AAP rides on hope and people have decided: Arvind Kejriwal

HERALD: People are saying that AAP is doing well. Why is there no strong message coming from the people that AAP is winning rather than just doing well.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL: Even in Delhi we experienced this the first time. You ask people two questions: Whose wind is it? They say everything is going on well. Then you ask who are you going to vote for? The reply is I am going to vote for the broom. So everyone is voting for the broom and there’s a wind of a new party. The same phenomenon we are witnessing in Goa. There are two factors that were critical in Delhi – people had developed hatred towards the existing party. People started hating BJP and Congress in Delhi and AAP was seen as a hope, that it will do something.  AAP also has two years of something to show in Delhi. So they see that there’s hope.

HERALD: In Goa everyone knows each other. People vote not necessarily because of State reasons but also because of selfish reasons like what do I get out of it? In the absence of a very dominant pre-existing force, as an alternative people might kind of play safe and look at their own needs rather than accommodating a huge change.

AK: I agree with you. When I say hope, hope for what? Hope for himself, hope for his family, hope for his kids. When I say that people have hope from AAP and hope that the cash amount will increase in all social welfare schemes and if there’s corruption then it will end. They have hope that like we built up mohalla clinics in Delhi, we will do here. At meetings when I speak of mohalla clinics people go crazy. Likewise waddo clinics will be constructed in Goa. People just cannot believe that it’s possible… (and they feel) I will get better social security schemes, if corruption goes then my life would be much better. There will be no garbage on the streets. So this is hope for himself. And secondly in Goa I fully agree with you. You just said that everyone knows each other. And that’s the reason there’s so much silence people are scared of expressing themselves.

HERALD: Not knowing what the other person is thinking.

AK: So there’s too much of silence, or one does not want to mention because they feel that if it reaches out they may close down a scheme. People are fearful that if you don’t attend Parrikar’s rally your Rs 1000 scheme will be closed.

HERALD: I ask you to be honest about this. Is this a reason why you went on an overdrive announcing your own schemes doubling the laadli laxmi, doubling the other schemes. Was this the trigger?

AK: No. We always believe it is the duty of the government to look after the disadvantaged sections of society. Secondly, inflation is rising, and if you’re providing schemes for the people with such less amounts, it’s better if you don’t provide any. If you’re giving then give so that it makes a difference. Now instead Rs 1000 per month, you get Rs 3000 then that would be a reasonable amount to make a living.

HERALD: With the economy going down there has been a severe crisis and the schemes added to say 15 percent in terms of expenses. With your schemes that 15 percent extra would end up being 20 percent. So what kind of mathematics do you have to settle this?

AK: I’ll give you Delhi’s example. In Delhi within two years we halved electricity rates, made water supply free, constructed 250 schools, five new flyovers, made 1000 dispensaries, all treatment free, did so much of work, incurred so much expenditure, in this budget we lessened taxes on many products. Decreased tax resulted in increase of expenditure. We had a surplus budget for the last two years. What we did is we finished off corruption. We have constructed five flyovers in Delhi. For example one flyover was to be of an estimated cost of Rs 325 crore, we completed it in Rs 200 crore. We saved Rs 125 crore. These Rs 125 crore would have gone into the pockets of the ministers. Compare this to Goa, the Mandovi bridge was of an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore but the expenditure till now has been Rs 800 crore but it is not yet completed.

HERALD: You have said that mining resources should go in the hands of the ownership. And the government may kind of use it judiciously for development.

AK: In principle we feel that of the output from the mines, the owners are the people of India and they should be beneficiaries of the benefit made out of that produce. However, as things stand, today the system that exists, the law that exists in our country is that the government gives out mines to certain people as contractors.

HERALD: Coming to casinos do you really think that it is a make or break election issue

AK: I think it is an important issue and last time Parrikar promised that once he comes to power he will stop all the casinos. Parrikar is known as U-turn man of Goa and he practically went on making promises.

HERALD: He says there are practical difficulties. So will you be needing casino money to run your government?

AK: How much money does it give you? Rs 160 crore?

HERALD: A little more.

AK: So maybe Rs 200 crore. Thats a pittance. A few days ago someone came and met us. He’s an employee in a casino, and told us that most of the people don’t even know what goes on inside casinos. He said they are off to all the criminal activities. His estimate was that the loss of revenue was Rs 4000 crore. He also said that all kinds of prostitution takes place, all kinds of crimes take place, huge exploitation of women. He said that though RBI is not giving more than Rs 24,000 a week, you can go to casinos and get as much money as you want. The people of Goa don’t want casinos, they don’t want this kind of tourism. This is not the kind of tourism they had desired. The kind of tourism Goa wants is that which will take tourism to the villages which can create jobs. Goan culture and dances which used to attract tourists have suddenly taken a backseat because now prostitution, gambling are activities which are practised. Why? Because there’s political patronage to this. Money from casinos is funding elections, making way to the politicians, money from prostitution and drugs is going there. 

HERALD: Your entire movement is based on hope but you need hands to deliver hope. Your candidates don’t come with experience.

AK: The idea is that like in Delhi we have ministers who have honest intentions but they take the help of experts. We employ a large number of experts and take their help to tell us how to improve tourism, transport in Goa.

HERALD: Finally, there’s this impression  that you have focused all your energies in South Goa

AK: We are asking votes on the basis of our fight against corruption. It affects Hindus, as much as the Christians. We are also saying when Elvis Gomes makes his government his first priority will be to end corruption. His second top most priority will be to provide safety and security to the citizens of Goa irrespective of religion or caste. Justice will be provided. We need to instill in the minds of the people that they are secure. In their hearts and minds of the people of Goa, whether he is a Hindu, Christian or Muslim must feel they are secure. This will be the second topmost priority.