The Aam Aadmi Party in Gurgaon is working with the local stakeholders to unearth several unsavoury scams in which the bureaucrats and politicians have joined hands to earn easy money while the interests of the common man have been compromised. In the ensuing elections AAP will focus on changing the way politics is conducted in Haryana, and across the country, by focusing on political corruption, crony capitalism and the lack of development in Gurgaon - which has been milked without getting any concurrent benefits. Ramesh Yadav, Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party in Gurgaon, says that their political goal is to empower the weaker sections of society and delivers solutions to their problems. “We want to bring hope to the common man, that corruption can be removed, the system can be changed and the government made more accountable to the people”, asserts Yadav, while speaking on the sidelines of a protest that was organized by AAP at the Police Commissioner’s Office. “Corruption, bureaucratic red tape and land scams are endemic in Haryana, and these are the issues that the Party is taking to the people. We want to create greater awareness among the masses, and ask them to support us if they want an honest and people-friendly government”, he asserts. Referring to the BJP claims that they also will deliver a corruption-free government, Yadav says that these parties (BJP and Congress) have been tried and tested several times, and they are both the two sides of the same coin.
In Gurgaon the Aam Aadmi party is going to raise the issue of unauthorised colonies in a big way, because a considerable section of the population of the City has been branded ‘illegal’ by the government, alleges Yadav. “HUDA has not carved out a single sector in the last one decade, and it is beyond the capacity of a common man to buy a flat in a builder colony - which comes for not less than one crore rupees. This is the reason people are forced to live in ‘private colonies’, which are deemed ‘unauthorized’ by the government”, he asserts. AAP (Party) wants to know why the government charges house tax and revenue fees, and issues power and electricity bills, if this huge population is deemed to be residing illegally. The issue of unauthorised colonies has been given a political colour, and like in Delhi the Congress government will try to take political mileage out of it, but will fail. The residents of the 900 meters restricted area around the Ammunition Depot should also get relief, and AAP will push for removal of this facility or reduction of the banned limit to 100 meters. Pointing to a lacuna in the arguments of the government, Yadav says that when HUDA can develop sectors and offices in the disputed area, there is no reason why people from weaker sections, and those who can’t afford builder floors, should face demolition squads and police raids. “The people across Haryana have realised that getting rid of ‘traditional’ parties, who only subscribe to dynastic politics, is crucial for effecting change in the system”, he asserts. The Aam Aadmi Party is also going to raise its voice against the forcible acquisition of land across Haryana, in which both politicians and builders have benefited, by using archaic laws. Builders and politicians complement each other in this State, he says; adding that the rule of law is meant only for the weaker people, while the influential can get away with anything. All this needs to be stopped. “While land worth thousands of crores has been acquired, the farmers have been left in the lurch - with no development, little job opportunities and a failing agriculture that is getting little support from the government”, he says. The poor state of water, power and sanitation services, as well as inadequate infrastructure in the City will also be the focus of the Party. Lack of security and safety, particularly for women, is another burning issue. The decision by Kejriwal to resign from the post of Delhi Chief Minister is definitely going to help in Haryana, he says, because the people have come to know that AAP’s objective is not to be in power for personal benefit, but for the benefit of the masses – and to punish the guilty, especially the corrupt. While admitting that there were different views in the Party about giving up power, Yadav says that the decision has been taken keeping the larger national goals in mind - to work to cleanse the system at a larger level. Specific to Gurgaon’s governance, rather than pushing for a new Gurgaon Development Authority, AAP would rather focus on making the existing systems more effective and efficient.
The Party is getting ready for elections and fundraisers are being organized in different parts of the City. To date the Party has been able to collect around Rs 8 lakhs for the Lok Sabha polls, and the target is around Rs 70 lakhs, says the AAP leader. The Party also has set up zonal teams, and soon booth level teams would also be on the ground, he reveals. He believes that AAP has an edge in the City polls, as their nominee, Yogendra Yadav, while being a local, also has a national image and will attract voters from across communities and areas. Encapsulating the AAP philosophy, he asserts that while winning in the polls is important, AAP believes that it is more crucial that the Party is able to bring about a change in the political system and agendas.
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