If there is anything that is certain about politics, it is ‘uncertainty’. And this is becoming quite evident as the race to the 15th Lok Sabha hots up. BJD, BJP’s 13-year-old ally, ditched the saffron party leaving it in doldrums. BJP, which had decided to fight polls on developement issue, is now back to Ram Rajya, frightening its allies. Will JD(U), the most exploited secular face of BJP, go the BJD way? In a bid to find out answers of many such things, Zeenews.com’s Swati Chaturvedi talks to JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar on Kahiye Janab.
Following are the excerpts of the interview:
Swati: One of your major allies in NDA, BJP, has now gone back to its Ram Rajya issue. It has been said that whenever BJP is in a fix, they use the Ram issue. What do you have to say?
Nitish: Well BJP has some issues that they keep raising. But, I must say that whenever there is an alliance at the Centre, such issues are not included in the common agenda of the coalition.
We have always maintained that issues like Ayodhya can be resolved either by talks or through a decision of a court; there should be no talks about the repeal of Article 370 and talks of a common civil code should be avoided from the agenda too.
In fact, we had an alliance government in 1998 and 1999 under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. These issues (Ayodhya, repealing Article 370 and Common Civil Code) were not in the common agenda even then.
BJP, as an individual party, can raise such issues. We have no problem with that. I do not see anything wrong in that.
Swati: How do you feel when L K Advani compares Varun Gandhi with Jai Prakash Narayan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee?
Nitish: Well, it is not appropriate to compare Varun with anyone. I do not know the context in which Advaniji said such things. I read about it only in the newspapers.
But let me say that whatever Varun Gandhi had said is undoubtedly condemnable. There is no place for such speeches in Indian politics. Nobody can accept such statements. One should be ready to face the punishment under the law.
If whatever has come to light about Varun is right, then he (Varun) cannot escape from the law.
Swati: JP (Jai Prakash Narayan) was jailed by Varun’s father Sanjay Gandhi. Then how do you feel when Varun is compared to JP?
Nitish: One thing is clear - nobody can be compared with JP. He is one of the greatest leaders of the country. How can one compare them (Varun and JP)? Varun Gandhi’s statement (in Pilibhit) is wrong, period. He will get a chance to defend himself in the court.
But even if he goes to jail in this context, he cannot be compared with leaders of freedom struggle or with the 1974’s movement or with leaders who were arrested during 75’s situation, when Emergency was imposed and the fundamental rights of the people were suspended.
Swati: Experts say that Mayawati has created a martyr out of Varun by slapping a case under NSA (National Security Act)? Also it has created a polarisation in the country. What’s your opinion?
Nitish: There should not be any polarisation in the country. Such things (Varun’s hate speech) should be condemned and the actions should be taken as per the provision in the law.
Legal action should be taken expeditiously and mere detention will not serve the purpose. Based on whatever he had said, a chargesheet should be filed and trial should be started as soon as possible.
If that happens, it would set an example.
Swati: What do you think about BJP raising the issue of Ram Rajya repeatedly?
Nitish: BJP and JD(U) have an alliance in Bihar. We are working together at the state level also. We have already stated our stand on the three issues: Ayodhya, Civil Code and Article 370.
We are working here according to a common agenda. In fact, in Bihar the minority Muslim community is also satisfied with our work even though BJP is our ally.
Swati: Will JD(U) leave NDA like BJD, a 13-year-old ally of BJP, if they raise the Ram issue?
Nitish: We cannot stay with the government if such issues are raised. But let me state that in a coalition, no single party has the say. The coalition runs according to a common programme. As I said earlier, we had an alliance government at the Centre in ‘98 and ’99 under Atalji.
Swati: Is it true that if Lalu Yadav had not gone against you, he would have been the Prime Minister today.
Nitish: It would be better if you ask him.
We are not saying that harbouring the PM dream is bad, but where are the seats?
He had been in the state (Bihar) for 15 years and in the Centre for over five years, but he could not anything during all these years. Now he has lost those (good) times.
Swati: But people say that he has done well as the Railway Minister.
Nitish: Don’t go by the advertisements. If you want to know the truth, go to the project sites. People in Bihar, from rickshaw pullers to housewives, get petrified at the thought of him making a comeback (into the Bihar Assembly).
Swati: There’s a rush for alliances either for post poll or pre poll. And on top, everybody here wants to be the Prime Minster. What do you think?
Nitish: I think they (those who want to be a PM) are trying to encourage their supporters. Their supporters are quite demoralised.
Swati: What about Mayawati?
Nitish: Everybody has the right to dream. People will give their mandate. As far as we are concerned, we would like to see L K Advani as our Prime Minister.
Swati: What’s your assessment? Who will be the next PM?
Nitish: Let’s see. We have always maintained that we would like to see Advani as the PM. What will happen depends on the people. Let’s leave it to them.
Adaptation by Anil Kumar Satapathy
