Jyotiraditya Scindia, known as Maharaj among his followers, is a man who believes in emotional connect with his voters. The Congress national general secretary, who is contesting Lok Sabha elections from Guna, has also been given the responsibility of changing party’s fortune in UP West. After a day-long campaigning in Guna, he sat down with Arshit Gautam and Nitendra Sharma to discuss various issues. The exerpts:
Q: What is the poll scene in the country?
A: UPA will form the government in alliance with other parties. On May 23, it will become clear that the BJP has lost.
Q: Has electoral discourse shifted from development to nationalism?
A: The Central government has done nothing for the youth, the women and the farmers in the last five years. They have no achievement to write home about and that is why they are talking of Hindutva and nationalism. Those who could not accord status of martyrs to the CRPF jawans killed in Pulwama, are talking of nationalism!
Q: The Congress stood firmly by the side of the Central government at the time of air strikes. What has changed since then?
A: I am first an Indian and then Congressman. Air strikes were a matter of national honour. We are not like Modi, who flew to Mumbai immediately after the 26/11 attack to berate the then UPA government. By supporting the government after the Pulwama attacks, Rahul Gandhi proved that for us, country comes first and the party next.
Q: Why has poll campaigning turned so bitter and acerbic?
A: My way or highway is the policy of the current leadership of the BJP and of Prime Minister Modi. In a democracy, you have to respect to the views of others. Those who disagree with me are traitors; this kind of attitude is improper. Freedom of expression cannot be curtailed. Intolerance is not something we as a nation can accept or endorse. The direction campaigns like Gau Raksha and Ghar Vaapsi are taking, does not augur well for the country.
Q: But despite all this, the BJP is going from strength to strength?
A: It is not as if the BJP is rising and rising. It has also bitten the dust. The Congress has formed governments in Punjab, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In the ongoing elections, the BJP’s tally is going to fall in UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. Just wait for the results.
Q: Your take on Modi’s comment on Rajiv Gandhi
A: I feel sad and angry both. A person who is no longer in this world; a person who laid down his life for the nation – talking about him in such words only bares his (Modi) mentality. We should talk about policies and programmes. We should refrain from personal attacks.
Q: You are in-charge of UP. How well would the Congress do in that state?
A: The Congress will not only win more seats but its vote share would jump substantially. The BJP will be routed in UP.
Q: The SP, the BSP and the Congress could not forge an alliance. Would that hurt?
A: They and we decided that we would contest separately. It is a closed chapter now.
Q: Will Priyanka’s campaigning help the Congress in UP?
A: She is energetic and believes in plain speaking. That will strengthen the Congress. People have faith in her. That will help the Congress in UP.
Q: How many seats would the Congress win in MP?
A: I am not an astrologer and so I cannot give any numbers. But I can say that the party’s performance would be the best in the last 20 years.
Q: Eyebrows are being raised on BJP’s decision to field Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur?
A: It is their decision. Now, it is for the people whom to vote for. I do not agree with the choice but it is for them to decide whom to field.
Q: Mayawati is angry that you have made BSP candidate join the Congress
A: Everyone is free to contest elections. But if any candidate decides to support another, no one should have any objection to it.
Q: Many BJP leaders have come with you. Are you trying to build an opposition-free Guna?
A: Unlike the BJP, I do not believe in making opposition disappear. It is true that former BJP minister KL Agarwal is supporting us. Former MLA Jagannath Singh, Rao Rajkumar Singh and former district Panchayat chief Malkeet Singh have quit the BJP and joined the Congress. It is because they believe in humanity and in the strength and capability of the Congress.