MODI IS A BETTER PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE: KIRAN BEDI In an - TopicsExpress

MODI IS A BETTER PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE: KIRAN BEDI In an exclusive interview with GGN correspondent Siddharth Iyer, Bedi opens her heart on a wide range of issues. Excerpts from the interview: Q. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal recently offered you chief ministerial candidacy for Delhi, which you declined. Even Dr. Abdul Kalam had apolitical background like you, yet he successfully managed the country as the President of India. So why not you take a chance to play a role for the country in some form? A. Well, I did serve the country as part of bureaucracy and the Indian Police Service. I got it by merit and I delivered it. I was a part of policing for 35 years. And policing is government. But the question is different here. I am not Kalam and nor he is Kiran Bedi. Similarly, I am not Kejriwal and nor he can imitate me. Each one of us is a product of one’s own experiences, needs and aptitudes. So aptitude, attitude and inclination — all vary. Therefore you can’t compare apples with oranges or guavas which are all different though they are all fruits. And that is what makes a forest or a fruit basket rich. Hence, one must know oneself and I know myself. I know what I am best at. Q. There’s so much of Modi in the air. Do you think if he becomes PM it will be transformational and beneficial to India? A. Modi is now BJP’s official prime ministerial candidate. Given the ground reality he is a better candidate because of experience in governance. He’s the only person officially declared as PM candidate. I think he knows administration more than others who are likely to be candidates. He has the will to govern and deliver too. He communicates exceedingly well to common man, honours commitments and the masses quickly bond with him. So I think these are certain qualities which a political leader needs to have and he has. Compared to others he is a hands-on man willing to take the task of leadership seriously. Q. Any expectations from Modi if he comes to power? A. I expect three things from him if he comes to power: He should give the country a strong Lokpal, give Gujarat a strong Lokayukta, and should abide by the Supreme Court judgment in not supporting convicted/criminal elected representatives to contest elections unlike the UPA which is trying to neutralize SC judgment. Q. Recently Modi tweeted to you about increasing voter registration among youth, and you supported him. Would you campaign for him or for any such causes if need be? A. I am campaigning for voter registration. Every young man and woman should vote and in large numbers. Because many are in hostels, colleges or coming from different cities they have difficulty in getting themselves registered to vote. I want call centres to be set up to help these youth. These centres should be manned by knowledgeable young people who can answer telephone calls regarding what are voter rights, where to go, whom to ask, whom to meet etc. I have been campaigning for this cause. And I did it even during Anna’s (Hazare) anti-corruption movement. Our mission was to encourage voters to vote and vote out the corrupt. That’s what I am doing and will continue to do so. Q. You recently said the transgenders can play a role in curbing crime rate against women. Can you explain? A. Yes of course! Transgenders can be deployed for security duties during late evenings and nights. Why are we wasting them? They are well-built…They can keep vigil in public transports in order to ensure that there is no eve-teasing. Q. You favoured the court verdict on Delhi gangrape. Don’t you think it is sheer Talibanism to send rapists to gallows? You should have rather advocated for life imprisonment for the rapists in the hope those criminals, or at least some of them, turning over a new leaf. Don’t you think so? A. It was all due process of law. Gravest punishment for gravest crime is equal to justice. Justice to the victim and justice to the society. Q. Do you think the state of women in our country will improve after the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment regarding rape? A. It will improve. At the same time we must train our boys to be more responsible and sensible. Also you must train girls to be more courageous and able to defend themselves. Both boys and girls need training. Only then such inhuman incidents will stop. Like ·