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Vijender Singh: 'Narendra Modi said he'd fight black money. But his govt's Rs 2000 note made it easy to carry black money!'

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Rohit David
Rohit DavidApr 25, 2019 | 09:43

Vijender Singh: 'Narendra Modi said he'd fight black money. But his govt's Rs 2000 note made it easy to carry black money!'

Boxer Vijender Singh has joined the Congress party and will fight Lok Sabha polls on May 12 from South Delhi. Singh spoke with Rohit E David on why the Congress, his views on AAP and BJP, and whether he'll continue boxing.

Q. Do you feel that the BJP has an advantage given that an alliance between AAP and Congress has not taken place?

No, I don’t believe this. The mask which the BJP had worn during the 2014 elections has completely been thrown out. When I meet people, they say at least someone new has come to us who will bring about a change. The amount of lies the BJP has said, no one can compare in India’s political history.

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Q. Why did you join Congress?

I have joined Congress because Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are young and they have a vision for the nation. They talk about development, environment — they don’t speak about the past.

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Vijender Singh says he's now a Delhiite and he knows the issues of the people of Delhi well. (Source: PTI)

Q. Before joining the Congress, did BJP or AAP approach you?

I am a boxer, so I meet everyone. It’s not like I haven’t met people from BJP, AAP or Congress — but I felt that the party which is right for me is the Congress. I won’t like to speak about whether any other party had offered me a ticket or not.

Q. Priyanka Chaturvedi and Tom Vadakkan have left the Congress. Do these high-profile exits worry you?

No, I don’t think so. You should note that I have also joined the party. Sometimes, it happens that people’s thinking does not match with that of the party any more. There are many issues why they leave — like not getting a seat.

But yes, we would like that they work for the party.

Q. Why aren’t you contesting from Haryana, why Delhi?

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I have been staying in Delhi for the past five years. My kid studies in one of the capital's school, I have made my base in Delhi. I don’t want to leave this place. As a Delhiite, I know the issues which concern the people. One of the key issues in Delhi are sealing — if someone has one shop and now it has been sealed how will their family survive? Women safety's is another issue which I will take up and sports — we have everything but when athletes don’t get the right infrastructure, then it becomes difficult for them.

Q. Will you continue boxing?

Of course — boxing is my identity. Earlier, when I had done a movie, people had questioned whether I will be do both but I managed. Boxing is not easy but my aim is to prove to everyone that a balance between the two is possible.

Q. What is your view on Sheila Dikshit making a comeback?

It’s good news for the people of Delhi. She was the chief minister of Delhi thrice — at that time, she started a campaign called ‘Harit Delhi’. It’s because of that campaign that there is greenery in Delhi, especially in South Delhi.

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'I will prove it is possible to be both a boxer and a politician.' (Source: ANI)

Q. How would you rate the governance of Narendra Modi?

The basis on which he formed the government in 2014, he has not fulfilled any promise.

He spoke about black money — what happened to that? They said we won’t come out with big notes. Then they brought out Rs 2000 notes — now, it’s easy to carry black money. How many cities in the country have really become a ‘smart city’? I belong to Bhiwani, it also comes under the 'smart city' tag. People there were happy but not even a single stone has been laid. The Ganga is lying dirty.

He is fighting elections on nationalism but even the army people are not happy, they are saying, please don’t drag in our name.

Q. During the Delhi assembly polls, AAP won 67 seats — do you feel they will be able to repeat this feat?

I don’t think so. I feel the workers who had left Congress and joined AAP would make a comeback. There is infighting in AAP. In Sangam Vihar, there is the issue of sewerage, people are buying drinking water. The fare of the metro has also risen. The lower middle class has been hit under AAP.

(Delhi goes to the polls on May 12)

Last updated: April 25, 2019 | 09:43
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