Bubble around AAP has burst, says Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi: Accusing Aam Admi Party of "hurting" the sentiments of people, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said the "bubble around it has ruptured", in the wake of a sting operation purportedly showing its senior leaders "raising funds through illegal means".

"When AAP was created, they touched the emotions and feelings of people, and their talk was something reflective of what people were feeling. But, as it appears now, that was really a self certification. And today their face has totally changed," Dikshit said.

Admitting that the party had been able to influence people, she said the bubble around it has now ruptured. "They influenced people in such a way that people started believing that they will really change ways, thoughts and means of the system, but they are exposed now. So now time will see what happens next," the Chief Minister said at an interaction at the Indian Women Press Corps here.

She rejected AAP as a serious contender in the electoral battle and said BJP is their main opponent in the polls. "BJP is an established party and so that's our main contender. Aam Admi Party....well the less said about it is better," she said.

On BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, she said he will not have any impact on people of the city. "People of Delhi very well know that their vote for this election is for forming the local government," she said.

When asked whether she will move to the Centre if Congress does not come to power in Delhi, Dikshit said,"If we win, the MLA's will decide who they want as the leader and then the high command will take a call on it."

"However, if we don't win, of which chances are very less, I will go along with the system till the Parliament elections take place. After that whatever I will be given I will do that," she said. On anti-incumbency, she smilingly said, "Well, I see a pro-incumbency" adding every contest is tough and she is going to contest with confidence.

When asked about her reaction on the Tehelka episode, she said that incident has come as shock to all. "It has come as a shock for all of us and implementation of rules and regulations of Supreme Court by the administartion of corporate sector should be done and they should evolve a mechanism so that they are followed," she said.

The Chief Minister said there was not much difference between the snooping episode allegedly involving Narendra Modi and the latest sexual assault case of a woman journalist by Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal.

She said both the incidents are an attack on the dignity of women. "We should raise our voice against them. It is a matter of serious concern. Action should be taken in these cases to set examples so that such incidents do not happen again in future," she said.

On the issue of women security, she said that it is a matter of concern and collective efforts are required to create a safe environment for the fairer sex.

"Police, corporate sectors, political parties, social organisations and the entire society has to come together to create a safe envrionment for women. It has to be collective effort," she said, while claiming "there is a sense of insecurity in Delhi."

Asked whether she supports full statehood for Delhi, Dikshit said that her government has been pressing for it. "But Delhi is made under a particular clause of the Constitution, which says that Delhi will have that much power and not more than that. So our hands are really tied," she said.

Explaining further on the issue, she said a number of committees set up to examine the matter had unanimously said that there is too much multiplicity of authorities in the city.

"Therefore, it becomes more difficult to govern a city when police and land is not with you and there is too much multiplicity of authorities. But to make excuses is not very good for a government. We have asked for a single command system this time," she said.

"Infact, we have gone a step further in our manifesto this time and sought setting up of a common economic and development zone comprising neighbouring cities and towns. This will help all the states that are part of NCR," she said.

When asked about why Congress' campaign this time is low profile than the other parties, she said the party has launched a positive campaign which often do not get noticed. Attacking BJP's manifesto, she said,"Nitin Gadkariji said that they will make Delhi green. How greener will they make Delhi, Delhi is already green."