‘Countdown to start for Modi’s dethroning soon after Karnataka poll results’
Jignesh Mewani in a special interview
Bengaluru, May 11: Activist, youth leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani spoke to Varthabharati in detail on various burning issues in the country including Karnataka Assembly election, national politics and administration of Narendra Modi-led NDA government, attacks, sexual harassments and exploitations on dalits, backward classes, minorities and women.
WB: What’s your opinion on Assembly election being held in Karnataka?
Jignesh Mewani: I have travelled almost all districts in the last 20 days. People have never accepted the BJP’s Hindutva and communal politics. The tradition of Basavanna, Narayanaguru and Sufi saints was deeply rooted among people of Karnataka.
WB: Don’t you think that religious issues are getting priority more than development issues in this election?
Jignesh Mewani: The Hindutva forces were not succeeded in dividing the Muslims. In Vijayapura, more than 5000 people have decided against voting BJP in this election. Those who speak about four years and one month, would follow divide and rule policy.
VB: Will the divide and rule policy get success in state?
Jignesh Mewani: More than 80 per cent of people would not believe their ideology. In spite of their efforts, they would not get more than 20 per cent votes. People are aware of this fact. The Save Constitution campaign conducted in the state after the assassination of Gouri Lankesh was successful in creating this awareness among people.
VB: What’s your reaction about Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde’s statement that they have come to power to change the Constitution?
Jignesh Mewani: I would congratulate Ananth Kumar Hegde. He has disclosed what he has inside in him. BJP and RSS do not want the secular society which respects all religions equally. They want communal and corporate culture.
VB: On Modi’s challenge to Congress leaders to speak 15 minutes about state government achievements.
Jignesh Mewani: Forget speaking about the achievements of the Siddaramaiah government for 15 minutes. Let BJP leaders speak about the achievements of four and half year old Narendra Modi government for four minutes. In their administration, more than 9 crore youth should have got the jobs as they promised. But not even one per cent of youth were given jobs. Moreover, because of GST and Demonitisation, around 75 lakh people have lost their jobs. If Narendra Modh has real concern, he could fill up more than 5 lakh doctors posts lying vacant in primary and community health centres in the country. More than 16 lakh posts are vacant in primary schools. In the name of cow, 28 Muslims were killed. We were in the first place in IT sector. But in the last four years, the jobs were cut. In 2016-17, total 59,427 people have got jobs and it was declined to 13,972 in 2017-18.
VB: Are you accusing that the central government has failed to check sexual harassment and rape on women?
Jignesh Mewani: Only after the protests and movements across the country against Kathua incident, the central government has passed an ordinance. Total 52 BJP MPs, MLAs, and leaders were facing serious charges like sexual harassment and cases were also booked. In some cases, FIRs were also registered. As to why, the person who has 56 inch chest is keeping mum on these issues? Now, BJP has changed as ‘Balatkari Jaanleva Party’.
VB: Is the central government failed in protecting dalits?
Jignesh Mewani: Central ministers like Ramdas Atavale, Ramvilas Paswan and MP Udit Raj have become Hanuma for this BJP’s self declared Rama. Let them clarify their stand in Unnao incident. Brother of Saharanpur district president Bheem Army was killed. Upper caste people have been attacking the dalits and Muslims. I would appeal to the dalits in the state not to vote for BJP. Every day, the country is witnessing rape on six women, murder of two-three dalits, and atrocity on dalits in every 15 minutes. Thousands of people have been working as scavengers. Instead of giving right to live, the tribals are being evicted.
VB: Will the Karnataka election be a referendum for 2019 Lok Sabha election?
Jignesh Mewani: Right from the day of announcement of Karnataka Assembly results, the countdown will start for dethroning Narendra Modi. If the youth and women understand the deceptive politics of BJP, they would never vote for BJP. Supreme Court Judges have come to the street to speak against injustice. Why did Modi silent on Justice Loya death case. Media, civil society and judiciary were facing pressure. As soon as Modi steps down from the power, the BJP leaders themselves would disclose the corruption files of Modi.
VB: Are you feeling the absence of journalist Gauri Lankesh?
Jignesh Mewani: The Congress government has failed in taking the investigation into Gauri Lankesh murder case into a logical end. The accused should have been arrested. As to why Narendra Modi and BJP are not questioning Congress government? Because, BJP people knew the fact that those who believe in their ideology and members of their Shakhas have killed her.
Technology is being developed to know whether Mars has water on its surface or not. Then what is the difficulty in developing a technology to stop deaths inside toilet pits while cleaning them? If it is done, then Modi’s Skill India would definitely get success, Mewani said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
