Ashok Agarwal says his party was among the few that were on the ground to help people during the north-east Delhi riots.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After spending nearly three decades fighting for education, health and workers’ rights in Delhi, Ashok Agarwal, a Supreme Court advocate, has decided to take the political route to serve the masses.
The 72-year-old lawyer is contesting from Karawal Nagar Assembly constituency in north-east Delhi as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate. He says while his work in court is relevant, it has its own limitations. “I realised that if you want to work on a larger scale, politics is the way forward,” Mr. Agarwal says.
When asked about the issues at Karawal Nagar, Mr. Agarwal replies, “The drains remain blocked, the water supply is irregular, medical facilities are inadequate, and education institutions are miles away. I will regularly meet with residents to gather input and solve their grievances.”
He says his fight will be two-fold when elected: “Where the court can give relief, I will take the legal route. But when the court cannot help, politics will play its role,” he explains.
Karawal Nagar was among the localities that was hit by February 2020 communal riots. The CPI (M) leader says his party was “among the few that were on the ground to help people”. “Our party also provides monetary support to the families affected and has started a skill centre for the children of the victims,” he adds.
Over the situation at the constituency post-riots, the senior advocate says, “Riots took place as there were several attempts by anti-social elements to divide the people on religious lines. People had been living in harmony and want to live so.”
He is up against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kapil Mishra, Manoj Tyagi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and PK Mishra of the Congress.
Ex-member of AAP
In 2013, Mr. Agarwal joined AAP but quit in a year, saying, “Against thought, AAP was not pro-people.” “Delhi’s condition has only worsened under AAP’s rule,” he alleges.
He says that in Delhi, where AAP never fails to boast about reforming the education system, private schools are still exploiting students by charging exorbitant fees.
“They [AAP] had consulted me over the matter, but I told them there is no law regulating fee hikes,” the CPI (M) candidate claims.
He says even the education policies are “ill-framed.” A student cannot avail of benefits under the Right to Education Act after Class 8, which is why many among them leave school midway. Moreover, the government has also failed to bring a law to secure jobs for private school teachers as school administration hires them on a contract basis and keeps exploiting them,” he opined.
He says as the Right to Health is not a law, so schemes announced by the Centre and the Delhi government have “little value”.
“Even today, labourers aren’t paid minimum wages. Men earn around ₹7,000 to 8,000 monthly, while women earn ₹6,000 to 7,000. If paid minimum wage, they would not need free electricity and other such schemes,” he adds.
Published – February 01, 2025 01:35 am IST