Delhi Assembly polls: Avadh Ojha slams PM Modi, says he is sending chadar to Ajmer Sharif, but saying batenge toh katenge

Prominent UPSC educator Avadh Ojha, who has been fielded by AAP from east Delhi’s Patparganj, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to fulfill his promises of tackling inflation and using religious slogans to divert the minds of people from pressing issues during election campaigns.

In an exclusive conversation with India Today TV, Ojha said there was no question of him leaving AAP and joining the BJP and added that the saffron party was in an “absurd situation” compared to what it was a decade ago.

“In 2014, there were posters saying elect Modi government, we will remove inflation. You were given 10 years to fulfill at least 50 per cent of your promises and it has come down to ‘batenge toh katenge’ (division is destruction). You are proposing to give Rs 500 per cylinder in Delhi. Are you doing the same in other states,” he said.

“They have deviated from the path. You (PM Modi) are sending chadar to Ajmer Sharif and on the other hand, you are saying ‘batenge to katenge’ during elections. People will definitely give an appropriate answer,” he said.

The UPSC tutor stressed that political parties should connect with people with focus on issues affecting their lives, including education, health and infrastructure.

Accusing the BJP of making false promises in the past, Ojha said, “You have been at the Centre for 10 years. You should tell people what you did in these 10 years. But you are saying ‘batenge toh katenge’ and ‘ek hai toh safe hain’. The party is in an absurd situation now.”

“On one hand, the AAP government in Delhi is telling people about its achievements in education and setting up mohalla clinics. On the other hand, another party is misleading the people. It is clear who is telling lies and who is not,” he added.

Taking a dig at the BJP over the law and order situation in Delhi, Ojha said that a country cannot develop without having peace and prosperity. “The PM is so powerful and despite that, crimes are taking place. Naturally, questions will be raised,” he said.

Asked whether AAP was portraying itself as a ‘soft Hindutva’ party through its announcements like promising Rs 18,000 monthly salary for priests and granthis, Ojha dismissed such an assertion. “This is probably the first time that a party has thought about priests and granthis. Their lives are always at stake,” he said.

ON HIS CANDIDATURE FROM PATPARGANJ SEAT

Speaking about his candidature from Patparganj, a seat currently held by AAP leader Manish Sisodia, Ojha said he was not an “outsider” and said he felt at home wherever he went and taught UPSC aspirants.

“When I go to Patna or any place to teach students, nobody tells me I am an outsider. Like teachers, doctors are not outsiders. They can travel anywhere and feel as if they have never left their homes,” he added.

Ojha, a native of Uttar Pradesh, revealed that he was keen to fight elections from Prayagraj, but said things didn’t work out as he expected.

Asked whether he would become Delhi’s Education Minister if AAP won the February 5 Assembly polls, the UPSC educator said he would be happy working on an advisory board on education.

“I want to contribute something to the education sector. This has been my stand since the beginning. They (AAP leaders) said we need your assistance in education, and we would be happy if you could contribute something to the sector,” he said.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL A VISIONARY LEADER, SAYS OJHA

Calling AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal a visionary leader, Ojha said the former Delhi Chief Minister believed in strengthening human resources to make a country prosper.

“Arvind Kejriwal’s vision is creating human resources for the country like the US and China did. A country will progress if the pillars of human resources – education and health – are strong. That is what Arvind Kejriwal has been doing,” he said.

Ojha said Kejriwal could play an important role in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and that he could become the Prime Minister.

Asked about the corruption allegations against several AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, Ojha said the judiciary did not prove the claim yet.

“Modi ji was also a Godhra riots accused. But did he leave the chief ministerial post? In the same manner, he (Kejriwal) did not hold any portfolio (when the excise policy case surfaced). Unless the judiciary proves the allegations, we cannot say he or she was involved in such things,” he said.

OJHA ATTACKS RAHUL GANDHI

Ojha slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for saying that Kejriwal did not fulfill his promises in the past 10 years.

“He lives in Delhi and not outside the city. All the work was done in front of his eyes. When the US’s First Lady (Melania Trump) visited a government school and the UN Secretary General praised Delhi’s policies, I am sure such news would have reached his ears. If Rahul Gandhi is saying all this, it is very saddening,” he said.

Ojha predicted that AAP would sweep the Delhi Assembly polls and win more than 60 of 70 seats. Results will be declared on February 8.

The Kejriwal-led party won 67 and 62 seats in the 2015 and 2020 polls, while the BJP managed only three and eight, respectively. The Congress failed to open its account in both elections.