'Finally, AAP will be the voice of Delhi in Rajya Sabha'

Aam Aadmi Party's victorious Rajya Sabha candidate Sanjay Singh on Monday said that he along with N.D. Gupta and Sushil Gupta will be the voice of the people of Delhi who till now didn't have a say in the "biggest temple of democracy" (upper house of the Parliament).

The party made its debut entry in the Rajya Sabha when its three candidates were elected unopposed from Delhi.

Chartered accountant and AAP Accounts Manager N.D. Gupta's candidature was challenged by the Congress saying he held an office of profit but the complaint was quashed by Returning Officer Nidhi Srivastava.

After getting 'Certificate of Election' confirming their election to the Upper House, the three jointly addressed a press conference where they said that they will raise the issues of the people of Delhi.

"Our first and foremost priority is to stand for the rights of the people of Delhi in the Rajya Sabha by being a voice to their issues that have been long pending due to the many hurdles created by the Lt Governor (Anil Baijal) and the Centre," said Singh.

He named electricity, education, health, and the security system among the areas which "can be worked on in a better way now".

Singh also committed that his party would be a voice to the plight of farmers and the youth of this country. "Everyday, farmers are committing suicide. The youth is unemployed."

He further spoke about the initiatives taken by the AAP-led Delhi government in the education sector, "appreciated by people everywhere but not the LG".

N.D. Gupta thanked the party, it's Chief Arvind Kejriwal "for having faith" in him, while businessman Sushil Gupta said that they will put across the issues of the poorest to the central government.

He also said that Delhi being the capital should be "beautiful" as it hosts a huge number of people from abroad.

The election to the three Rajya Sabha seats from Delhi was necessitated as the tenure of the Congress members now holding the membership is set to expire later this month.

The AAP came to power in Delhi in February 2015 but has been caught up in a running feud with the city's centrally-nominated administrator, the Lt Governor. The AAP is also the main opposition party in both the Punjab Assembly and the municipal corporation in Delhi.

It has four members in the Lok Sabha, all elected from Punjab, but only two are loyal to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

--IANS

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