Mr Kejriwal orchestrated timing of his own arrest, says BJP LS candidate Bansuri Swaraj

BJP's Bansuri Swaraj will take on the Aam Aadmi Party in its bastion, New Delhi, on May 25.

Bansuri Swaraj, 40, is possibly one of the youngest leaders of the BJP who has the tall order of taking on the Aam Aadmi Party in its bastion, New Delhi. And in a city where the BJP is nearly absent in terms of local leadership.

But Swaraj, who is barely sleeping a few hours a night, is not dwelling on the daunting challenge of taking on a veteran Somnath Bharti from the AAP or the fact that she might also be up against the sweep of a sympathy wave for the incumbent Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal who is in prison over charges in the Delhi liquor scam. She has held about 22 road shows/ meetings/ sabhas so far, and there are 11 more to go, she says. Delhi goes to vote on May 25.  The Prime Minister, Home Minister and Yogi Adityanath, CM of UP, are also expected to hold their rallies in Delhi. Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari recently said that Delhi will become one of the top five cities in the world if people vote for the BJP and NDA.

Swaraj’s poll plank is fulfilment of promises by Modi, or Modi ki Guarantee. She says, if elected, one of her first priorities will be to ensure that schemes like Ayushman Bharat are implemented in Delhi.

“One of my first priorities will be that I am going to do everything in my power to ensure that these kinds of schemes are implemented in Delhi.

I will not allow the Modi Administration-run beneficial schemes to become victims to politicians like Arvind Kejriwal,” she tells Moneycontrol.

Swaraj, daughter of BJP's veteran leader and former External Affairs Minister, Late Sushma Swaraj, says she is as much as her mother’s daughter as “authentically Bansuri Swaraj”.

“I am what I am. I am who I am.  I understand that this is a responsibility and not a reward. This ticket belongs to every member of the BJP.. you draw your energy from people and their blessings,” she says in what can be termed the quintessential Swaraj-like manner.

Bansuri Swaraj says she has learnt from the best, referring to her mother, whose portrait hangs on the wall, overlooking Bansuri Swaraj’s office conference room, where she holds her meetings at Hailey Road in Lutyens Delhi.  Swaraj begins her day quite literally at the crack of dawn, has effortlessly taken on the role of a’ didi’ as she is referred to by her team. Mostly dressed in a Sari with sneakers on, Swaraj, many say is a direct reflection of the late leader in her mannerisms and articulation.

Bansuri was head girl of the prestigious Vasant Valley school in New Delhi and was often her mother’s travel companion during her formative years. Swaraj is a graduate from Oxford University and a Barrister at Law from Inner Temple.

Swaraj is sharp in her combat on the challenge of the sympathy wave for Arvind Kejriwal. She says, “Mr Kejriwal orchestrated the timing of his own arrest. The first summon was sent to him in October 2023, Lok Sabha elections were nowhere on horizon, he kept dishonouring nine summons…  it was strategy on his part. The PMLA (The Prevention of Money Laundering Act) law is very clear - makes it mandatory that anyone who has been summoned should appear. After dishonouring nine summons - Mr Kejriwal forces the hands of investigating agencies to take him away for custodial interrogation. Now what is very interesting is that he filed a petition before the Delhi High Court, and it wasn’t a petition for bail. It’s very important to know this distinction- he wanted the honourable High Court to adjudicate whether this arrest is legal or illegal… he is praying to the court to go into the nitty gritty of the evidence. And that’s what the court did. The court returned  with the finding that Mr Arvind Kejriwal is responsible in his personal capacity as president of AAP in taking crores of rupees as kickback in the liquor scam and that’s why his arrest is legal. This is the High Court finding,” she adds.

The judgement notes: “ The material which has been encapsulated herein above reveals that Shri Arvind Kejriwal had allegedly conspired with other persons and was involved in the formulation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, in the process of demanding kickbacks from the South Group, as well as in generation , use and concealment of proceeds of crime”.

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On who inspires her, besides her mother, is, she adds, “I am in awe of two women leaders, Smriti Irani Ji and Nirmala Sitharaman Ji. I am in awe of the way Smriti Irani ji speaks, her grace and Nirmala Ji..the way she has shattered the proverbial glass ceiling..I am in awe of the intellect of Jaishankar Ji..Meri party ne toh heere bator rakhe hai.”( Roughly translated into - My party has many diamonds (inspirational leaders).

On what the people of India will see Bansuri Swaraj represent in Parliament if elected, she says, ``Something that shri Narendra Modi Ji has articulated - he talks about women-led development and youth-led development…leveraging technology not only for economic empowerment but also for a tectonic shift in the psychology of minds..I often cite the example of `drone didis’ in my sabhas.. with every drone didi in a family there is a change in the mindset.”

The "drone didi" scheme was launched with the aim to empower 1,500 women-led SHGs with drones to assist in agricultural activities. “I want Bharat to reach its full potential,” she adds as she gets ready to face yet another hot day with searing temperatures in New Delhi asking people of the city to vote for her party. Every minute matters."