New Delhi:
Item girl-turned-politician Rakhi sawant, who is contesting Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai North-West constituency, answered questions raised by the public and News Nation's Ajay Kumar in the channel's exclusive programme 'Akhada North-West Mumbai'. Here are some excerpts:
Q: People say you were Bollywood's item girl and now you have become item of politics? What will you say about this 'item' tag?
A: I feel very bad when people don't respect a woman and call her an 'item'. There is a lot of difference between reel life and real life and politics and film industry are also two different worlds. Take example of Jayalalithaa ji, she was an actress and she became a Chief Minister because of her good work. No one has a right to judge an actress or an item girl.
Q: Whenever you do something, everyone notices and give statements on you. For example, Digvijaya Singh compared Arvind Kejriwal with you saying the AAP leader is an item girl of politics. How do you feel about it?
A: Sir, you can see how famous is Rakhi Sawant. Main jis bhi field me gayee hu jhande gaade hain. You see, Digvijaya Singh, who is a big leader of the Congress party, he also turned to Rakhi Sawant for his own publicity.
The way I worked hard and struggled in film industry, I will do the same in politics.
Q: Where you stand today, you have come a long way. You choose a way and established yourself as a successful item girl. How do you feel when you look back. Do you think the path you chose was right?
A. I am a daughter of a policeman. It was very difficult for me. I salute the film industry. Whatever work I got in the industry, I did it with honesty. It takes a lot of pain to be a dancer. An actress gets famous with two and a half hours film and I won hearts with an item number of just three minutes. I am proud of what I have done so far.
Q: People say that like you tried to establish yourself in 3 minutes in a movie, you are trying to do the same in politics. You first said you are 'BJP's daughter' then you formed a new party. Is it true?
A: Yes, this is true. I met Rajnath Singh as he had invited me. I had never thought I will enter into politics. I was offered BJP ticket from Kolkata. I did not accept because I don't know the people, language and problems of Kolkata.
Q: So, did you ask BJP to give you ticket from Mumbai?
A: Yes, I did. I asked Rajnath ji, Nitin Gadkari ji. But no one has time for me. They were busy with their own campaigns.
Q: If you had an opportunity to reach out to Narendra Modi, do you think he would've given you ticket from Mumbai?
A: Modiji is so busy with his own campaigns. He is so tensed. I thought when these people are not listening to me now, they will never in future.
Q: You have been a die-hard fan of Narendra Modi. You had once said in an interview on News Nation that if you get a chance, there is no harm in getting married with Modi. What do you have to say on this now?
A: Am I saying no? Unko mujhse best koi milega bhi nahi (He will never get anyone better than me). Because his speech is very slow and mine is stronger.
Q: What do you think about the Congress party?
A: Congress has done some work but obviously if you are sitting on the PM's chair, you are forced to do some work. But I believe, being a woman, Soniaji should’ve been done something for women safety. Passing 'no bail for rapists' could have helped her win these elections.
Q: If you come to power, what will you do to weed out corruption?
A: You can never ever weed out corruption from the country. What Arvind Kejriwal is doing is all 'jhoot'. Kejriwal is just running and running. He is confused; he doesn't know where to go.
Q: Why you seem to be so angry with Arvind Kejriwal?
A: I was never angry with him earlier. I turned against him when he quit as Delhi CM and ran away from his responsibilities, he betrayed the people of Delhi who had faith on him.
Q: In a rapid fire, I will take names and you give reactions.
A: Narendra Modi - Bol Bachchan
Rahul Gandhi - Smart Yuva
Priyanka Gandhi - Indira Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi - Manipulate
Lalu Prasad Yadav - Samosa
Nitish Kumar - Great Neta
Mamata Banerjee - Tigeress
Mayawati - Noton Ka Haar
Jayalalithaa - Revenger
Raj Thackaray - Ladaku
Uddhav Thackaray - Bhai hai mera
Sharad Pawar - Waste
Supriya Sule - Great lady
