Says need to change lawlessness in Delhi
Agencies
NEW DELHI, JANAURY 16
Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Shazia Ilmi on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The announcement of Shazia joining the BJP was made at a press conference attended by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay and the former AAP leader, among others.Speaking on the occasion, Shazia said she sees her joining the BJP as an opportunity to serve the nation and its people.
Stating that she was impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's functioning, Shazia stressed there was a need to move away from negative politics.
“We need to shift from negative politics to positive politics. We need to end the politics of vengeance.”
“We should create a new civil identity, that of being an Indian, and not a Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Sikh etc,” the former TV anchor said.
Shazia stated that she was not joining the BJP for the desire to fight polls.
“I don't want to fight election, and haven't spoken about it. I just want to serve,” she said.
Praising the party, Shazia said BJP stands for development and governance.
“We don't want the people of Delhi to face chaotic confrontation... they should get good governance. We must move towards positive politics, change the lawlessness approach and move towards development,” Shazia said.
“There is new political discourse in the country and we all must be part of it,” she said further.
Prior to joining the BJP, Shazia had met party president Amit Shah this afternoon. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the TV anchor-turned-politician had said that she had a good meeting with Amit Shah who welcomed her in the party.
The development came just a day after her former Team Anna member Kiran Bedi joined the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah. Bedi is tipped to be the party's CM candidate for Delhi polls; however, a formal announcement is yet to be made.
Shazia, who quit AAP last year, had yesterday promised to expose the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP “for what it is” over the next few days.
Further, actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada is also expected to join the BJP and may be fielded against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
The Election Commission has already announced the schedule for Delhi Assembly Elections. While voting takes place on February 7, the results will be out three days later.
Will fight against Kejriwal, if party wants: Kiran Bedi
PTI
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 16
A day after joining BJP, Kiran Bedi today said she was ready to contest against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief and her former Team Anna colleague, in the Delhi Assembly polls, if her party wants.
She rebutted AAP's criticism over changing her stand on not joining politics, saying she was free to make her own choices and her "aversion" was gone due to Modi's leadership."The constituency selection is always a decision of party. I will go by their decision. If they want me to fight against him, I will do so. Because they know better than I do. They haven't brought me to lose, they have brought me to win," the former IPS officer said when asked whether she is likely to be pitted against Kejriwal in the upcoming polls.
The AAP had yesterday termed her joining BJP as "shocking". "It is sad and shocking that Bedi who had been maintaining that she will always remain apolitical and keep raising the issues of people has joined the BJP. Our best wishes are with her," party leader Sanjay Singh had said. AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal had also taken a subtle dig at Bedi saying that he had also tried to convince her to take a plunge into politics.
"I do not wish to go into the past. I am in present and looking towards future. I have a right to make my own choices and nobody can question that. I want to lead my life as per my own wish," Bedi today retorted.
Kejriwal and Bedi were part of the the core team of activist Anna Hazare who had spearheaded a massive agitation to press for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament. The two had parted ways in 2012 after Kejriwal's decision to float a political party.
"I am not here to win or loose. I am here to see that the party wins. If I win I am excellent, if I don't win I still win. I have so much to go back to," Bedi said today.
Bedi, however, didn't respond to queries whether her entry in BJP is likely to play a gamechanger. "Time will tell. We need a stable government in Delhi. A year has passed and we have paid a huge price," she said.
