Part I):Rajat Sharma: You were a good lawyer of Supreme Court. Why did you leave your practice worth crores of Rupees for entering into politics?Arun Jaitley: I don't know whether you are leveling allegations or giving me compliments. When I was in student life, I had two objectives. First was to study and practice law and second was to actively participate in socio-political activities. I became the president of student union in Delhi. I participated in JP movement and went to jail. After that I continued with practicing law as well as working simultaneously for my party. Initially, it was not my wish to aim for any position in politics. But I did justice to both the roles. But then there comes a time in your life where you have to take a call on selecting one out of two options. And I'm not the only one. When the freedom struggle was going on, many people did the same. And there are people in almost every political party who have done the same. RS: But they were not earning that much. I have made a calculation according to which you could have easily made 300-400 crores in last 5 years had you continued with your law practice. AJ: I am not worried about that. I chose this alternative life after due deliberation. My experience as a union minister, party office bearer and leader of opposition, perhaps played a bigger role in improvising my personality. And I believe that I could have played a role in law practice but I get a sense of satisfaction from the work that I have done as I got to understand the society, nation and world much better. And I don't repent it.RS: You might be satisfied but let's talk about your family. I heard you son asked for a BMW sports car and you had promised that. But after leaving the law practice, you asked him to buy a Maruti 800.AJ: Let me tell you one thing, my family supports me in whatever decision I take. My family including my extended family in Amritsar, they are always with me to support me. They don't have any complaints against my present public life. And I have adequately fulfilled the needs of my family.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. RS: So you got the benefit of realizing this? Prakash Singh Badal says that you will be the Deputy Prime Minister., number 2 position.AJ: Badal Saheb is a leader of very high stature. This is his way of patting my back. There is nothing like profit or loss. If the party gets the benefit and we form the govt and I think we are today very close to forming the government, the decision of projecting Narendra Modi as PM candidate is an important turning point. RS: Capt Amarinder Singh said that Arun jaitley wants to be the PM but does not say so openly.AJ: He should not judge me by his own ambition. It could be his ambition of going anywhere and doing something else. Any observer who is aware of my role knows that I am standing by the reality for last two years with complete dedication since the time I realized that ground reality is in favour of Narendra Modi. And I will stand by this reality till the end. And our decision was right; we are very close to forming the govt.RS: According to newspaper reports, Arun Jaitley could become PM under plan B of BJP.AJ: There is no plan B. Earlier, people used to say that we will get 160.Then they wondered how could they get 200? Then opinion polls started giving 200 as well. In the latest opinion poll, someone said we'll get 226 and allies will get 50. So we have already crossed 272 mark, Can I ask a question, Rajat Ji?RS: To me?AJ: Let me ask to your audience. Now it's not a question of politics, it's a question of arithmetic. Irrespective of whether it's 226, 250 or 275, Who will form the coalition govt? One, who has got 250, 275 or 300 seats or one who has got 25 seats? When the answer becomes clear, who will need the plan B?RS: Finally, please answer this. You are in politics. You are not a saint. So what will you be in Narendra Modi govt?AJ: People like me who are disciplined since childhood have learnt that we have to discharge all the responsibilities that we are entrusted with. I always believe that becoming a party member is also like doing injustice to yourself because you lose your freedom. You have to do what your party asks you to do. If you get justice then feel glad and if you don't get justice even then you have to accept it smilingly. So I'll accept whatever responsibility is given to me. RS: Your opponents say that you are a pseudo Punjabi.AJ: Somebody asked me this question two days back. The' Punjabiyat' of a Punjabi is never lost irrespective of which part of India or world he is living in. If you look at my family background, my mother and grandparents were from Amritsar; my cousins, numbering around 50, are from here. My father was from Lahore. My mother, sister, wife were all born here. Parents shifted to Delhi after partition. I was born there but I kept visiting this place. If you ask me about my ancestral place,now I can't go to Lahore and I have no other place to go except Amritsar. Now I don't understand the meaning of ‘Pseudo Punjabi'. RS: It means you are an outsider.AJ: I will give two answers to this. As I said it's my ancestral city. Both of my parents are from here. I asked a question- When national leaders contest elections, which state they belong to? I asked very politely- Which state Sonia Gandhi belongs to? I got an angry reply after asking this question. I believe the people who are raising this question think that a person who does not drink ‘Patiala peg' is an outsider. I don't agree with this changed definition. RS: But you should be on better terms with those from Patiala because I have heard they are fond of cooking and you are fond of eating. AJ: I am fond of eating because I belong to Amritsar. Those who know me in Delhi, they think that my eating habits are like that of a Punjabi. RS: You like Punjabi foods and song. Captain Saheb advised you to buy a home here and you purchased one immediately.AJ: My mother wished to have a home in Amritsar. She is no more.I have a grand parental house here. I could not fulfill her wish when she was alive. Around 10 years back, I started purchasing land here. Unfortunately, it could not come up as per the purpose. When the party decided for me to contest from here, I decided before I came here, that I should buy a house so that I have a base for my house and office, in case I win the elections. So I have fulfilled my duty. RS: But captain saheb said that you will not need this house after elections and that you should sell this house to him then. AJ: He is not used to living in small houses. So this house will not be suitable for him. So irrespective of wherever he lives in, it's not his nature to meet people. Therefore, people will have to visit him in Patiala Palace only. This was taken up with Sonia Gandhi by Congress MLAs and ministers around 8 years back who complained that if they could not meet him for days and weeks, how a common man would meet him.RS: But nowadays he wakes up early and meets people as well. AJ: See, you have to do many things in politics. (Contd...)