Lucknow: While the opposition might have dismissed him as a non-serious candidate, actor-turned-politician Javed Jaffrey is leaving no stone unturned to win the Lucknow seat for the Aam Aadmi Party. In conversation with IBNLive, he admitted that the party committed a mistake by resigning from the government too soon in Delhi. He said AAP should have waited for a few more days. Backing his decision to be a part of the party, he said that it is the ideology that matters for him and that only one "honest man stood against corruption and is fighting against the system".
Here is the transcript of the interview with AAP candidate from Lucknow, Javed Jaffrey:
IBNLive: Lucknow is believed to be the stronghold of the BJP. Do you think the AAP will be able to give a tough fight here? How do you view your prospects?
Javed Jaffrey: India was the stronghold of the British, that didn't help people from fighting for their rights. For me there is no stronghold, what is right is right, what is wrong is wrong. The ideology of that party is absolutely wrong and I want to fight against these things and there is only one honest man who stood against this and is fighting against the system. It is the system that has got corrupt here. I don't care who I'm fighting against. I want to reach out to the common man and want them to identify with me, the choice is their own.
IBNLive: So you are saying that truth and honesty are the biggest issues for you?
Javed Jaffrey: For me, two words, honest governance, which combines of corruption, anti-corruption, communalism and criminalisation of politics are the biggest issues. One other big problem is justice. 80 per cent of us are victims of this injustice in some form or the other.
IBNLive: Don't you think AAP is focusing only on corruption and not on other important issues like the fiscal issues, lack of employment for the youth, foreign policies etc.
Javed Jaffrey: Everything is connected to corruption. Budget is going haywire that is because of corruption. People are taking kickbacks. Like in Lucknow, Mayawati made a Rs 6000 crore park. Whose money is that? That money could have lifted the city to some other state altogether. There is no answerability. This is the public money. Communalism and corruption have eaten like a acid into the system.
IBNLive: You have held roadshows across the city, do you think AAP pulling out of the government in Delhi in 49 days has affected you as the party's candidate?
Javed Jaffrey: I don't think so. The decision to resign was not wrong but may be, he should have waited for a few more days. Arvind Kejriwal also agreed to this that he should have waited for 2-3 days and consulted the people.
IBNLive: So you agree that his resignation was a mistake?
Javed Jaffrey: At that point of time yes, I agree he should have given 2-3 more days. Not that he shouldn't have resigned. Because if he was sitting on that chair people would have questioned him saying that he was sent for the Lokpal Bill and now that he has got the power, he has stuck to it. The allegations against him are all rubbish.
IBNLive: AAP is fighting on almost 430 seats, do you think it is stretching itself a bit too far?
Javed Jaffrey: We have to attempt and reach the maximum amount of people. What is wrong in that? We reach the youth and ask them to join us. We have MLA's who are 26 year olds. If you can vote you can come into the system. The youth should get a chance. Rahul Gandhi is regarded as a youth leader, at 40-45 you can't be called 'youth'.
IBNLive: In this election season, a lot of personal allegations have been levelled by political leaders. How do you view it?
Javed Jaffrey: We have not used such a language. Modi and all these leaders have put forth comments like, "Kejriwal is a mosquito (Kejriwal to machar hai)". We talk on facts and figures, we don't pass such jibes. Talk about the statistics, why are you shying away from that?
IBNLive: Now since you have taken a plunge into politics, will we be seeing less of you in movies and on TV?
Javed Jaffrey: I will work for 6 months for my income, that is my job where I will work for my family. The rest 6 months I will work for the country, for the party. As I will not earn in politics, I will have to earn for the rest 6 months on the job.
IBNLive: You have given a ray of hope to a lot of kids in Boogie Woogie, what are your plan to revive the glory of Lucknow?
Javed Jaffrey: Lucknow has a lot of talent. If you look at performing arts, dance, poetry, music and that should be taken ahead. We have to package it in a new way and make it look 'cool'.
IBNLive: If in one line you had to describe your transition from acting to politics, what would that be?
Javed Jaffrey: For me it is a blessing. If I'm part of the system, I can bring about change. I am here to stay.
IBNLive: You are a well travelled person, what will be that one thing which you have seen anywhere else which would like to change in Lucknow?
Javed Jaffrey: Transport system! The mayor of Bogota said this, "A developed nation is not where the poor have cars; a developed nation is where the rich travel in public transport." I think we can do that. People should use shared cars, car pool. In places like London, if you travel in the public transport, one the side would be a millionaire and on the other could be a person from the slums. Raise the standard of living in the city by things that bring a difference not by building parks in the city.
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