Not here for negative politics; PM Modi has vision, I trust him: Gambhir

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who joined the BJP last month, on Wednesday said he decided to enter politics because he didn't want to become a "Twitter sensation" on core issues affecting people.

Gautam Gambhir.

NEW DELHI: Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who joined the BJP last month, on Wednesday said he decided to enter politics because he didn't want to become a "Twitter sensation" on core issues affecting people. "People used tell me that it's easy to tweet on political developments while sitting in AC rooms and that I cannot come on the ground to face the real issues," Gambhir said while speaking in the ABP News' 'Shikar Sammelan'. "One day while contemplating, I thought what they said was correct. There exist two types of people. One, who would take to Twitter on each and every issue the country is facing and go on silent mode later, while others who have the courage to take the challenge head-on and reach out to the people to bring changes," the BJP candidate from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat said. "I was left with two options, either to think only about myself and my family or the country and its development. I decided to accept the challenge of reaching out to people to serve them and the country by joining politics," he said. Gambhir said he didn't want to be known only as a "Twitter sensation" on political issues but sought a stage where he can directly have an impact on the lives of people to change them. Lauding the Prime Minister for his "decisive and strong leadership", Gambhir said Narendra Modi has a vision for the country he trusts him. On the issue of full statehood for Delhi, Gambhir said it's for the BJP to decide and what matters for him is the development of the national capital. Gambhir also slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for "betraying" the mandate he received in the 2015 Assembly elections. Asserting that he will not do negative politics, the 37-year-old also praised former Chief Minister and Congress leader Sheila Dixit for "development and progress" Delhi witnessed during her 15-year rule. "I am not here to do negative politics. I acknowledge there was development and progress in Delhi during 15 years of the Congress rule under chief minister Sheila Dikshit. But in the last four years, the AAP govt failed to fulfil its promises," he said. On Ayodhya case, Gambhir said it's upon the Supreme Court to decide on the decades-long dispute. "Whatever the Supreme Court decides must be implemented," he said. Gautam Gambhir, AAP's Atishi and Congress' Arvinder Singh Lovely have locked horns in a triangular contest in the East Delhi constituency. Delhi goes to poll in sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 12. In the 2014 Modi-wave, the BJP bagged seven seats with over 46 per cent of vote share while the AAP got 32 per cent. The Congress share declined to 15 per cent.