Prakash Raj to campaign for AAP in Delhi

Actor Prakash Raj will campaign for the "honest" Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the next one week supporting its candidates fighting the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi by holding meetings and 'padayatras'.

Raj, a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi government who also contested from Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat this time as an independent candidate, will also address a meeting of south Indian voters seeking their support for AAP candidates.

The national award winning actor's campaign schedule for New Delhi, East Delhi, North East Delhi and Chandni Chowk seats has been worked out while those for the North-West Delhi, West Delhi and South Delhi seats would be chalked out later. His campaign plans were announced by senior AAP leader Gopal Rai.

"I am very happy, proud and feeling very meaningful in this journey in politics to be with AAP. I am not an AAP member. But I am one of those 'aam aadmi' (common man) who look up to the AAP. We need such parties which works for change in this elections," Raj told reporters at the AAP office.

He said there was a need to "reclaim the Republic", which is on the verge of losing because of the communal onslaught encouraged by the government. "

Raj was of the view that the elections have now become an "event" for "branding and marketing". He also said that both the national parties BJP and Congress should be removed and that these parties on their own cannot form the government.

Asked whether the situation deteriorated only in five years, he said it happened during this period also. "Problem with this government is that when you ask a question, you don't get an answer but a counter question. In a democracy, what we need is answers. When a question is raised, the say Congress has done something. But that is why we (people) put them (BJP) in power," he said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said is a "non-resident Indian who used to visit the country during elections."

On parties using celebrities, especially from filmdom, he said, "you are looking at me as an actor. I am also a citizen of this country. When a lawyer or a doctor do this, you don't ask this question. I am not delivering a dialogue here."

When asked why he is not criticising Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka on Gauri Lankesh murder case, he said it seems the questioner has not seen his earlier statements. "But also the point is it was an act by people who had a communal thought process. The actions of this government emboldened such people. I don't hate people. Anger is natural but hatred is inhuman," he added.