‘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.
Not having memorial for Manmohan Singh deliberate insult to India's 1st Sikh PM: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi, Dec 27: The Congress on Friday said that not finding a location for the cremation and memorial for Manmohan Singh is a deliberate insult to the country's first Sikh prime minister.
The Congress raked up the issue after the Union home ministry said in a statement that Singh's last rites will be held at New Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat at 11:45 AM on Saturday with full state honours.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to conduct Singh's last rites at a location where a memorial could be built to honour his legacy.
"The people of our country are simply unable to understand why the Government of India could not find a location for his cremation and memorial that is befitting of his global stature, record of outstanding achievements, and exemplary service to the nation for decades," Ramesh said in a post on X.
"This is nothing but a deliberate insult to the first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh," the Congress leader said.
Kharge wrote the letter after speaking to Modi about setting up a memorial for Singh, who was a two-term prime minister revered by the people of the country.
"Apropos our telephonic conversation today morning, wherein I made a request to hold Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for memorial of the great son of India.
"This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals," Kharge said in his two-page letter.
The Congress chief said Dr Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation, and his contributions and achievements were phenomenal.
He also said that Dr Singh's erudition on economic and fiscal matters came from his vast experience as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, chief economic advisor to the government of India and in various other capacities in several organisations, and the respect and regard that world leaders had for him bears testimony to this fact.
Kharge said Singh's wise counsel, leadership and contribution in mitigating the global economic financial crisis is well-acknowledged. He also recalled President Obama's words when as the US president, he mentioned that "whenever the Indian prime minister speaks, the whole world listens to him".
He also said that when the nation was in the throes of a grave economic crisis, it was Dr Manmohan Singh, along with former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who took India out of the crisis and also led the country towards economic prosperity and stability.
The nation today reaps the benefits of the robust economic foundations built by them, Kharge noted.
"Coming from a humble background and having experienced the pains and sufferings of the Partition, it is through his sheer grit and determination that he rose to become one of the leading statesmen of the world. I hope and trust that befitting stature of Dr Manmohan Singh, request to have the funeral of Dr Singh at a place where his memorial can be built, will be acceded," Kharge said in the letter.
Congress Legislature Party leader in Punjab assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa also separately urged Prime Minister Modi to have Manmohan Singh's funeral at a place where a memorial could be built later in his honour.
"I urge Prime Minister @narendramodi to honour Dr Manmohan Singh, one of the most towering Sikhs of modern times, with a memorial befitting his immense contributions to our nation. Rising from humble beginnings in a historic state, representing a community that has always stood steadfast for India's unity and progress, Dr Singh's life is a testament to intellect, integrity, and selfless service," he posted on X.
Bajwa said Punjabis across faiths and political lines unite in their heartfelt plea to recognise this son of Punjab, who played an instrumental role in shaping India's destiny, with the respect he deserves.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed the Centre has "declined" the request of Manmohan Singh's family for performing the funeral and last rites at a place where an appropriate memorial may be built.
There is no official word from the government on Kharge's request.
However, Badal took to X to post, "Shocking and unbelievable! It is condemnable in the extreme that Union Govt has declined the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's family for performing the funeral and last rites of the highly distinguished leader at a place where an appropriate and historic memorial may be built to commemorate his unparalleled services to the nation."
He further said this place should be Raj Ghat.
"This will be in keeping with the settled practice and tradition followed in the past," Badal said.
He said it is "inexplicable" why the government is "showing such disrespect to the great leader who was the only member of the Sikh community to rise to become the Prime Minister".
"As of now, the cremation is slated to be performed at the common cremation ground at Nigambodh ghat. I am unable to believe that the BJP govt's bias would go to such extremes in utter disregard of the towering global stature which Dr Manmohan Singh ji enjoyed and will always enjoy," Badal further said in his post.
He said Singh took the country to great international heights.
"Our political differences with the Congress apart, we have always held Dr Manmohan Singh in the highest esteem as he transcends politics and political affiliations. He belongs to the entire nation.
"Dr Sahib showed great sensitivity and compassion in his dealings with Shiromani Akali Dal over Sikh and Punjab issues," said Badal urging Modi to "intervene personally to change this deplorable decision of the government".
Singh passed away on Thursday night at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at the age of 92.
आज सुबह कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष ने प्रधानमंत्री को पत्र लिखकर प्रस्ताव दिया था कि पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह का अंतिम संस्कार ऐसे स्थान पर किया जाए जहां उनकी विरासत का सम्मान करने के लिए एक स्मारक बनाया जा सके।
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 27, 2024
हमारे देश के लोग यह नहीं समझ पा रहे हैं कि भारत सरकार उनके वैश्विक…
