I refuse to be a Modi ‘bhakt’ or an antagonist, says Ashish Khetan

Ashish Khetan | ThePrint

Former AAP leader Ashish Khetan responds to ThePrint report, says PM Modi should be congratulated for Ayushman Bharat but questioned on other issues.

For fifteen years as a journalist, I endeavoured to stay true to the facts. I travelled the length and breadth of the country and reported on a wide spectrum of events and issues—from the Gujarat riots to the 2G scam to the coal scam to endemic corruption in state governments and the Centre.

I had no political agenda nor malice towards any individual or political outfit. During my entire journalistic career, I never faced any defamation proceeding. In fact the Almighty guided me to do an investigation in some of the specific Gujarat Riot Cases; subsequently my report and my court testimony became the bedrock of the convictions and sentencing of certain accused. In 2005, the then Registrar of the Supreme Court, appreciated my reporting in the Best bakery case and termed it truthful.

My decision to join AAP was driven by a deep desire to bring about a positive systemic change. I was again fortunate to have the opportunity to lead the top policy-making body of the Delhi Government for three years.

While I was heading Dialogue & Development Commission, Health Minister Satyendra Jain and the DDC together worked over many months to draw the framework of a universal health insurance scheme. I believe that nobody should be denied healthcare on account of lack of money. And because of the awful inadequacy of the public healthcare system, it is imperative that everybody, especially the poor, should have access to affordable, quality private healthcare. Unfortunately, because of the systemic problems, the universal health insurance scheme devised by the DDC and the Health Department of Delhi, could not fructify.

Ayushman Bharat is a right step onto the same path that we at DDC wanted to travel. There will be teething problems in its implementation. There will be allegations of corruption. And unfortunately there will be politics over its benefits and shortcomings.

A few things should be above party politics, for example national security. Similarly, when it comes to providing health and education to the poor and needy, we should stand as one.

I am now an independent person, practicing law, not wedded to any party ideology. However, I am a journalist at heart and will continue to engage with public issues. PM Modi needs to be congratulated for spearheading Ayushman Bharat. All States should work together to strengthen it and make it successful. If they desire, they can make some suitable modifications or add-ons. There are other issues on which PM Modi can be questioned and in fact, needs to be questioned. Lack of employment, falling exports and overall underperformance on the economic front, are some of them. The NDA also has a lot to answer for the rising instances of communal violence.

I will do both. But I refuse to be a ‘bhakt’ or an antagonist.

This note appeared on Ashish Khetan’s Twitter handle @AashishKhetan in response to ThePrint report Modi critic Ashish Khetan turns Modi fan one month after quitting AAP.