New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas has said his party would follow democratic norms if its voice is heeded by the Centre, but will resort to dharna, rallies and fasts, if its voice goes unheeded.
Replying to queries from Rajat Sharma in Aap Ki Adalat show, to be telecast on India TV tonight, Kumar Vishwas was initially evasive about resorting to dharna.
He said: "Dharna? Even husband and wife resort to dharna if they quarrel, even Radha resorted to dharna by refusing to speak to Krishna. But if a daughter (rape-murder victim) from Rohtak calls us and if the government refuses to listen, tell us where should we go? Their CM says, girls who wear jeans often become victims of rape, but our PM says, 'beti bachao' (save the daughters). When we resort to dharna, the PM says, send them to the jungle, they are Naxals. We thank the people of Delhi who saved us from being sent to the jungle by electing us.
"If our voice is heard, the democratic path is open, and if our voice is not heard, then the paths of dharna, rallies and fast are open", said Kumar Vishwas.
(Agar baat suni jayegi, toh loktantrik raasta khula hai, baat nahin suni jayegi, toh dharne ka raasta bhi khula hai, rally ka bhi aur anshan ka bhi khula hai).
Asked about charges against some AAP MLAs and candidates by seniormost party leader Shanti Bhushan, Kumar Vishwas said, the eminent lawyer "had sent the charges against some of the candidates to AAP's own Lokpal Retd Admiral Ramdas, and these were probed by an internal inquiry committee headed by his son Prashant Bhushan. It was Prashant Bhushan, who soon after said that he disagreed with the charges levelled by his father."
Shanti Bhushan had levelled serious charges against five AAP MLAs including Amanullah Khan, Bhavna Gaur, Kartar Singh Tanwar and Sahiram Pahalwan, but the party had rejected these charges as without substance.
"I do not know what Shanti Bhushan's unhappiness is. It's he who can tell. I will try to meet him and find out", said Kumar Vishwas.
The AAP leader tried to explain why Shanti Bhushan was unhappy.
"He (Shanti Bhushan) is our party's sympathizer. He had some issues. He first thought Ajay Maken could be a better CM candidate than Arvind Kejriwal, then he said Kiran Bedi would be better.But the voice of the people was more important. We even withdrew tickets given to two of our candidates at the last hour. Our own Lokpal Retd. Admiral Ramdas is a tough person. We will prefer to leave the Assembly vacant, but will not allow a wrong person to enter."
Vishwas said, he would speak out if ever the core principles of the party were compromised. "If the core principles are compromised, I will raise my voice inside the party, and if my voice is not heard, I will raise it outside."
"Agat siddhanton ke saath samjhauta hoga, toh andar bhi bolunga, nahin suna jayega toh baahar aake bhi bolunga)
Asked whether Shazia Ilmi and Vinod Kumar Binny, who had joined BJP after leaving AAP, would be allowed to re-enter, Kumar Vishwas said: "Shazia is my friend. Binny also worked with us. If they feel like working again for the core principles of Aam Aadmi Party, then our doors are open online. Anybody can join".
On AAP's promise to reduce power tariff in Delhi, Kumar Vishwas said: "We had ordered audit of power companies last time. These companies try to inflate their deficits and then collect higher tariff from consumers. Sheila Dikshit's government had even told the court that there should be no auditing. How did she know? She was not an accountant. We knew they were hands in gloves. The DERC chairman had said power tariff will go down, and not up, for the next 5 years. We want power companies to earn normal profit, but not through dubious means. They must not indulge in crony capitalism. If they refuse, then there are many power companies in India.
Kumar Vishwas said, AAP government in Delhi would strive for rationalisation of VAT for traders. "We will encourage them to do more and more trade, but they must not evade tax".
Rajat Sharma's Aap Ki Adalat show with Kumar Vishwas will be telecast tonight at 10 pm on India TV. The repeat telecast will be on Sunday (Feb 15) at 10 am and 10 pm.
