New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Former AAP leader and educator Avadh Ojha, who recently stepped away from active politics, launched a sharp critique of the current political landscape, saying “nothing is left” in it while advocating for leadership accountability, political rotation, and issue-based governance. In a wide-ranging and candid interaction with IANS, he also spoke on India’s global role, major political figures, and key policy matters, while asserting that Arvind Kejriwal represents the future of Indian politics.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
IANS: You have quit politics. Are you satisfied after leaving politics?
Avadh Ojha: Satisfaction is connected to a person’s inner state. If satisfaction came from external achievements, then the owner of Raymond Group wouldn’t be troubled and the owner of CCD wouldn’t have died by suicide. Outside there are achievements; inside there is contentment. For instance a man is there, selling a simple bedsheet, yet no one on this Earth is more content or more wise than him.
IANS: Do you think there is still any idealism left in politics, or has it completely disappeared?
Avadh Ojha: There is nothing left in politics. Forget about ideology, there is nothing left. The people of this country, maybe they will understand later. Anyway, the people of this country have a habit, until they are trapped, it is our habit individually too, that we keep avoiding something, for instance we have fever, so we avoid it, take paracetamol and keep avoiding. After 6 months, when the situation gets very bad, showed it to the doctor, found out that it was cancer of the 4th stage. So, this is our psychology. Until the people of this country are trapped badly, political reform is not possible.
IANS: Your view on India’s stance amid the US-Iran conflict?
Avadh Ojha: India should have done what Pakistan is doing now (mediation). We should have played a powerful role. For example, during Pandit Nehru’s time, a Non-Aligned Movement was born. North Korea and South Korea were in trouble. Wherever there was a crisis, we spoke up. We stood up. The world listened to our voice and our existence. India should rise as a powerful mediator and bring peace to the world.
IANS: What would you say about the role of Prime Minister Modi during this war?
Avadh Ojha: Since Modi ji is the Prime Minister and is surrounded by many capable advisors, they must have given good advice. However, sometimes even great leaders can make mistakes. For example, Aurangzeb also made a major mistake by going to the Deccan. So, rulers can make mistakes too.
Therefore, one thing Modi ji should always keep in mind is that instead of trying to please Trump, greater attention should be given to the interests of India.
Trump is fine. America is a business-oriented country. Its friendship depends on trade with those it does business with; with those it doesn’t trade with, the relationship is not the same.
So when our relationship is also largely based on trade, instead of trying to please Trump, we should be in a position to negotiate. We have a market of 1.5 billion people, so we should be in a position of bargaining strength.
IANS: Do you think PM will repeat term in 2029?
Avadh Ojha: The people of this country want this in democracy. I don’t know why the people of this country make one person sit for 4-5 times. When you have so many options, like in Bihar. PK (Prashant Kishor) had come to Bihar. He said, ‘I will give education, I will give health.’ So he should have been given a chance too…Politicians, political parties should say to the public that we will do A on education, B on health, C on infrastructure, D on industry. Now, the public should vote on who will do what on these four things.
IANS: What do you think about CM Rekha Gupta’s government, it has completed one year, what is your opinion about that?
Avadh Ojha: She herself is not able to see her government in a good light. Because if she had seen her government in a good light, she would not have still been after Arvind Kejriwal. When we have the means to count our own achievements, we don’t look at others’ shortcomings. I look at their ministers, who are showing the receipt of Shish Mahal in the Vidhan Sabha. You show what you did in a year. Okay, that man was not right, he was not good, he did a lot of harm to Delhi. How much of the promises you made in a year, how much did you do? Tell this to the public. Kejriwal is gone now. Yow you should talk about yourself. What have you improved in your report card in a year?
IANS: What do you think about AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal? Do you consider him a god?
Avadh Ojha: No, look, no one can be considered as God. This will be a overstatement…If I say that I consider them as God, that will be flattery. They are very good politicians who have a great vision. I have been with them for a long time. I have been with them for hours on end and in those 2 hours, 3 hours, either we talked about industrialisation or on infrastructure. We did not talk about anything else….So, Kejriwal is the future of this country. Someday, somewhere, people will think that ‘yes, we need good education, we need good health, again.’
IANS: Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Mann were flying in chartered planes. He calls himself “aam aadmi” do you think this is a common man’s lifestyle?
Avadh Ojha: So, you want him to ride a bullock cart? Tell me one thing, why did we improve communication and transportation? To save our time! Suppose, if I go to Guwahati to take a class only by train. If I go by Rajdhani then it will take me 24 hours. This transport, this communication is for our convenience. So, as a politician, when he is travelling in a chartered plane, it is his necessity. He has to fulfill his duty…In his personal life, he lives like a common man.
IANS: What do you think about Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visit?
Avadh Ojha: I don’t know why he is going on a trip abroad, but he has evolved well as a politician. He needs two things. One, he needs a good guru who will help him develop a political understanding. Because until he develops a political understanding, he will not be able to make his own decisions. Second, he should improve that concept of Navratna — like Chandragupta Maurya, Samudragupta, Alauddin Khilji, and Akbar had. If he does that, he might become more successful at the political level.
–IANS
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