AAP's Manish Sisodia speaks to NDTV's Barkha Dutt
Delhi chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence today. The meeting lasted 15 minutes. Mr Sisodia spoke to NDTV after the meeting.
Here are the highlights of what he said:
- It was a very good meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
- We discussed statehood for Delhi. His response was positive.
- There was no concrete assurance as this was the first meeting, really a courtesy call.
- The Prime Minister explained his inability to attend the swearing-in, saying his schedule was drawn up two months earlier.
- We would say we are not meeting Narendra Modi or Rajnath Singh, but the PM of India and the Home Minister of India.
- Our politics is not to stop Narendra Modi. It is about transparency in governance. We have no personal differences with Mr Modi.
- Our focus right now is Delhi. That is what we have been voted for. We aren't thinking of Punjab or other states right now.
- I will not comment on the post of deputy chief minister till it is officially announced. But as I have said, our mandate is to first govern Delhi better.
- Electricity tariff rates will be announced as soon as possible.
- It would be wrong to call it a subsidy. It will be in place as long as discoms (distribution companies) are not investigated.
- There have been questions from AAP supporters, asking us not to support (party MLA) Amanatullah's statement on the Batla House encounter, and respect the court verdict.
- I cannot comment on media speculation on whether or not (former minister) Somnath Bharti will figure in the cabinet.
- We will definitely pursue the FIR we had lodged against former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.