My actual surname is Singh, and I come from a Punjabi Rajput family. Had I wanted to appease voters, then I would have gladly used my real surname.
Safety and security in East Delhi is a very big concern, and this is an across-class concern. It isn't an issue that one segment faces and another does not... But because Delhi Police comes under the central government, there are virtually no steps being taken.
Everyone knows Gautam Gambhir is a star who is going to be in Bombay, London, and Johannesburg. He is not going to be available to attend to people of his constituency.
Politics also reflects the fault lines in our society, and the fact is that it is not very easy for any marginalised group to come forward in any domain.
Non-violent protests have reached a plateau. There is no other way but to get into politics to make your voice heard.
Anyone who sends their children now to government schools usually does it because they can't afford private education. I went to a government college where 350 out of 400 girls said their brothers go to private schools.
People should not be voting based on caste, religion, money, or liquor but real issues that affect their lives.
Why does 80 per cent of East Delhi live in unauthorised colonies. No one wants to live in unauthorised colonies due to issues of sanitary and hygiene... people stay in unauthorised colonies because they have no other choice, and that really needs to be changed.
It was clear to us that social movements and activism can only take us so far in our mission.
Full statehood in Delhi is a larger issue as compared to anti-corruption. For, only when the Delhi government gets its anti-corruption bureau back will it get the power of suspension and vigilance inquiries on corrupt officers of different departments of the government. That is how you can curb the corruption.
The sheer scale at which one is able to create change as elected representatives is unmatched.
