Fight is against social media warriors: Manvendra Singh

BJP stalwart Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh is the Congress candidate for MP elections from Barmer — geographically the largest parliamentary constituency in the country. Singh a former BJP MP from Barmer and later a BJP MLA from Sheo, joined the Congress in September 2018, ahead of the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, citing differences with then chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Excerpts of his interview with Tabeenah Anjum of Deccan Herald.

It's been six months since you joined Congress. Earlier you contested on a Congress ticket against Vasundhara Raje in Jhalrapatan in Assembly elections but this time it's your home turf. How is it different?

Home is always better. I lost the Assembly elections against Vasundhara Raje but I could dent the voting margin of BJP in Jhalrapatan. I am happy that I am contesting from Barmer. It's a familiar place as I have represented this constituency in Assembly as well as in Parliament. I know the people, place and issues and they connect with me very well.

How is the response in Barmer? Is there a Modi wave?

The response has been overwhelming. Our supporters are still angry with the BJP for denying ticket to my father Jaswant Singh in the 2014 general elections. There is no Modi wave, people of Barmer have realised that they have been cheated.

Have people accepted you as a Congress leader?

I am comfortable in Congress because of my friendship with Rahul Gandhi. Most of the people have accepted me as a Congress face because I never discriminate on ground level. But there are a few people who are unhappy with the shift.

Since Barmer lies on the western border, will BJP try to benefit from the Balakot air strikes in your constituency? How are you going to tackle that?

I find it immoral of the BJP to mention air strikes in their election campaigning. If national security and armed forces are favourite of the BJP, then why is it that two ex-army officers were denied tickets in Barmer which is a border state? In 2014, it was my father who was denied ticket and now it is the sitting MP Col Sona Ram Chaudhry who has been replaced with Kailash Chaudhry.

What are the issues in Barmer? How are you going to fix these?

Water scarcity, lack of fodder for cattle is a major issue in Barmer, besides unemployment. I will want to replicate the delivery of water scheme of Sheo in other parts of Barmer. More tubewells and electrification is my idea. Also, education and maternal health is my priority. More opportunity for girls will be on my to-do list.

Also, there is a demand to ease visa restrictions. I want to establish trade link between the borders. I will also expedite the construction of oil refinery in Barmer which is moving at a snail pace.

There is a caste divide in Barmer between Jats and Rajputs. How are you managing that?

See, we have to accept that the equation does not change in one election. There is no clear trend. We don't believe in sectional election; instead, it is the coalition of all communities.

Who are you fighting with, Kailash Chaudhry or PM Narendra Modi?

I am fighting against social media warriors because that's were the jumla is. We must tap into people's minds by positive sentiments, not destructive things.

What is your biggest threat?

The overall Hindu-Muslim divide created in our country is a concern for me.

Where do you see Barmer in five years?

I want to see Barmer as a developed city with increased literacy rate. Since we have a peaceful border here, it's my dream to see Barmer as an international trading point between India and Pakistan as it was before 1947.