BJP – SAWM Sisters

Where will Congress get the ₹3,54,000 crore budget for NYAY, asks Nitin Gadkari

Nistula Hebbar — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 10:24:32 +0000

Congress is very confident on not winning this election, and hence will not be called to account for that promise, says the senior BJP leader

Union Minister and BJP candidate from RSS stronghold of Nagpur Nitin Gadkari said the BJP-led NDA government’s programmes are solution-oriented while the Congress’ record on poverty alleviation lacks credibility.

Excerpts:

How do you frame the current general elections?

Frankly speaking, the 2014 election was based on hope, there was a lot of disappointment with the UPA government and Modiji was voted in with hope for better times. These five years, the performance audit of our government will show that in the comparison between 50 years of Congress party and five years of our government, we will come up looking good and our contribution will be more than theirs. Twentieth century politics is about progress and development. People are looking for solutions to problems of poverty, unemployment, shelter. In all our policies from Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana to Mudra to Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, they are all oriented to finding solutions. In road construction, we have taken tremendous strides, from 2 km per day in the last government, we are now at 29 km per day and by March-end we will be at 34-35 km per day. Under Namami Gangey we have improved the quality of water of aviral Ganga…

But studies do not reflect that improvement in Ganga water, they show that it has become more polluted.

You ask the one crore people who bathed in the Ganga at the Kumbh. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also drank that water straight from the river, would she have done that if it was polluted?

At the beginning of the campaign your party tried to frame the contest as Modi vs All, but the NDA is an agglomeration of more allies than the Opposition, then how is it Modi vs All?

When one party becomes strong, other weak parties, with nothing in common have gotten together in an alliance. Only fear of Modi is driving them together.

There is said to be fair amount of resentment among your state units in Maharashtra and Bihar because of the central leadership’s over generous attitude towards allies. Do you think you have been over generous, specifically in Maharashtra?

Alliances are an exercise of profit and loss, someone gets more, and some one has to sacrifice looking at the bigger picture of national interest. We will tell our workers that we have made these decisions in larger interest of the country and proceed from there. Lets see.

But allies, especially the Shiv Sena, do not shy away from trolling the BJP. Lately they carried a picture and laudatory article of the crowds drawn by Rahul Gandhi in Malda in their mouthpieceSaamna.

We have decided to fight the elections together and unitedly. The basic problem is that right now it is the time to face the electorate together. We were expecting a bit more positive attitude towards the alliance from the Saamna, but we are meeting and talking things over and I feel we should look ahead.

**So you are not going to bother much about what Saamna says?**

Yes.

This is also an election with a heavy national security narrative woven into it especially in the wake of the Pulwama attack and the Balakot air strikes. Do you think that it will prevail over other issues?

My personal opinion is that I’m extremely against the politicisation of national security or issues related to armed personnel. These are very sensitive subjects, and my feeling is that sometimes our Opposition behaves like Pakistan TV and newspapers. It is not appropriate and does not honour our brave soldiers and sometimes it is hurtful to the sentiments of the people as well.

But the Opposition says that it is the government that is using security operations as a campaign tool.

When the Opposition raises doubts on events, creating confusion, giving false statements. The best way is to not make comments on national security. My feeling is that one should not talk about this in the political domain at all, it is hurtful to people.

How do you look at the Congress’ poll promise of a minimum income support programme — NYAY — announced recently?

You just see from 1947, Prime Minister Nehru ji assures to the country that poverty will be alleviated, then Indiriaji with 20-point programme, 10-point programme, five-point programme etc., followed by Rajiv ji with almost the same things. But as far as economic policies that could address poverty are concerned, the result for ‘Garibi Hatao’ is zero. There is no credibility with regard to the Congress on this issue.

Statistics however have shown that the 10-year period of the UPA saw the largest number of people being pulled out of absolute poverty. That could give validity to the NYAY programme. Do you believe in a minimum income programme?

I believe that wrong economic policies, corrupt governance and bad leadership is the reason why we are still a poor country. Just look around the world, the Congress chose the Russian model of socialist model of economy, now see what happened to Russia and the socialist model? Even in western European economies and the United States, under liberal economic principles, there is a sense of crisis. It is time we gave thought to what it is we should do to bring about socio-economic transformation and give relief to the people at large. The BJP has reflected on the issue, and with strong feeling of nationalism as our spirit, good governance and development as our mission, and Antyodaya of looking at the poorest of the poor as the central premise of policy making we have been formulating policies.

So how is Antyodaya so different from NYAY and other forms of UPA’s welfarism?

I feel that NYAY is a political gimmick. Where will you get the ₹3,54,000 crore budget for that? That too over and above all the welfare schemes that the NDA government introduced. And by distributing this, where will you get the money to spend on roads, irrigation, schools and other infrastructure. I feel the Congress party is very confident on not winning this election, and hence not be called to account for that promise.

Even PM-Kisan income support is like a version of NYAY?

That is ₹6000 of cash income support, but in addition there are other things like increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP), we are bringing 1.88 lakh hectares of land under irrigation under the Pradhan Mantri Seenchai Yojana, some of these projects have been stalled after 50% of the works being done because of lack of support from state governments. We are also giving a fillip to an ethanol economy which will change the total prospects of farming as a profession.

Modi government has often been accused of increasing the communal temperature across the country. Especially around the issues of cow protection. How would you react to this?

This is totally 100% wrong. The habit of the media is that it puts everything down on our name, our reaction is like the rest of the country, that we will not tolerate any communal hatred being sought to be raised.

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh had imposed the National Security Act (NSA) on a case of cow protection, do you agree with that?

Actually, we are in favour of cow protection, no question. Scientifically, gau mutraor cow urine is important, we are making many medicines out of it. Cow milk is also very important, it has certain nutrients which are important for health reasons. So we want to protect the cow, yes, but we will not tolerate violence in the name of it.

source: The Hindu

Shopping for candidates

Radhika Ramaseshan — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 07:29:44 +0000

The BJP is the most avid patron of the election marketplace, angling for the disgruntled and the discontent among rivals.

Last Saturday, the Congress, sapped internally with the serial defections to the BJP, was about to suffer another haemorrhagic stroke that was apparently arrested after the news went viral. Jitin Prasada, the scion of Jitendra Prasada – whose patrician good looks were as much of a talking point as his political ingenuity – was reportedly in serious negotiations with the BJP, with the proviso he would be its candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Dhaurahra, the constituency that he lost to the BJP in 2014. It appeared that only a formal announcement was awaited because Jitin had run out of patience with the Congress. In the October of 2001, Prasada senior had challenged Sonia Gandhi in a rare election to the post of the Congress president that he lost because his associates of yore, notably PV Narasimha Rao, ditched him. Jitendra was political secretary to Rajiv Gandhi and Rao.

Jitendra’s dare to Sonia did not impede his son’s rise in the Congress. He was counted among Rahul Gandhi’s aides and last appeared publicly in the Gandhi siblings’ road show at Lucknow. Jitin was nominated from Dhaurahra but his gripe was that two adjoining constituencies, Kheri and Sitapur, had gone to Muslims. Why did that matter? Jitin feared the presence of Zafar Ali Naqvi and Kaisar Jahan (both former MPs) would imperil his election by polarising the electorate on communal lines and benefit the BJP. Congress insiders also said he had promised the two seats to his nominees, convinced that his “proximity” to Rahul would swing a favourable response. If his father took Rao’s support for granted, Jitin thought Rahul was his endorser. Both erred.

Narendra Modi and Amit Shah might look disparagingly at the crème de la crème of Lutyens’ Delhi, but, like the others in the BJP, they have a weakness to cultivate the elite. Jitin is one. He’s a Brahmin of covetable pedigree: Purnima Devi, Rabindranath Tagore’s niece, Jwala Prasada, an ICS officer, and Pamela Prasada from the Kapurthala royalty are his ancestors. So he wasn’t just another acquisition. “Thoroughbreds” aren’t necessarily winners. This was proved in 2014 when Rekha Verma, who described herself as a “trader” in her CV, bested her rivals and pushed Jitin down to a fourth place. The BJP hasn’t yet re-nominated Rekha while declaring the nominees for the seats around Dhaurahra – a pointer to its interest in Jitin.

Five years ago, when large swathes of India were swamped with the “Modi mania”, the BJP handed out tickets somewhat indiscriminately, convinced that Modi was enough to underwrite a win. Maheish Girri, who was elected from East Delhi, was recommended by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Art of Living founder, while Babul Supriyo, a playback singer, who won from West Bengal’s Asansol, made it by dint of a “chance” meeting with Ramdev. BJP lore says Ramdev asked Supriyo if he wanted to contest. Supriyo said yes and the story had a happy ending.

The BJP maintains an open-door policy and has an eclectic bunch of newcomers but would love to get in the gilt-edged to give a patina of savoir vivre that might force the Lutyens’ zone to give a once-over.

In the 1990s, roping in “outsiders” was not much about foraging for candidates as seeking legitimacy that was undermined by the divisive and combustible Ayodhya campaign. The Babri mosque’s demolition underlined the breach between a growing number of Hindutva adherents and a declining population of secular liberals that still exists in some measure. The BJP framed the polemics as a chasm between India and “Bharat” although LK Advani was among the first to feel distinctly uncomfortable with the divide. He reached out to the social and economic elite and was keen to repackage the BJP as another version of Australia’s Christian Democratic Party. The induction of individuals such as Yashwant Sinha (from the Janata Party) and PR Kumaramangalam (from the Congress) softened the brutish edges that “Hindutva” inflicted. Kumaramangalam was the son of S Mohan Kumaramangalam, who started out as a Communist and in the ’70s shaped Indira Gandhi’s socialist agenda.

In the Modi-Amit Shah regime, inductions are more about identifying candidates because they know the BJP has attained a level of success Advani would never have dreamt of and need not prove anything to anyone. The parameters have changed to the extent that instead of relying on a Ramdev for a testimonial, the duo gets down to brass tacks such as caste and the ability to work local networks advantageously. Other factors apart, Jitin’s utility lies in him being a Brahmin. The BJP has to seriously court Brahmins in Uttar Pradesh where Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister, leans excessively on the side of the Rajputs.

In 2014, the “Modi wave” could absorb local infirmities so seamlessly that in places, voters didn’t care less who their candidate was. A wave has a life span. Once it ebbs, it takes quite a bit for a wave to rise again. BJP insiders have placed a greater premium on candidates this time than in the last election. Why else would the party have dropped candidates wholesale in Chhattisgarh after it was routed in the December 2018 elections? Is there a sense that Modi alone cannot guarantee a win? Doubtless, the BJP has an upper hand over the Opposition that is beginning to look fractious. But the hunt for suitable suitors will go on.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s own. The opinions and facts expressed here do not reflect the views of Mirror and Mirror does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

source: Mumbai Mirror

Lok Sabha polls 2019 | Nationalism is not an agenda for us, it’s our soul, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Marya Shakil — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 13:51:54 +0000

“Rural distress has been a condition for 70 years. And, we have tried to provide relief on majority scale. Although I admit that more needs to be done,” Gadkari told a TV news channel

In an exclusive interview with CNN News18 Political Editor Marya Shakil, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari talks about the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’ campaign, rural distress, nationalism and more.

Excerpts:

Q. What is the biggest agenda of this election?

A. See the election of any government is an exam of the work done by it. In the 2014 elections, the people of India’s hopes, expectations and desires relied on the leadership of Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), and also the disappointment from the then UPA rule. So, the upcoming election will be a test of the hopes, expectations and desires with which our government was elected. And I can say with faith that our government has done in five years what wasn’t done in 50. Based on that I believe our government, our party will get re-elected and Modi will be the country’s Prime Minister.

Q. BJP is talking about your work, putting up posters and advertisements. So, has this Nitin Gadkari model of development been prominent among the achievements of the government.

A. I don’t think so. Everyone is the government has worked. And the credit of the work done goes to the head of the government. So, it’s not just I who have worked. A team has worked under the leadership of the Prime Minister. I have the advantage since I have worked on roads, shipping, and irrigation: they are visible. For others, like health what can they show? What can be seen in foreign policy? Overall, the team has worked well. And people have shown their trust and support based on that experience. And under Modi’s leadership, globally, respect for our government has risen. Based on that, I can firmly say that we will get support from the people.

Q. You have good relations with your political opponents. But it has soured in 5 years. Do you consider it a failure of your government – the worsening of the atmosphere, the kind of words used?

A. Those who know me for past 30-32 years, know that I have a nature of my own without any political calculation. Friendship is friendship, I keep it. And as taught to us as ministers, everybody’s work should be legitimately done. I am the minister of the Indian government, not of BJP. So, I have tried to work on whichever Member of Parliament has approached me to the best of my ability. I have also addressed the work of those who can never support me ideologically. Everyone’s development work should be done this is our belief. And Modi has also said ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas’, so why should we politicize development? So, we have tried to support everyone. My relation has been cordial with members from other parties, and I have got their affection and trust. My attitude has been the same with the party workers of my party, and also with whoever comes to my residence. There is no discrimination.

Q. But, what about the angst in the atmosphere. Why is there so much of angst in politics? There is no interaction and coordination between the Treasury benches and the Opposition.

A. I think to empower our democracy, we should understand that there may be disagreements. And it is natural to have ideological differences, but not personal differences. We are ideologically opposed to each other, not enemies. I believe India is the largest democracy in the world. And this is the largest festival of democracy, in which every person in the world is looking at us. We must debate on ideas, performance and work; discuss on Economic policy, foreign policy, and other policies. And the way, the democracies of America and UK have emerged forward, as they talk on issues. In the same way, our democracy should move forward, by people rising above caste, creed, sex, religion, language and instead deciding based on debates on issues, party’s manifesto.

Q. Mai Bhi Chowkidar campaign has started. You talk about policies, your schemes, then why ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidar’?

A. Chowkidar (guard) means savior. Someone says I am the guard of democracy, of national security. Buildings have guards, who look after the buildings. He ensures to prohibit wrong trespassers. So, this has been put forward to people as a figure of speech.

Q. But, your political opponents say that since you don’t have answers to job crisis, rural distress, you have made everyone a security guard.

A. In my own department, I have awarded road projects worth Rs 11 lakh crore. Sagarmala, Bharatmala were my two flagship programmes, in which the latter was worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore to begin the construction of 24,000 km of roads. It was approved now. Some 7,000-8,000 km work has been started. I am telling you we are making Express Highways, tunnels, road. We are consuming 40% cement of the country, the most amount of iron. The turnover of the machinery industry of construction has increased in a year. Do all these not create employment? Road project worth Rs 11 lakh crore, after that shipping projects worth Rs 5 lakh crore in Sagarmala have also been awarded.

Q. Why have you not released the data?

A. I am giving it. Eleven and five is sixteen lakh. And one lakh crore for the 285 projects in Namami Gange and for the Prime Minister Irrigation scheme. If you consider the total, work worth Rs 17 lakh crore has been approved by me alone. Minimum 50 lakh people have been employed in my own department. There is surely one thing. Whoever rules the economy, if some sectors fare good, others do worse. There are some problems in agriculture and real estate. And now we have made policies for agriculture. We are giving Rs 6000 to farmers; introduced Crop Insurance Scheme, improving the percentage of irrigation. We have increased the MSP of agricultural commodities by two-and-a-half times. Now, we are bringing policy for biofuel to make our biofuel economy of Rs 2 lakh crore. So that from aeroplanes to buses and trucks run on biofuel. Biofuel of different kinds of ethanol, methanol are being introduced. We are increasing our agricultural export too; changing crop patterns. Sugar surplus, rice surplus, wheat surplus, pulses surplus now government can’t decide the price in the global economy. Sugar costs Rs 20 per kg in Brazil, but we have paid the farmers on Rs 34 per kg.

Q. But, do you believe that rural distress is a reality?

A. This has been the condition for 70 years. And we have tried to provide relief on majority scale. I admit that more needs to be done.

Q. Since you come up with new ideas, you have talked about electric vehicles. When will Tesla come in India?

A. There is no hope of Tesla coming to India for lack of interest. But today, in Pune (Maharashtra), 900 electric buses are being introduced. They are being launched at many places. In my own constituency, Nagpur, 250 electric taxis ply. Electric bikes are coming. In a year’s time, you will see electric buses, electric cars, electric taxis, electric bikes, and electric auto-rickshaws everywhere around you in this country. I will tell you a simple thing, which has been my biggest achievement. When I used to sit in cycle-rickshaw during my childhood, whenever there were climbs, I used to get down. It was dreadful and painful to see the rickshaw-puller take the rickshaw ahead. I am happy today that I made a law and introduced mechanized e-rickshaws. One crore people who used to carry persons, to what Ram Manohar Lohia used to say that I would never in my life sit in these rickshaws. Today, when I go to villages and look for these rickshaws, I don’t find them. Diverting one crore people towards mechanized e-rickshaws, it has been a great humanitarian work done by our government. We fought till the Supreme Court passed the law. And today at several places including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, northeast, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar e-rickshaws are available for commutation.

Q. How effective would be the ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidaar’ campaign in 2019?

A. Different kinds of campaigns happen during elections. There are emotions behind this one and definitely, the emotion would succeed.

Q. You think it’s emotional due to the Pulwama incident.

A. There is no reason to associate this with Pulwama incident. After the Prime Minister called himself a ‘Chowkidaar’, ‘Chowkidaar Chor Hai’ (guard is a thief) was being said. A Prime Minister is not of BJP, but of the country. A description of a Prime Minister must be in ethical language. So I feel, the emotion around it that ‘I am its savior’.

Q. So, nationalism is still an agenda for you all?

A. Nationalism is not an agenda for us, it is our soul. When I was leading my party, there used to be a board outside our office. Even today its written there ‘Rashtravaad Ye Hamara Aatma Hai’ (nationalism is our soul). For us, it’s country first, then party, than me. So, nationalism is our soul. Good governance and development are our mission. And, social and economic thinking till the end – the society’s end–a person who is marginalized, suffering; a Dalit who lacks shelter, clothing and food. We consider them God and look after them. And our work would conclude the day, the person will have food, clothing and shelter. This was Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s thought and discipline.

Q. Your political opponents are questioning the airstrikes. Rahul Gandhi’s trusted advisor and guide Sam Pitroda has said today, “Eight people (with reference to 26/11) came and did something. You don’t jump on an entire nation. It’s naïve to assume that just because some people came here and attacked, every citizen of that nation is to be blamed. I don’t believe it that way.” The Prime Minister has criticized this. How do you look at this statement?

A. Firstly, it is not fair to debate on the intention of the sacrifices made by our armed forces. I whole-heartedly feel these issues must not be politicized. If we speak in the same language of Pakistan’s TV and radio, this would in a way insult our brave forces. Neither do I want to respond to such discussions, nor do I have anything to say. I would expect and request that no one has the right to insult the forces, such issues should not be politicized. Neither do we want the credit for it, nor do we want to debate about it. I urge to media that debate on such sensitive issues is not in national interest. It’s better to avoid it.

Q. You are also politicizing it, your party does it.

A. That’s why I prefer to keep quiet. I have expressed what I feel.

Q. Posters are being put up. So is that an election issue?

A. No, we are not doing it. No, this is not. We don’t make it an election issue. Sometimes, they are derived from such questions and answers. So, it’s better to maintain silence on it. I have expressed my feelings. I don’t have anything to say beyond this.

Q. You are contesting election from Nagpur. Nagpur is RSS’s headquarter. How significant is this election for you?

A. Every election is significant for the party. Last time, I won the election by three lakh votes. This time, I am going to win by 4-4.5 lakh votes. I have tried to do maximum work in Nagpur in the last 5 years. And have worked rising over caste, creed, religion, language. I have got support from all peoples. This year, I believe I am going to increase my margin by another 1-1.5 lakh votes and win the election.

Q. There’s nothing very surprising in the list. You are mostly repeating MPs and ministers in UP. So since you are a member of Central Election Committee, does this party believe that there is no anti-incumbency? Or if there is any anti-incumbency, why is that only against six sitting MPs among the 28 of UP?

A. The president and our party examine all the seats. The party decides after examining the choices of party workers, people, and surveys. And whoever is considered to be getting public support gets nominated. It’s a very natural process. It is evaluated in the just way. No one gets the ticket on someone’s plea or recommendation. Based on merit, someone gets it, others don’t.

Q. Smriti Irani is contesting from Amethi. What is the party’s thought in Rae Bareli?

A. This has not been discussed in the party’s parliamentary board. When it will be discussed, it will be shared.

Q. Prime Minister has been called by Kashi, Amit Shah is fighting from Gandhi Nagar. What will be the path since he is still the Party President and you have been a Party President too?

A. The parliamentary board decided that he should contest from Amethi which is good. He will win from a good margin since his Vidhan Sabha constituency comes under this only. When Advani ji used to fight elections Amit Shah used to stand by him. I believe he will win from a good margin

Q. So in Modi cabinet part 2 if Amit Shah wins the election will he be a part of it?

A. PM will decide on this.

Q. Advani ji did not get a ticket

A. Advani ji has been an inspiration to all of us. He was with us in the past he will be with us in the future. It is a natural course. Changes come with age. I think party president has discussed this with Advani then he took any decision.

Q. He was not given an option or he said this himself?

A. I have no knowledge about this but I believe party president might have talked to him.

Q. Is there a cap of 75 years?

A. This is a discussion done within the party and I don’t feel write discussing this with the media.

Q. Should we consider this as an end of the road for BJP?

A. I believe that he was with us and he will be with us. He is our inspiration, he established our party and we all have that respect for him.

Q. Opposition says that Advani led BJP from zero to a great height. I am quoting what they said: Modi ji doesn’t respect the elders how will he respect the faith of the nation?

A. What is the relation between BJP’s issues and the Congress party? Is Congress giving tickets to all of its elder members? Creating such confusions among the people is their habit, they should first look into their own party. They should resolve their issues first. Who will get ticket from our party is the decision of the party president and the parliamentary board.

Q. Turncoats have been given space, in Bengal and Odisha what do you want to say about that. Do you believe that the other party members are stronger than you in these 2 states?

A. No this is not true, Yes this is correct that the strength we should have in both the states we don’t have that now. If somebody wants to join us and support us then we should have them on our side, Nothing is wrong in that. Party has become the largest party by accepting others only.

Q. PM and all of you have spoken against the dynasty. from Shimoga BS Yeddyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra has got the ticket, why?

A. Being a son or daughter of somebody is not a crime, but the parents trying to persuade for ticket is wrong. When the party memebers and people are supporting the candidate it is not wrong to give them the ticket.

Q. There were also speculations that the 3 CMs who have lost Shivraj Singh, Vasundhara Raje, Raman Singh they will get a chance in the centre. Is it possible that in the upcoming list we will have their names?

A. These kinds of decisions are taken by the party president, parliamentary board.

Q. Sushma, Uma do not want to contest the elections?

A. I also had a word with Sushma. She said her health is deteriorating so she won’t be able to contest this time. I and the president received a letter from Uma Bharti, she said she will hold campaigns but she doesn’t want to contest.

Q. Does she want to return to her home state Madhya Pradesh from UP?

A. I don’t think so. Whatever work will be given to her by the party she will do it.

Q. Since we are talking about every type of speculation this time you won’t be getting numbers from the Hindi belt, that is, from UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan. What do you think from where will you get the numbers?

A. We will get good numbers in Bengal, in Northeast. Looking into the current situation I feel that in UP and Bihar we will not only maintain the number of seats but we will get 2-3 seats more and we will get a number above 300.

Q. In Odisha you got 1 seat last time during the Modi wave.

A. This time we will get 7-8 seats. there is an anti-incumbency against the present govt in Odisha.

Q. If we talk about Bihar, you are fighting from 17 seats and you won last time 22, 5 seats are already less.

A. Such things happen in alliance politics.to keep everybody together you need to sacrifice. We are not fighting on those seats which we know we will win. For the party’s benefit, this step was necessary. during that time JD(U) was not with us.

Q. So should we consider this as a compulsive decision because of alliance or BJP has become accommodative.

A. Politics is a game of compulsions, contradictions and limitations. and there are multiple permutations and combinations in this game to get the majority one needs to have a big heart and accommodate more and more people who support the party ideology, that helps to create good leadership and success story.

Q. So you had that big heart for Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, the same heart for JD(U) in Bihar.

A. we are working with JDU we will have to keep that big heart.

Q. But in Tamil Nadu for the rainbow coalition, there is massive anti-incumbency against AIADMK and AIADMK is a divided house as well.

A. I don’t think so. AIADMK and other parties supporting BJP, we will have a winning combination and we will win good numbers there I believe.

Q. What is giving you confidence in Tamil Nadu?

A. I visited Tamil Nadu and I had discussions with people. We will have a spectacular winning combination and that is what people want.

Q. Your good friend Rajnikanth hasn’t joined politics formally?

A. It is up to him to decide. He is not very much interested to contest the elections of Parliament but I am expecting that he may support BJP.

Q. He will support the BJP? this time? Will there be a formal announcement by him?

A. I don’t know that but we are expecting that in the interest of the country and Tamil Nadu we are expecting support from him for BJP.

Q. Nitin ji you spoke about permutations and combinations, if there is a permutation and combination and BJP is stuck at 220, are you in the race of the PM?

A. I have cleared this earlier also. Neither I am in a race nor we have any club of 220, I have full faith that under Modi’s leadership we will get a full majority and the next PM will be Narendra Modi.

Q. Since you have good relations with the other parties, Navin Patnaik, YSR Congress, everybody, if they say they will only support BJP if Nitin Gadkari is the face then what will you do?

A. I don’t think there is any such possibility. We will have a full majority and this question is baseless.

Q. If we talk about personal equations, is this with Nitin Gadkari BJP Neta or with Nitin Gadkari as an individual.

A. those who know me since 35-40 years my attitude is still the same as it was before and it will be the same in future also. Neither I made friends for a political equation nor I have any such connection. When I was in Maharashtra it was the same as of now.

Q. Nitin ji there were two statements by you. The first statement you said during an event in the Pune District urban co-operative bank association ltd: leadership should have the tendency to own up the defeats and failures in elections. Your exact words were the tendency to own up.

A. that speech was in Marathi: I said that there is sometimes loss and profit in banks. There is a cooperative unit in Maharashtra, so I said that everybody should balance their profit and loss, one should not fight. We also win and lose elections but we stay together always and own it. My speech was not related to anything else. I gave this speech at 11 am and in the evening, there is a website, Sarkaranama which published that I said Amit Shah should take responsibility for our defeat in Vidhan Sabha elections. I never mentioned Amit Shah nor did I say about Vidhan Sabha elections and considering that others speculated the news. Secondly, I said about the party workers that first, they need to eradicate unemployment, hunger for their homes then they should work for the party. If you can’t handle your family, how will you manage the nation?

Q. Sir you were addressing intelligence bureau officials, the 31st IB endowment lecture at Vigyan where you had said that who else but a party president be responsible if the MLAs and MPs do not perform well.

A. I did not say that. I said that at the party we are responsible for the workers and MPs. And we must teach them to work well and motivate them for that. This is our work as the party leadership. And that is why when I was the party president, I had readied a syllabus. Syllabus for an MLA, an MP and a minister, and had ensured that they were trained well. To train them is the responsibility of the party. This was also my responsibility as the party president. And I had mentioned that. And unfortunately, I must tell you one thing. You people play around with our statements. When people had asked me about Malla, I had answered. I do not have a problem with that. But when words are put into my mouth and in the same show, I had said that Nehru had said that the number of people in India and the number of problems in the country are same. So, we must decide to not remain a problem anymore. But when it was aired, it was mentioned that I appreciated Jawaharlal Nehru. If you want to shoot someone, if you have the conviction, shoot them yourselves. Don’t shoot them by keeping the gun on my shoulder. I have said things clearly and my statements are still there in youtube. The things that have said about me shows that media is not credible these days.

Q. You even clarified after the first statement on Twitter.

A. I spoke at 11 am and nothing came in the media till 5 pm. journalists were also present during the conference but nobody said anything. One started it and the rest followed. After 6 pm everybody ran it.

Q. So who did this mischief?

A. I told you the name.

Q. What was their agenda?

A. I don’t know and I even expressed my anger to them. Whatever I have said I owe that. I am giving you an interview and if you speculate something else, I will stand by my words. Whatever I am saying on record if you can really speculate something then you can but what kind of journalism is going on?

Q. It was said that Nitin Gadkari is sending a message since he speaks his heart out.

A. I can speak directly, I don’t need you to be the mediator. This is not my behavior. I support the ideology of the party and I stand by them. I understand the party discipline and I won’t do anything which disturbs the discipline.

Q. MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were your bastions. In 2 states you were ruling for 15 years.you lost, Don’t you think the kind of situation that has been created will reflect on the upcoming elections.

A. Things have changed after the budget was introduced and I believe that in all the 3 states will get good numbers and will maintain the victory number.

Q. If we talk about Maharashtra which is your home state, there is a rise in suicide numbers of farmers in Vidharba. It reflects that your schemes have failed.

A. This is not an issue for 5 years, this has been going on since 60-70 years and the first time we took steps to solve the issue. In the badi raja yojna we have accepted 108 irrigation projects in which we are investing Rs 40,000 crore. PM irrigation scheme in which Maharashtra’s irrigation will increase upto 48%. if irrigation will increase it is natural that farmer suicides will decrease. Maharashtra govt has also tried and we are also trying. This is a difficult job, it will take time but I believe suicides will stop. This is our mission.

Q. You spoke about discipline but you ally in Maharashtra is not dealing with discpline. they speak like opponents for you.

A. I spoke about discipline within the party, I never said about alliance discipline. There is discipline in the party and I will abide by that. That’s what I have said. It is true that they have said a lot but we have decided that we will forget such statements and we have started a program in Nagpur. Uddhav, Devendra and all of us were present there and we have decided that we will work hard and BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will be successful as before.

Q. It is being said that this Maratha reservation is leading to polarisation between the OBCs and the Marathas. Do you think this will backfire?

A. It is nothing like that. Maharashtra voters are sensitive, responsible and aware. they vote considering the issues and now this is not an issue or conflict. Yes, there is one thing. Politics for development is BJP’s agenda, casteism, religion these are issues of opposition. we believe that a person becomes great by qualities and not by cast or religion. Poor doesn’t understand this cast and religion, therefore, economic issues are really important. we need to eradicate fear, terror, hunger a corruption and we need to build and happy, serene prosper country. therefore we are taking the feeling of sabka sath, sabka vikas and we are going ahead with this, this is our mission.

Q. But we are not hearing Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas these elections.

A. It is still there. It is our slogan. It is a problem with us that people listen to the good things about us but they forget. And they keep on repeating the things they should have forgotten.

Q. So “main bhi chowkidaar” is not as important as “sabka saath sabka vikaas”?

A. Everything told by us is important. If I say it is not important you will get tomorrow’s breaking. I will not do that.

Q. You were present while finalising the government in Goa. Vishwajit Rane’s name was doing the maximum rounds. But Pramod Sawant’s name was declared. What actually worked in Pramod Sawant’s favour.

A. The decision was taken after our 12 MLAs, party leadership and workers were consulted. Amit Shah was also consulted.

Q. Manohar Parrikar’s demise is a big loss to the party.

A. It is. When I used to work for Maharashtra BJP 35-40 years back, I was also given Goa’s responsibility by Pramodji. Then Manohar Parrikar, Shripad Naik, Digambar Kamat (now Congress) and Sanjeev Desai were new to the party, and I used to sit with them. I had close familial relations with Manohar. He was very honest and hardworking. He was an IIT-graduate. He had given his life for the nation as a worker of the BJP. He was untainted and had a clean heart. He was also a friend of mine. His demise has caused irreparable to me, to Goa, to the country and to the party. His demise has hassled us and has deeply saddened us. That is why after he went away, we unanimously chose a CM and a new cabinet. And also he loved GOa a lot. I must have granted 15k crores to Goa for Infrastructural development. Whenever he used to come to me, I used to do everything he requested. To fulfill his dreams of a better Goa must be achieved by the new CM and party leadership now. Today when I met the CM I said this would be the best tribute to Manohar. His should will find peace in heaven when the Go of his dreams is built.

Q. You spoke about the success of a lot many schemes of yours. Uma Bharati had said in the Namami Gange project that Ganga will be clean by 2016. Then the timeline was shifted to 2018. You by 2020, 70-80% Ganga will be clean. Do you think Namami Gange was not as successful as hoped for?

A. See there are 285 projects including the Ganga, her tributaries and the ghats. Out of which more than 30% of projects have been completed. We worked in 13 projects in Delhi worth 450 crores. We completed the Sonipat and Panipat project. Work over Yamuna has begun in Himachal. 3 projects have started in Mathura. A project worth 850 crores was inaugurated in Agra. We have 7 projects in Prayagraj, 9 projects in Varanasi and 13 projects in Patna. Everywhere the work has begun. And I can say by next March end Ganga will be completely clean. We made a waterway from Prayagraj to Varanasi and thus Priyanka Gandhi could travel on that ship. She drank the Gangajal and it was the certificate that Ganga is indeed clean. All the people who came to Kumbh blessed us, that Ganga was very clean although we have done only 30% of our work so far. It is my commitment to you that by next March end Ganga will be clean.

Q. Priyanka Gandhi had a boat show, not a road show.

A. It happened because of us. If we hadn’t maintained it, how would she have gone? So she in a way accepted that. But she must have said that she is thankful for the Ganga waterway and that the water is clean hence she is drinking it. Chidambaram himself wrote that in roadways and for cleaning Ganga we have done a good job.

Q. Priyanka Gandhi has formally ventured into politics. She is the Gen Secy in charge of East UP How big is it a concern for the BJP?

A. There is no concern. Everyone can try as they might in politics. If she works she is welcome. We are not worried at all.

Q. But sir eastern UP is PM’s and UP CM’s bastion.

A. I don’t think her presence will make any difference for us. We will repeat our previous victory. I believe that.

Q. And how about SP-BSP alliance?

A. Such things keep taking shape and then going ugly. We are standing on our concrete work. The public will support Modiji and BJP and we will win.

Q. But it is a strong arithmetic.

A. See, in the elections of 1971 the entire opposition had united against Indira Gandhi. But it proved that there is no 2+2=4 in politics. Those who were against each other have formed an alliance of opportunism. It is not built on any principle and hence I have faith that we will again.

Q. But sure where will the numbers come from?

A. 100% we will get the numbers. When will get more seat than 300.

Q. If we do direct calculations then the combined vote share of SP and BSP in 2014, you are losing 50% of your seats.

A. You might have done the arithmetic calculations but you have not done the political calculations.

Q. So what is the political calculation then?

A. I am telling you that the developmental work we have done in UP in the past 5 years, people will definitely us.ti-

Q. The view is maybe Yogi Adityanath’s anti-incumbency will weigh down the numbers.

A. Nothing like that will happen.

Q. The angst amongst people against Yogi Adityanath.

A. It is a test of the work we have done under PM Modi. And surely U.P’s public wants to accept Modiji as their PM.

Q. Was the Congress Mukt Bharat slogan correct?

A. See it does not mean we will end Congress from India. Congress is an ideology. And to stop that ideology and build an India on our ideology is our motto.

Q. What do you think you could have done differently as a minister?

A. I never look back. I did whatever was my job. And I have faith that we did work with 17k crores with transparency, time-bound result and quality consciousness. And I am proud that even after giving away contract worth 17k crores, not a single contractor had to come to my office. There was no corruption. It will be best if the media and people decide about how my work has been.

Q. That was about your ministry, what about your government?

A. Our government under Mr Modi has done in 5 years what was not fone in 50 years. India’s status has risen in the world. As a part of reformative economic policies, we brought GST, brought welfare schemes for the poor and farmers. The results are now visible. 34 crore people have bank accounts now. Now roads worth 34 crores are being built every day. We made express highways, tunnels and bridges. We are now making the Mumbai-Delhi express highway. Will finish the work for the Delhi-Meerut Expressway tomorrow. People are seeing.

Q. But not hiding the NSSO report. Not releasing the NSSO report.

A. See there are always various kinds of report. We have also created employment opportunities. The growth rate will also increase which will go up to 7.5% by next year. But it is also true that some sectors have done well while others have not. We are trying to boost agriculture and real estate.

Q. The absence of data raises questions on the government’s intention as if you have something to hide.

A. Our intention is how to increase economic growth rate, agricultural growth rate, manufacturing growth rate and service sector growth rate and create more employment. This is our economic policy’s priority. And that is why people must not ask for jobs but create jobs. That is why we have given precedence to science, technology, start and standup. People are being benefitted which will only go up in future.

Q. If you are so sure of the opportunities you have created, why did you not release the data?

A. As far as I know, the data has been released in this regard. The ministry can give a clearer picture. But we have not hidden anything.

Q. Since you have been a BJP president, my question is BJP has become a person-centric party. It is no longer a people-centric party as per your opponents.

A. See out party is ideology centric. Nationalism is our soul. Good governance and development is our mission. And today, as taught by Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay, is a dream. Nation first, after that party and after that me. This is a workers’ party and not a family’s. Here leaders are not born from Naamdaars. This a party that works for an ideology and is a party of nationalists. And we are still following that. So this accusation is baseless. And in future, we will free the nation from fear, terror and corruption and will make it a happy, prosperous country. We will become an economic superpower as per the dreams of Modiji’s New India. Every countrymen’s dreams and ambition will be achieved is what I have faith in.

Q. Since you often do calculations what will unfold for your party on May 23.

A. I have faith that the people will reinstate their trust in us and we will change India’s future in the next 5 years.

Q. How many seats do you expect?

A. More than 300.

Q. So you are saying that Modi wave is still there?

A. Yes, 100%

Q. No need of new allies? Are there any potential allies?

A. We have done many successful alliances.

Q. It is being said that Naveen Patanaik, Jagan Reddy and KCR are your potential allies.

A. What people do and say is up to them. But we have to include everyone with us with a large heart and strengthen NDA. To strengthen BJP and work for the country is our sole mission. We will try to get them on board and togetherly take the country forward.

Q. Is BJP going to get more than 300 seats or the NDA?

A. No, I am talking about the BJP. When we include the alliances it will be much more.

Q. But the opposition is united.

A. They can also try their luck. Results will follow post polls.

First Published on Mar 23, 2019 04:36 pm

source: Money control

ADVANI OUT OF BJP’s LS LIST, AMIT SHAH IN

Radhika Ramaseshan — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 15:31:26 +0000

Narendra Modi and Amit Shah brought down the curtain on LK Advani’s 68-year-old career in the BJP and its progenitor, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Advani, 91, will not contest the Lok Sabha election. He was not renominated from Gandhinagar, a seat he held since 1991 but for a brief interregnum. BJP president, Amit Shah, will replace Advani from Gujarat’s capital.

That Shah was Advani’s election agent in the past several elections makes the contest easier because of the deep networks he has built among the BJP workers, interest groups as well as the voters. This will be Shah’s first election to Parliament although he was elected to the Gujarat legislature several times.

Shah’s prospective entry in the Lok Sabha recommends him for a top position in the Modi government in case it returns in May, possibly as the Home minister, a portfolio he held in Gujarat under Modi. The Modi-Shah duo is known in the BJP to think several steps ahead of their colleagues.

Although Shah was brought into the Rajya Sabha to initiate him into Parliament, as it were, for the past few years, the BJP was abuzz with the speculation that he would replace Advani in Gandhinagar.

A section in the BJP wanted to sweeten Advani’s exit by offering the seat to his daughter, Pratibha, but given the Modi-Shah antipathy towards political dynasts, the suggestion was rejected out of hand.

It is almost certain that Advani — who was pensioned off to the highsounding ‘marg darshak mandal’ back in 2014 with a host of other seniors — will not be considered for any role in the BJP or government. The political end raises a host of questions over quotidian matters that typically worry leaders: whether he can return a bungalow in Lutyen’s Delhi, retain a staff, and most importantly, the NSG security ring around him.

What’s also inevitable is that Advani’s peers, Murli Manohar Joshi and Shanta Kumar, will be denied tickets. Veteran Kalraj Mishra of Uttar Pradesh saw the writing on the wall. A week ago, he said he was opting out of electoral politics to “work” for the party. Yashwant Sinha, who was similarly binned in 2014, revolted, left the BJP and is likely to contest from a Delhi seat with the AAP and Congress’s support.

Shah’s prospective debut in the Lok Sabha signals the coming of a new generation of leaders which will replace a line-up that was nurtured and promoted by Advani.

Prominent among them is Sushma Swaraj who announced she will not fight from Vidisha for health reasons. Arun Jaitley is the only leader from this vintage who has the confidence of Modi and Shah. Indeed, he’s heading the campaign committee with Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, the rising stars in the present regime.

Just as the Modi-Shah ‘jodi’ ensured that the government and the BJP were perfectly in line, in case Modi is back as the PM, it’s a given that Shah will be the second-in-command. The insinuation, voiced internally in the BJP at times, about Gujarat’s overwhelming dominance over the power structures seldom bothered Modi and Shah because of their common credo that in the mind, winning an election was all that mattered.

The BJP, tutored and shepherded by the RSS, ensures generational changes with a little more ease than the other parties although dissensions and discontent have spilled out publicly in the past as when Advani opposed Modi’s candidacy as the PM. By then the Sangh had made up its mind that Advani’s “shenanigans” would not be countenanced because having been given a chance as the BJP’s PM candidate once in 2009, he failed to deliver the seats.

Advani could not have faced a more inglorious finale than what came yesterday. Sources close to him maintained till the last that he was “physically and mentally fit” to keep going for another five years as an MP. He joined the RSS in 1941as a 14-year-old in Karachi and was taken in the Jana Sangh in 1951with Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Whatever his twilight years might have been like, the country’s political annals will have a place for him as the leader who took the BJP to new heights albeit through controversial and divisive means. Advani was Modi’s patron and fought to keep him as the Gujarat chief minister after the 2002 violence when Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then the PM, wanted him out.

His exit proves that in politics nobody is anyone’s chela.

source: Mumbai Mirror

Watch | ‘Chowkidar’ Modi Acts on Lokpal, Nirav Modi – Five Years Too Late

Arfa Khanum — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 15:09:51 +0000

Arfa Khanum Sherwani talks about the delay in the appointment of a Lokpal, the recent arrest of Nirav Modi in London and if Modi’s “chowkidari” fell short all these years.

source: The Wire

Lok Sabha elections: BJP candidates’ names to be out soon, keeps social media buzz alive

Liz Mathew — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:20:56 +0000

The Congress has already declared candidates for 54 seats and its president Rahul Gandhi has started campaigning. After the polls were announced on March 10, BJP leaders have been busy discussing candidates, manifesto and other strategies.

In terms of announcing candidates, the BJP seems to be lagging behind the Opposition Congress which has announced more than 50 candidates, but the ruling party appears to be keeping the buzz alive with an intense social media campaign.

The BJP has not yet announced any candidates so far for the Lok Sabha elections, but declared candidates for the 123 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 54 in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. The BJP-led NDA also announced the seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar.

According to sources, at Saturday’s meeting, the BJP leadership cleared candidates for Northeastern states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Uttarakhand and Bihar. On Monday, it is expected to clear some candidates for Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu among others.

The Congress has already declared candidates for 54 seats and its president Rahul Gandhi has started campaigning. After the polls were announced on March 10, BJP leaders have been busy discussing candidates, manifesto and other strategies.

Party sources said the Prime Minister, BJP’s star campaigner, is expected to begin his rallies by end March. But Narendra Modi has already addressed public meetings or BJP workers in over 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 22 states in the past few weeks, sources said. The party’s media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said the BJP through a series of programmes such as ‘Mera parivar, Bhajapa parivar’, mega contact drive and ‘vijay sankalp’ rallies, has reached out to 10 crore people recently.

Modi also addressed party workers and beneficiaries of his government’s schemes through video-conferences while party president Amit Shah has done so by holding public meetings, speaking to social media volunteers and addressing booth-level workers in over 130 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The PM has started a massive social media campaign by launching the slogan “Main Bhi Chowkidar hoon”, countering Rahul’s repeated “Chowkidar chor hein” jibe.

After Modi posted it on social media outlets – with the line “Your Chowkidar is standing firm & serving the nation” – senior BJP leaders, ministers and party chief ministers added the moniker as prefix to their Twitter handle names.

BJP sources said the slogan, which is expected to underline Modi’s role as safeguarding the nation’s interest, will accentuate the party’s campaign on national security. The BJP’s campaign has so far centered around national security – with focus on the Balakot airstrike – and the “efficiency of delivery mechanism” under Modi when it comes to welfare schemes.

As his cabinet and party followed the suit by Sunday evening, Modi tweeted: “My best wishes to all you chowkidars. Very pleased with your enthusiasm. Owing to your watchfulness corruption is on the wane and thieves are feeling the pain.”

source: Indian Express

Zee 24 Ghanta Exclusive: বাংলায় বিজেপির থিম সং গাইলেন বাবুল সুপ্রিয়

Moupia Nandy — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 06:47:54 +0000

লোকসভা নির্বাচনের ঢাকে কাঠি পড়ে গিয়েছে। রাজ্যের শাসক দল ইতিমধ্যেই ৪২ টি কেন্দ্রের প্রার্থী তালিকা প্রকাশ করে প্রচার শুরু করে দিয়েছে জোর কদমে। এদিকে প্রার্থী তালিকা এখনও প্রকাশ হয়নি বিজেপি-র। তাই প্রচারের ঝড়ও ওঠেনি। কিন্তু প্রার্থী তালিকা প্রকাশের আগেই বাংলায় প্রচারের সুর বেঁধে দিলেন বিজেপি সাংসদ এবং কেন্দ্রীয় মন্ত্রী বাবুল সুপ্রিয়। লোকসভা নির্বাচনে বিজেপির থিম সঙের বাংলায় রেকর্ডিং করলেন বাবুল।

বাংলায় এই থিম সংয়ের রেকর্ডিং হল মুম্বইয়ের একটি স্টুডিওতে। গীতিকার অমিত চক্রবর্তী।গানের সুর দিয়েছেন বাবুল সুপ্রিয় নিজেই। পাশাপাশি গানের কথাও লিখেছেন তিনি।

‘হামনে তুমকো দিল ইয়ে দে দিয়া’ কিংবা ‘দিল নে দিল কো পুকারা’ -র মতো হিট গানে মাতিয়েছেন বাবুল সুপ্রিয়। এবার বাংলায় বিজেপির থিম সঙ ভোটবাক্সে কতটা প্রভাব ফেলে তা জানতে অবশ্য অপেক্ষা করতে হবে। ২৩ মে নির্বাচনের ফল ঘোষণার দিন পর্যন্ত।

source: Zee News

Watch | Why Is It Forbidden to Ask Questions About the Balakot Airstrikes?

Arfa Khanum — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 06:04:04 +0000

Arfa Khanum Sherwani, senior editor of The Wire, dissects why the BJP is dodging questions on the recent IAF airstrikes in Pakistan.

source: The Wire

India-Pak face off: Misinformation galore as govt’s communication strategy in this crisis is radio silence

Radhika Ramaseshan — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 08:54:24 +0000

War-mongering and misinformation galore as govt’s communication strategy in this crisis is radio silence.

The last time India and Pakistan played war games during Kargil when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was the BJP’s spokesperson. He would hold two briefings a day to appraise the media and through them, an anxious nation.

He himself would be apprised of the day’s developments either by Prime Minister Vajpayee himself or the Defence Minister George Fernandes because expectedly, in an emergent situation when events panned out by the day, statements had to be carefully crafted and nuanced, without second-guesses.

Narendra Modi

In these last two days as India and Pakistan face-off once again, the government has shown no communication strategy. On Day two as an Air Force chopper crashed in Kashmir and an Indian Air Force pilot was taken prisoner by the Pakistanis, we had a junior MEA spokesperson give out a brief, unsatisfactory statement leaving room for all kinds of speculation. By late afternoon, Pakistani PM Imran Khan was on TV seizing the narrative as he confirmed the IAF officer’s custody and asked for de-escalation.

While Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is in China, her MoS VK Singh who could brief the media was not to be heard from, while other stakeholder like the defence minister and the home minister too maintained a studious silence.

Rajnath Singh

The vacuum of information led to TV channels calling for ‘badla’, setting up war rooms in their studios and an anchor dressing up in war fatigues and flashing a toy gun.

Atypically, even the battery of loquacious BJP spokespersons, otherwise up and out during an important occurrence, went missing. Only late Wednesday evening, Union minister Prakash Javadekar showed up at the party headquarters to tell the media that the Opposition should not accuse the BJP and government of “politicising” the “sacrifice” by the CRPF soldiers at Pulwama and asked the Congress and its allies to reconsider the phraseology of a statement they issued after a meeting. It was a defensive response.

Nirmala Sitharaman

So what happened to the government’s high echelon? Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitharam , Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nitin Gadkari were conspicuously missing from the main frame.

Home minister Rajnath Singh addressed the BJP workers in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur. BJP president Amit Shah was in Ghazipur in eastern UP to launch the ‘Kamal Jyoti Sankalp’ campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a chaupal (street corner) meeting, Shah asked people who would ensure India’s security, the “gatbandhan” of SP and BSP or Modi?

Sushma Swaraj

The BJP’s twitter handle announced that on Thursday, Modi will address the “world’s biggest video conference” of BJP workers, volunteers and supporters. The handle urged tweeples to ask questions and proffer suggestions on a separate handle, “Mera Booth Sabse Mazbooth” (my booth strongest). Lest the offer sounds like an invite to seek clarifications on the goings-on in Kashmir, banish the temptation. It will mostly be about getting into the minutiae of election management. But who knows? It could be Modi’s long awaited address to the nation after Balakot.

VK Singh/MOS, MEA

source: Mumbai Mirror

BJP fans out: 170 call centres, 2 lakh kendras, 10 lakh booths

Liz Mathew — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 06:31:12 +0000

The BJP has around two lakh Shakti Kendra workers involved in organising, coordinating and managing programmes at about 10 lakh polling booths across the country.

AROUND 12,000 callers spread across 170-odd call centres reaching out to BJPworkers on a daily basis.

Heading into the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party has set into place call centres to keep in touch with grass-root party members. This is a change from 2014 when the BJP campaign and preparations had been centralised. The idea is to help the workers spread the word regarding government-run schemes.

The BJP has around two lakh Shakti Kendra workers involved in organising, coordinating and managing programmes at about 10 lakh polling booths across the country. Each call centre is covering a thousand such kendras, manned by 70-75 callers, a supervisor and a data-entry operator each, and equipped with laptops, printers and high-speed Internet.

The callers include a mix of professionals and workers trained by the party, fluent in the local language.

The staff at the call centres have been given a daily target of around six lakh ‘completed calls’, say sources, with the performance to be monitored at the central level. For example, there have been days when the callers have made over 10 lakh calls daily to party and booth workers, but got through to a little over three lakh.

“Unlike leaders, our booth and Shakti Kendra-level workers are attached to the party emotionally. Apart from communicating party-related messages such as campaign material and tour programmes of leaders, these calls help them feel connected and motivated,” a party leader said.

Sources said after evaluating their performance, the BJP may retain the centres even after the elections.

A team of 20 party leaders headed by general secretary Bhupender Yadav is monitoring the call centres, sources said, and has been visiting the Shakti Kendras by rotation — around 80 a week.

In turn, the call centres would convey back to the central leadership feedback regarding possible candidates, speeches of national leaders, and campaigning methods.

One of the coming events for which the call centres have been set in motion is the BJP’s ‘Kamal Jyoti programme’ starting February 26. As part of it, the party is encouraging lighting of lamps in houses and localities that have benefited from government schemes. The BJP estimates the number at 22 crore.

The call centres are already coordinating ‘Mera Parivar Bhajapa Parivar’ programme, where the party is putting up flags and Modi photos at homes of workers and supporters.

The call centres have also been coordinating the speeches being made by Modi to booth-level workers across the country via the NaMo app. On February 28, at an interactive programme called ‘Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot’, Modi is expected to respond to queries sent to him from across the country.

BJP sources say the party next plans to call up prospective supporters. “In many states, especially where the party is yet to come up as a strong political force, we will call up people who have got in touch with us at any time,” said a leader.

In 2014, the BJP had polled 17.17 crore votes, after a massive campaign that had seen at least 9.5 crore registered with it as members after verification. “We have developed such a strong data base that no other party can match it,” the leader added.

source: Indian Express