‘BJP Never Discriminated or Dominated Any State; Every Corner of the Country Benefitted From Our Development Agenda’
Anand Dubey, the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh, responds to the allegations made by key opposition leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress with regards to federal structure of Indian politics under NDA rule. In this candid interview with Rajat Rai of LokMarg, Dubey also discloses the party’s approach to the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Q. As the principal party in the NDA government at the Centre, how does BJP see the importance of federalism in a country as diverse as India?
Ans. Ever since its formation, federalism has remained at the core of BJP’s functioning and we are of a strong belief a federal form of governance is essential for smooth and strong functioning of both the Centre and the state. For contributing to a strong developing nation, a robust federal structure is the key and ever since the formation of the NDA government at the Centre in 2014, we are not only following it dedicatedly but are also strengthening it.
Q. Many regional and national parties have been alleging that ever since 2014 when the BJP came to power, federalism is steadily getting weakened. Your views?
Ans. Opposition parties, mainly the Congress, have a history of playing with and ruining the basic structure of not just federalism but the Constitution itself. It is well recorded how select and popular state governments were dismissed over 90 times and President Rule was imposed for absurd reasons to satisfy personal egos of Congress leaders. Ever since the NDA came to power in 2014, not a single such decision has been taken. For, we believe in a strong Centre and state cordial relation with mutual respect and development, irrespective of which political party is in power in a state.
Q. There is growing fear among regional parties in various states (such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, etc) that the BJP wants a strong Centre which can influence areas and power that come under States list as per the Seventh Schedule? How do you respond to that?
Ans. We are not a power hungry party – we believe in inclusive functioning and development with the ultimate goal of ease of living and prosperity of our fellow Indians irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, state or region. We work with our motto of – Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishvaas – and it is evident by our public welfare schemes which are implemented pan India and in all the states uniformly without any discrimination. All states and regions are on our inclusive developmental agenda with equality and it could well be cross checked by the data available on all forums regarding the implementation of developmental schemes pan India. For us, J&K is as important as Kerala or Karnataka or UP and MP – there is no question of discrimination between a state with our government vis a vis a state with the government of some other political party.
Q. Various regional opposition parties also allege that the minorities in BJP ruled states are feeling increasingly marginalized amid a rise in Hindutva forces both in the states as well as central levels. Please substantiate your views.
Ans. Let us talk in reference to UP to be precise – the state used to witness communal riots frequently during the regime of opposition parties and the minorities were not more than a vote bank for previous governments as there were no employment or business opportunities in the state. Now, since Bjp came to power in the state in 2017, besides generating employment opportunities for everyone, the benefits of developmental schemes are reaching everyone flawlessly. You won’t believe, minorities are the biggest beneficiaries of the central and state scheme with every 3rd beneficiary belonging to the minority community. ODOP, for example, is the biggest game changer for the minorities and to quote a few products, those working in the Mooradabad brass industry, Farukhabad bangle industry, Bhadohi carpet industry, etc are amongst the biggest beneficiaries. We have never treated any community or class as a vote bank – for us, an empowered citizen is an asset for the state as well as the country.
Q. There are also allegations that BJP is cannibalizing its own regional allies for the sole purpose of eating up their vote banks, gradually weakening them and then pushing them to margins. This was seen in Maharashtra and Bihar recently. Does BJP feel threatened by regional political groups, including its own allies?
Ans. Any party or person who is pro-development or wants to be a part of development likes to be associated with the BJP so these allegations find no ground and are merely an act of frustration as those who envy development cannot see or digest like-minded people coming together. Anyone who allies with us is not merely a partner but a contributor to our developmental agenda.
Here, in NDA, every constituent gets equal opportunity, respect and responsibility to contribute in nation building. Just to quote an example of Bihar as a counter to such baseless allegations, the ruling RJD has been winning lesser seats than the BJP in the past two elections, still Nitish Kumar Ji is the chief minister of Bihar. We deliver as a team – not as a senior or junior partner. And to point out a similar association which ended harshly, SP also aligned with BSP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections only to have a bitter separation after the results – and everyone knows why.
Q. There are also strong allegations on some regional parties like AIMIM, BSP, etc to be acting as B team of BJP and participating in various Vidhan Sabha elections to help BJP. What are your views?
Ans. First of all, the SP, BSP and Congress should tell why they associate with each other….. Their association and swift break up, before and after elections, also raises questions as to why at all they come together when they do not find each other fit for associations. We do not have any B team as such and the people and the voters of the country have made these parties as B grade parties just because of their gimmicks and tantrums. If they come up with any type of poll association then it is a good move but if anyone associates with us then it is a bad move and it is dangerous for our associate. It is well evident now that the voter has now destroyed the ABCD of these parties just because of their anti-people and anti-voter politics.
Q. BSP superemo Mayawati’s stance in the recent past seems to be softening towards BJP (as she praised UP Govt and CM Yogi) and hardening towards SP and Congress. Does this hints towards the allegations of it being a B Team of BJP?
Ans. BSP superemo Mayawati has praised the UP government for its pro people and pro-development working. Any sane person will praise a government that is rightfully performing its duty for the people and the state and there is nothing wrong in it. We have always given due respect to all the great people who have contributed for the country or the state and this is what Mayawati Ji stated regarding the maintenance of the parks and memorials constructed by the BSP government. This was a statement given for the proper working of a government and if this is what the SP and Congress are using as a yardstick to coin anyone as a B team then it is nothing more than a mental and political bankruptcy and an act of sheer frustration.
Q. What is the party’s views on the recent Maharashtra municipal elections were the votes of the minorities polarized completely towards newer parties like ISLAM and AIMIM, shunning its loyalties towards Congress and the NCP.
Ans. One thing is clear and a steadfast truth – that appeasement politics never lasts long and this is the end of days for Congress or any other party that is solely dependent on this kind of divisive politics. We do not believe in such kind of divisive politics and work with our motto of inclusive politics where people are not merely a vote bank for us but a participant in the development of the country and the state.
Q. What are the party’s plans for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in UP? Does BJP perceive any threat from regional parties like SP and BSP or is it confident to come back to power for a record third time in the state?
Ans. UP has witnessed accelerated development in the past 9 years and this fact cannot be denied. We will go to the people with full preparation seeking another term to continue development on fast pace. Our schemes are reaching the last person standing in the row and our vision of inclusive development is also crystal clear. Besides, our partners are strongly aligned with us and are walking shoulder to shoulder with us for a unified cause to serve the people. I would again like to say that every like-minded entity is welcomed to join our noble cause. As far as other opposition parties are concerned, they have destroyed UP in parts whenever they got a chance to rule the state. They are also facing existential crisis and stand no chance because of their divisive and appeasement politics. The shutters are down for those involved in the politics of religion, caste and creed and the voters are smart enough to choose between divisive and developmental politics.
