‘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.
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NDA's win in Bihar Assembly bypolls a matter of concern: Prashant Kishor
Patna, Nov 23: Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor on Saturday dubbed as "a matter of concern" the NDA's win in assembly by-polls in Bihar despite "failure" of the BJP-led coalition to end the state's chronic backwardness during it's decades-long rule.
Talking to reporters here shortly after the results were out, Kishor also drew succour from the fact that his fledgling Jan Suraaj won "10 per cent" of the total votes polled in four seats, but rubbished the claim that it had played a role in the RJD's defeat in three of these.
"RJD is a 30-year-old party. The son of its state president finished third. Can Jan Suraaj be faulted for that? In Belaganj all Muslim votes went to the JD(U) candidate. In Imamganj, the Jan Suraaj cut into NDA votes. Else, the victory margin of (Union minister) Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha would have been bigger", asserted Kishor.
Notably, Imamganj, a reserved seat, was retained by Manjhi's daughter-in-law Deepa, who defeated the RJD candidate by a thin margin of less than 6,000 votes. Jan Suraaj candidate Jitendra Paswan finished third, polling more than 37,000 votes.
When pointed out that in three of the four seats, candidates of Jan Suraaj had polled less than one-sixth of the total votes and ran the risk of losing their deposits, Kishor shot back "That should not be a matter of concern (chinta ki baat). If there is a matter of concern, it is the ability of the NDA to make a clean sweep despite having ruled Bihar for so long and "failed" to end the state's backwardness".
The IPAC founder, who had a brief stint in the JD(U), insisted that the party's supremo Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, was a "spent force" and its candidate, former MLC Manorama Devi, had won on her own steam.
"We have always said that our fight is with NDA, not with RJD despite its claim of being the largest party in Bihar.....(but) Nitish Kumar is no factor. His party polled just about 11 per cent of total votes", said Kishor.
About his own party's inability to make a mark, Kishor said "We have secured 10 per cent votes..... in seats where Jan Suraaj had no presence since these areas were yet to be covered by my padyatra. Also, please note that we got our poll symbol after filing of nomination papers was over".
He also maintained that the Jan Suraaj will go solo in the assembly polls due next year when it will contest "all 243 seats".
"We were initially written off but by garnering about 10 per cent votes, in a state known to vote along predictable caste lines, we have proved a point. In the next few months we shall be strengthening the organization to ensure that vote share of the Jan Suraaj improves", he said.
