
Priya Dutt talks about her Political career, dad Sunil Dutt, Punam
Mahajan, Opposition, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt, her family and bringing in
reforms in jail, Sanju’s Parole etc in an exclusive conversation with
Lipika Varma
Being in Politics do you think you have turned a veteran in Politics?
I never look at myself as a veteran. It is always so much to learn. I
think you’re never fully comfortable you always have new things to learn
and understand When I entered politics I really did not know anything.
No Political back ground. Though my father was in Politics but we were
not connected to any Politics. I had to be groomed into politics, so it
had truly been a learning experience. You know you sit on the other side
of Politics and say…I could do this. I remember as a kid I always
fought with my dad and told him,” If I was in politics I would have done
this or that. “Why can’t you do this? But being in the system than you
realize that being in politics is not nor a cake walk and in a magical
way you can do anything, you have to work with certain limitations. You
have to understand how you can overcome the difficulties and try to
solve the problems of the people. I think that is the biggest learning
in politics for me and my focus has always been work.
Has politics changed because of social media, Channels and over dose of media?
I think because of social media…Politics has become positive as well as
negative also. For people like us who really want to make a difference
by entering Politics our focus is work and connection with the poepel.If
I am working I will not care for the cameras and harking publicity.
Many people told me that you need to show what you are doing to the
public. Your work should be projected; I have never gone onto the level
of projecting myself. To certain extent I lack in projecting myself… I
never wanted to put in unnecessary posters. It is the work that speaks
for you. I was against posters-like happy birthday etc posters should
not be put. Political space you do get only if you work, I feel your
work speaks may be I am an idealist. I firmly believe if you work it
speaks for you, nothing will matter not how much money people put in,
how much money you spent? It is the connection of the people that works
.Pressure is there because of too much of press and misinformation also
people do not know whose work is what?
Corporation issues are the most important issues. But media has never
brought it to the knowledge of the people as to what these corporation
elections mean? What is the meaning of the Lok Sabha elections? How will
it affect the progress of the country? The message has not reached to
the grass roots…I do not blame the people who only want their day to day
life issues to be solved like nallahas,gutters and living conditions
which matter a lot. It is a very sad thing. The M.P has very limited
Funds Corporation has enough funds for their ward, but maximum work
should be done by the corporation. If you go into the slums the entire
energy goes into addressing the issues of a day to day .The basic
amenities if not provided to the people he will go to his M.P.
How is your campaigning going on? Your plans? Your strategies?
I am meeting as many people I am meeting explaining the people why is it
necessary to vote. I come to know their issues also .They are all
corporation issues. We try to address in many ways throughout my
tenures. I give most of my funds towards the Toilet building. Many
people feel, M.P is giving funds for toilets. It is one of the most imp
thing, ladies cry and say there is no place for us to relief ourselves.
What are the difficulties you faced as a woman? What will you do for a woman?
I did not face any problems while being in Politics as a woman. Many
people may have tried but I am very strong. What you say does not
matters…people do not take a woman seriously, where woman are concerned
we are working towards their progress. I have seen a great
difference-How woman have become more vocal, it’s not only the upper
middle class woman but I am talking about the woman in the slums. As
well. The older gen is not educated they are not aware about their
rights. But every one of them want their kids to be educated. There are
not so many schools, so our focus again will be bringing in the
Municipal schools to a better level, the up gradation of such Municipal
schools is the need, these schools are not good so even a slum dweller
does not want to share such schools. Parent wants their ward to be
educated. We need to upgrade the neighborhood school system. I have
always felt health and education are two important issues which need to
be addressed and bring in the essential changes. These are two important
issues which can bring in a productive generation and a progressive
India. We do a lot of medical camps we focus on lot of woman issues
like-gayanec problems …we have noticed austre-phirosis in young girls
from the age group of 20 to 24.There is no open space, their house is
very dark there is no sunlight, proper diet is also a problem they are
child bearing woman, who need to be focused. Proper diet needs to be
given to them. The health of woman is very important in the urban slums
also. These small little studies we are focusing on -how important it is
to bring about changes in urban slums too. All parliamentary group
committee in consultation for malnutrition has to b looked after in
cities like Mumbai and many other important cities need to be focused.
These are very big civic issues which have to be looked into. I do focus
a lot on it.
What steps are you taking to curb Corruption and high prizes?
Corruption is a matter to be looked into if our Govt was so scared then
they would have not brought in RTI .Bringing in RTI – is the first step
to curb corruption. RTI brings in transparency we all knew corruption is
prevalent, but we could not catch hold of anyone. This was happening
not only in this particular Govt but in all the other Govt too. It is
the part of the system only..You have issues on some people; we should
have the courage to take action against the corrupt person. Whatever was
brought to light our Govt tried to take action against the concerned
person. This is the first step to transparency. CAG reports which came
into during the UPA Govt.CAG always talked about presumptive laws. Even
in the Telecom which spoke, if you had optioned it if this mush you get
then the loss will be this much. The same is in mining laws to which
falls under the presumptive laws only. Unfortunately, we could not put
it rightly. The opposition took to that only. The figures of 1000’s of
crs the numbers are so big the new laws which are pending in the
Parliament which Rahulji is aggressively trying to bring into the
Parliament with those laws these things will become water tight. Our
system will become better let any Govt come if these issues are left
then the problems remain where they are.
Prize rise is unavoidable, this also depends on the International
market, if Petrol rates are hiked, and there is a hike in other things
too. The Govt has managed to stabilize it. Everyone thinks it is the
govt’s job to stabilize the prizes. But there has to be collective
support to the Govt…Our finance Minister Chidambaram had advised the
people that the deficient will be over if you stop buying Gold for few
months. We stand up and are the voice of the people. I guess this is
what we have contributed to the Country.
If you are in the ruling Party it is very easy for the opposition to
only be critical. But I believe the opposition plays an important
role.Oppostion sits there and does the check and balances and also needs
to bring about suggestions for improvement. Ruling Party takes decision
which may not be wrong but the opposition needs to bring in their ideas
also for the betterment of the Country. That is the role of the
oppostiton, the opposition in the last five years has not been
constructive at all. It has only been destructive.
Highlight your learning from your dad Sunil Dutt Sahab.
Whatever I do every day in my life, it is some learning from my dad .I
would have not been able to survive here if I had not followed his
footsteps. Watching him, I think maximum I learned from him is during
his”Pad-Yatra.” At that point I saw him not as my father. But I saw him
as another human being. Millions of people followed him, I had to take a
step back, I saw him as an out-sider not someone from within the
family. It was a tremendous learning for me how he connects with the
people. And lend his ears to the grievances of the people and then try
to solve it for them. How trivial the matter may be, he would be very
patient .I do not know how much percentage I have come close to him. I
hope may be a little closer to him. It has been almost 8 years that he
has passed away but where ever I go even today the people remember him
so fondly. Some where Dutt sahib did this for me- I feel very proud it
becomes more challenge for me that I need to keep up to his standards.
He has left behind such a good name, me as his daughter should make it
better and even bigger, ofcoz I have proved that myth wrong that a son
can only carry the legacy she laughs. I think it is not about a man and a
woman I never see that difference. It’s nothing like a woman can’t do
what a man can do. I again give this credit to my parents. It is very
important what your parents inculcate in you. They never made us feel
that you can’t do this because you are a girl. Only your brother can do
this. He allowed me to explore and do what I wanted to do. He allowed me
to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. He would always say,” I
can only advice you.” I always wanted to do what I felt like doing and
thereafter learn through making mistakes. I am very stubborn in many
things, I was very argumentative, I would only like to know why I should
not do it. I used to always do what I felt like doing. Realization of
knowing after making mistakes lead to learning experience. I was also
aware of the successive security that someone is always there for you to
hold me.
Punam Mahajan daughter of Pramod Mahajan is contesting opposite you what do you have to say?
I think there has always been an opposition; BJP has always been an
opposition for UPA. I have no problems at all, I always focus on what I
have to do I do not bother who is my opposition. It is no need for me to
get too tied up and worry about that and lose focus, this is up to the
people to decide. I know her and met her at few occasions and I share a
good relationship. Like you know personal relationships are personal and
being in a different party it is different.
Why did you never approach Stars like the BJP are also making them contest?
I think they need the added value of the stars she says smilingly.
That…..but we have never pressurized any stars to campaign for me. Nor
did my father ever like to ask them to canvass for him. However, for his
first election the entire industry came in for the rally those were
different days. I do understand their priority so I do not like to
pressurize them. They are artists they will campaign whoever they would
like to campaign for.
Any message to the people?
I tell everybody it is important to vote sensibly. Ours is a diverse
state and to replicate with any other state is just impossible .The
opposition is just selling dream of Gujarat statistics’ which stands
great. We cannot have the same statistics’ for any other state. Ours is
the largest secular country we should stop selling negative things. It
is sad that even the media portrays only negative events. I do not allow
my kids to read news papers and watch unnecessary media reports. Such
negative bent of mind needs to be stopped. People from the Globe are
surprised that being the second largest country we are able to conduct
fare elections. This we have been able to do for 60 odd years.
How do you balance between your home front and professional front?
Balancing the home front and the professional front is the toughest job
but somehow I do it pretty well, with the support of my husband the
balancing job between the two becomes perfect. This one month being the
election month will be difficult. By the time I reach home they are off
to sleep, they keep asking me questions …Why mama you do not meet us? I
just tell them I have my exams like how you guys have. So I have to
prepare for the exams.Surprisingly,both my kids now about BJP,AAP and
Congress Parties…
What kind of a relationship do you share with Manyata?
All of us are very independent. We live in the same building we are all
so busy in our lives we come together when we have some family function
or we have some work. We do not want to encroach into anybody’s space.
It’s not that if I am married my bond has changed. I am always there for
Bhai. We give space to each other. We have separate friends .We have
our own families, but yet I will always stand by my brother. I share a
great bonding with Manyata.
What do you have to say about Sanju’s Parole affair?
However, About Sanjay’s parole, I would not like to comment. Well!Sanjay
being a big name yes! All I can say is that media needs a story so they
have been focusing on it from time to time.Also people keep saying that
Sanju is getting VIP treatment, I request if they could really go in
and watch for themselves what exactly he lives in like.
What about his Biopic?
Ya! We did get into the conversation; he said someone is writing it for him.
Do you visit Sanju in Jail?
We are allowed to visit once a month. His family visits whenever
allowed. This time I will not be able to meet him. This is the most
emotional testing times for all of us. I try to keep my mind occupied
all the time so that I do not think about Sanju being in Jail. It is
only during the night hours it becomes inevitable for me to forgo his
memories. I remember Sanju would never like to be alone. He would get
sacred of the dark. It is then I just ponder over as to how he must be
accommodating himself against his wishes. But yes, he has adapted to the
circumstances merely because he is a strong man. Also while mom
suffered cancer and we had to deal with it I understood the sufferings
of the people suffering from cancer. Similarly now Sanju being in jail I
understand the state of mind of the accused being in there.
Bringing in reforms in Jail- Priya Dutt says-
I pity the conditions of accused living in a small space of just 200m
almost 4000 people have to fit in such a small space. This needs a
change.
The conditions of the woman accused who are treated very badly needs a total reformation.
There are hardcore criminal, murderers who walk free but circumstantial accused are facing jail.
We must introduce probation which is everywhere in the world. We talk
about hard core criminals murderers…they get bail and are ready to
commit the same offence. People whom you know and those who have a
background and are not so bad they are punished. There are petty
criminals who need to get reform probation. There are so many ways we
can improve the system even woman in prison deal with terrible social
stigma. Their families are finished to death.
Last but not the least death penalty can be replaced by bringing in reforms into the person.