The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always been in the eye of the storm for its pro-Hindutva stand. But in the recent times, a debate has surrounded the party’s internal scuffles, Varun Gandhi’s hate speech and the collapsing alliances. In an exclusive interview with Zee News’ Swati Chaturvedi on Kahiye Janab, party president Rajnath Singh spoke at length on all such issues and the upcoming General Elections…
Swati Chaturvedi: Do you think the Arun (Jaitley) and Varun (Gandhi) episodes have affected Advani’s PM candidature?
Rajnath Singh: Which story of Arun and Varun? The entire nation has made up its mind that that the next government will be formed by the BJP-led NDA and LK Advani will be the next Prime Minister.
Swati: Your party in-charge is not fighting the elections and is sitting at home and not attending party meetings?
Rajnath: Who says he is sitting at home. Arun Jaitleyji is well with the party and very efficiently drawing the strategies for the election campaigning. Arunji has been given the charge of Bihar and Delhi and he is working very efficiently on it. I fail to understand why media is raking up the matter, when there are many more development issues that can be brought up. Further, the party is very much united and our alliance is stronger than that of the Congress. Everything is going smoothly for us; it’s the UPA which is disintegrating, not the NDA.
Swati: Second generation BJP members have stood against you. What do you have to say on this?
Rajnath: My colleagues and party members have always supported me, and I am very satisfied with the way things have gone.
Swati: Where do you see yourself (within the party) and how do you look up to Advani?
Rajnath: Advani is my leader, my colleague. I would openly like to say that he is a father figure to me.
Swati: None of your party members said that Varun is right, but you came forward and hit back at the Election Commission.
Rajnath: Defend nahi kiya(I did not defend) . I said that we have placed the truth before the country. I even called him up and enquired about the whole issue. It is an adapted CD and why shouldn’t I trust Varun. Let the (forensic) report come out, and everything will be revealed.
Swati: Will Rajnath Singh stand up for a person, who has delivered such hate speeches?
Rajnath: Varun has said that it’s not his voice, so let the investigations be done and the report released. As regards the Election Commission, it is a constitutional body and we should respect it. But still I want to comment on EC’s stand on the Lucknow episode where an FIR was lodged against me for a case where I was not even present. The EC does not have any right to decide which candidate should be fielded or not.
Swati: First your party said that security is the core issue for the General Elections. But once again you are getting involved in communal-based politics.
Rajnath: We are not against any religion. In fact we respect each and every religion. It’s the Congress which has from time to time rakes up the issue of Hindus and Muslims and indulges in vote bank politics. It is the Congress which divides people in the name of religion and poverty. It is very regretful what our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said for Advaniji. He said Advaniji has only done one thing in his career, that is demolished Babri Masjid. What does Congress wants to achieve by highlighting the issue?
Swati: As you started talking about the Hindutva issue, your allies ran way. Why?
Rajnath: BJD has left, but three parties have joined us. While the BJD has a strong hold in just 31 seats, other parties are ahead in 49. So it’s very clear who has lost. Our party is very strong and united; it’s the Congress which is in tatters.
Swati: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was very active in politics as well as running alliances. Is Advaniji as capable as him?
Rajnath: Advaniji is Atalji’s choice and above all, if not Advaniji then who should be the PM candidate. For 55 years they have been together and these two stalwarts are the only example across the world, who have stood together for so long in the same party. To make India a resolute nation a strong person is needed and Advaniji is the most appropriate person.
Swati: BJP’s second generation netas are against each other and they think the Congress is their friend and not their party colleagues.
Rajnath: Please don’t accuse our supporters. We have a unified alliance and members like Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Vasundhra Raje consolidate the party.
Swati: Your term as BJP president is the longest. Who do you think should be the next party president?
Rajnath: Party members will sit together and decide who will be the next president. But I assure you that my daughter and my son will not be the next.
Swati: Will Narendra Modi be the next (party president)?
Rajnath: We will sit together and decide. Our party does not believe in dynastic politics like the Congress. BJP is the only party which follows internal democracy.
Swati: You are one of the few party organisational people, who are contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Rajnath: I had first refused to fight elections and also urged Venkaiahji and Arunji not to contest, and instead take up the responsibility of deciding BJP’s strategies for the elections which they both agreed.
Adaptation: Biplob Ghoshal
