JOIN USHe is Congress’s RSS – Randeep Singh Surjewala – the former All India Youth Congress president, former Haryana minister and now chairman of AICC media and communication department. In an exclusive conversation with Abhay Kumar of Deccan Herald, Surjewala talks about Modi’s hollow promises, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s stand on reservation and how Bihar polls will give a new shape to Indian polity.
EXCERPTS:
Q: Do you agree with RJD president Lalu Prasad when he says Bihar election is a battle between upper castes and backwards?
A: Tell me who started all this. Was it not the BJP president who claimed that Narendra Modi is the first person from OBC category to become India’s PM (although BJP’s claim is wrong). Was it not the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who said the reservation system should be reviewed? Why Modi is silent on Bhagwat stand?
Q: But the BJP insists that Bhagwat has been quoted out of context. While Lalu has been shouting from roof-top about the forward-backward clash. Is Congress party endorsing Lalu’s stand?
A: The Congress as well as the leader of our alliance in Bihar, Nitish Kumar believes in inclusive growth. Our earnest effort would be to take along all sections of the society, with special focus on weaker and oppressed class.
Q: But it is this weaker section, the traditional voters of the Congress, whom the BJP is wooing with colour TV and sari.
A: All this will prove to be a jumlabazi (hollow promises). Our message is : ‘Na hawabazi, na chalbazi, Bihar ko sarkar denge kamkazi’ (No false promises. No deceit. We will provide a government which is committed to work).
Q: But your party, a marginal partner in the grand alliance, is nowhere to be seen in this battle, although it is contesting 41 out of 243 seats.
A: Wrong. We are in the fray contesting one of the most keenly watched poll. But yes, unlike the BJP, we don’t indulge in propaganda.
Q: What does that mean? Please elaborate.
A: Like for example, the BJP, during last year Lok Sabha polls, promised to revive sick sugar mills in Champaran. But despite Radha Mohan Singh, the Union Agriculture Minister, winning from that region, the poll promise has not been fulfilled.
Q: Then why doesn’t Rahul Gandhi raise such issues? People are getting bored of his suit-boot jibe against Modi?
A: Have you asked Modi why he harps on only one theme – deriding his opponents. He loves making fun of Nitishji, Rahulji and Lalu Prasad. Beyond that what is his achievement?