Satyendar Jain highlights AAP’s achievements, denies financial crisis, and slams BJP’s allegations and tactics.
New Delhi: Former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain stated that the Aam Aadmi Party will return to power after the 2025 elections and continue its dedicated service to the people of Delhi. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, Jain emphasised that there is no financial crisis in the Delhi government.
“We are neither operating at a loss nor relying on loans. The Delhi government is managing its finances responsibly and utilising public funds solely for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Q. With the elections approaching, what key agendas will AAP focus on during the campaign?
A. Our primary focus is on the work we have done and will continue to do in the future. We are committed to serving the public, as demonstrated by our efforts to provide 24-hour electricity, maintain stable electricity rates, ensure proper water supply, offer free bus travel for women, improve hospitals, and establish Mohalla Clinics. These achievements form the foundation of our work, and we will continue to build on them.
Q. Your party dropped more than 20 sitting MLAs in its candidate list. which already created an internal rebellion among the leaders. How do you control it?
A. In our party, there are two key aspects: electoral politics and organisational work. Not everyone contests elections. While some members may run for office, others focus on strengthening the party through different responsibilities. Both roles are essential to our success.
Q. BJP may field high-profile candidate against your 10 years of anti-incumbency, so how will you tackle them in this election?
A. As for the so-called “high-profile” individuals, those removed from the cabinet or denied MP tickets were unable to deliver on their responsibilities. If their work was subpar, they were replaced, as the party prioritises performance over reputation. Being “high-profile” should be based on merit—effective work should lead to opportunities, such as becoming an MP or a minister. If someone fails to perform, they cannot be considered high-profile.
Q. Opposition alleged that you are inspired by the policies of BJP which they introduced in Maharashtra, as your policies for the upcoming elections is quite similar to them.
A. The BJP keeps repeating the same thing—that there shouldn’t be free schemes. But aren’t they the ones copying us? Tell me one thing they haven’t tried to imitate. Whether they succeeded or not is another matter. During the Maharashtra elections, they tried to mimic our initiatives. When we launched schemes for women, they started talking about reviewing similar programs, debating whom to give benefits to and whom not. Their actions are just election stunts. The BJP is a party of empty slogans—a “Jumlebaaz” company. While we are inspired by the needs of the people and work for them, they simply copy us.
Q. Before 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP announced Rs 1,000 for women of Delhi and now you announced that if you come to power again you will increase to Rs 2,100. How will you manage funds for it as, we can already see the deteriorating infrastructure of Delhi?
A. As for the fund crisis, I don’t see where it applies to us. I agree there is a financial crunch at the central government level, with Rs 60 lakh crore borrowed and the debt now ballooning to Rs 160 lakh crore. But there’s no such crisis in the Delhi government. We are neither running at a loss nor taking loans. The Delhi government is managing its finances efficiently and spending the public’s money on the public itself. We’re not giving contracts to cronies or providing benefits to relatives. Unlike the BJP, which caters to a select few, we are dedicated to serving everyone. We haven’t taken loans or imposed new taxes; we’re simply utilising resources responsibly for the welfare of Delhi’s people.
Q. As the former Health Minister you introduced Mohalla Clinics, they did well for some time. But how do you respond to the recent allegations surrounding these clinics?
A. The BJP sent Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain to jail, and then started alleging that no work was being done in Mohalla Clinics. But during that time, LG Sahab had the authority to continue the work. Instead, he stopped it and then claimed that things weren’t functioning properly. What does this mean? If they keep sending people to jail, how will the work progress? Now that we are out, all the work will resume smoothly.
Q. How do you address the various allegations made by the opposition against the AAP?
A. The BJP has never done any real work. This is all they know—making baseless allegations. Why don’t they actually do some work and try to do it better than us? They were in power in the MCD for 15 years. Can they name even one meaningful project they completed? Let me tell you what they did—they mastered the art of embezzling money in the MCD. In all of Delhi, you won’t find a single construction project completed without corruption. They don’t know how to work; they only know how to accuse others of inaction. But their allegations don’t affect us.
Q. What is your perspective on the cases filed against AAP leaders?
A. The reality is this: there are only two options when dealing with the BJP—either enter their “washing machine” or go to jail. Those who got scared chose the washing machine; we didn’t, so we went to jail. Now, whether it’s me or others in the cabinet, the choice remains the same: either jail or the washing machine. Some people have families and opted out of both, but we are ready to go to jail. Bhagat Singh didn’t apologise to the British and was hanged for his courage. Similarly, we won’t compromise by entering their washing machine—we will face jail instead.
Q. How do you feel about a recent AAP minister leaving the party to join the BJP?
A. What can people do under such immense pressure? They have families too. When the government starts arresting people one by one and putting them in jail, it creates fear. Manish Ji was kept in jail for one and a half years, and I was imprisoned for even longer. It’s clear—if someone refuses to comply, they will also be jailed. It doesn’t take much to arrest someone, regardless of whether they’ve committed a crime or not. This is nothing but pressure politics, where people are being forcibly thrown into jail.
Q. Kailash Gahlot claims that AAP has deviated from its founding principles. How do you respond to this assertion?
A. As for those who have left, only they know when they strayed from the path. If they claim they lost their way four years ago, what were they doing here all this time? This isn’t about being upset with the party—it’s a scripted statement by the BJP. If they were genuinely unhappy, they should have left earlier. Why did they leave now? The reason is simple: they had two choices—either join the BJP or go to jail. Since they didn’t want to go to jail, they chose the BJP.
Q. Kailash Gahlot’s has a clean image in public, the party didn’t try to hold him back from quitting the party.
A. There’s no issue with that choice. We’ve faced it ourselves, and we continue to say to those who left, “Come back.” But they must understand that being part of the Aam Aadmi Party comes with the risk of being jailed. If they return, we will accept them wholeheartedly. However, they must be prepared for the reality that joining AAP means being ready to go to jail at any moment.
Q. What do you foresee for Atishi Singh’s political future after the 2025 elections?
A. I don’t understand why people think it’s about making a career. Atishi Ji didn’t join to secure her future. She didn’t come here for herself; she came to serve the people. It doesn’t matter whose name is associated with the work. Whether Atishi Ji works as an MLA, MP, Minister, or Chief Minister, it’s the work that matters, not the title. The same goes for me. If I’m not a minister today, does that mean I’ve stopped working? No. Satyendar Jain is no longer a minister, but that hasn’t stopped him from contributing. We didn’t create this party for ourselves or to promote specific individuals. We formed this party to serve the people. Whether it’s Atishi, Manish, Arvind Ji, or me, we are all here to work for the public. What matters is that the work gets done, regardless of who does it. The purpose of this party isn’t to push a few individuals forward; it’s to work for the people. Titles and positions don’t matter—only the work does.
Q. Who do you believe is responsible for the pollution crisis in Delhi as it increases every year?
A. The data clearly shows the pollution isn’t increasing year by year; it’s decreasing. Don’t just take my word for it—look at the Central Environment Ministry’s data. Pollution has reduced, though it hasn’t been eliminated. Progress takes time, but the situation is improving. Around 40-50% of winter pollution in Delhi comes from farm fires in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab has reduced its stubble burning by 50%, while Haryana and UP have increased theirs by one and a half times. They need to bring their numbers down too. By next year, Punjab’s farm fires will likely be close to zero, and you’ll see the impact of that reduction. If you compare Delhi’s air on December 13 over the past five years, you’ll see that this year’s air quality is the clearest. To say there’s been no improvement isn’t accurate. Before the Aam Aadmi Party came to power, no one cared about Delhi’s pollution. Does that mean there wasn’t any pollution back then? Of course not. We turned it into a national issue and made people aware of the risks pollution poses to their children. Think back 30-40 years ago, when people rode scooters through thick black smog on the highways. That’s how Delhi used to be. Pollution has decreased significantly since then, but I’m not claiming it’s perfect now. We’ve made it a priority, and we’re working on it. The pollution in Delhi has reduced, but the problem isn’t fully solved yet. The work is ongoing, and we’re determined to fix it.