Teekhi Baat with Uma Bharti on IBN7/November 26, 2011

Interview with BJP leader Uma Bharti for Teekhi Baat on IBN 7. Excerpts:

PC: These days you do a lot of ‘meethi baat’.

UB: It’s fine.

PC: You have liked this transformation of nature that you have had to undergo.

UB: No, I am the same; the lens with which you view me has changed.

PC: There were so many yatra’s in UP, now your yatra has been announced by the president. From 1^st December you are going to embark on a big yatra.

UB: That is an abhiyan not a yatra.

PC: Is it not yatra, what is the abhiyan about.

UB: Abhiyan is Uttar Pradesh bachao, Bha ja pa la. Under this abhiyan, there will be 50 gatherings in each vidhan sabha constituency. And this abhiyan will last for 15 days in which close to 200 leaders will participate, these will include leaders from the centre and the state.

PC: You will lead.

UB: You can say I will co ordinate.

PC: The president announced your name.

UB: He said coordinator.

PC: Then what did other people do earlier, what was that, what Advaniji, Rajnathji did.

UB: That was a yatra.

PC: What is the difference between abhiyan and yatra.

UB: The difference is that when one man leads it is a yatra, but in an abhiyaan close to 200 are participating. They will go to different places in one day. Like on 1 December, Nitinji would be there, shahiji, I will be there and other 200 leaders from state and centre would go to 400 vidhan sabha constituencies.

PC: Where will you start this from?

UB: Today evening there is a meeting regarding the same.

PC: It is not decided as yet.

UB: It will be decided tonight.

PC: For the yatra your slogan is UP bachao ba ja pa lao.

UB: Uttar Pradesh bachao .

PC: It is the same. But who will save BJP; it is all over the place. First BJP has to be saved, then UP will be saved.

UB: I am concerned with my own work, not other talk and issues.

PC: Your responsibility is not to save BJP.

UB: That is a different subject. But now my responsibility is to get UP rid of maladministration, to contribute in a way which leads to the formation of BJP government in the state. But the issues that you want to take me to Prabhu, I don’t want to go into those issues.

PC: You said BJP saving is not your responsibility.

UB: I never said that, I said that I am not connected with that issue.

PC: What is your work in Uttar Pradesh, your responsibility?

UB: I have been given work, like the co ordination of the abhiyan, also to build connections till the district and the vidhan sabha constituency level. To focus on corruption and criminalisation which are the two important issues that UP is facing. I have been born in Madhya Pradesh, was an elected member of parliament five times and also the chief minister. But from the time of Ramjanmabhoomi andolan, for me Uttar Pradesh has been the same as Madhya Pradesh. I have such good and deep relations with the party workers; hence I have no problem in working in Uttar Pradesh, keeping this in mind, Nitin Gadkari gave me this assignment.

PC: Because of Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Uma Bharati’s name came up to the national level.

UB: When I took part in Ram Janmabhoomi movement, I was a second time parliamentarian.

PC: Hence Uttar Pradesh is not a new place for you, it is your karmabhoomi now

UB: Yes, for me it is the same as Madhya Pradesh.

PC: Earlier, your karma bhoomi was Madhya Pradesh.

UB: My karma bhoomi is the whole world. Not only India, but the whole world, wherever I feel one has to work humanity; I will go even to Africa.

PC: You are the first Chief Minister of BJP, who is also working as a ordinary party worker now.

UB: Let me be anybody, I have never considered myself more than an ordinary party worker. The reason for the same is that there is a glamour associated with politics which has its conveniences and fame, that I have been experiencing from the time I was six years old. Hence I have no attraction towards conveniences and fame. Because I had the two already, when I came into politics, hence my mind is that of a karyakarta and I work with same fervour.

PC: The thing is that such people made you ordinary party worker who themselves have no following.

UB: I think contrary. For the first time it may have so happened in the history of Indian politics, that for a person who has been a leader in one state, he has been accepted as a leader in other state too. People and karyakartas of Uttar Pradesh accepted me as I am from Uttar Pradesh.

PC: Some say that you are an intruder in Uttar Pradesh.

UB: It is something else to go to another state to fight lok sabha elections. It is a different thing to be nominated in the Rajya Sabha. Like the way I worked in Madhya Pradesh, in the same way with a homely feeling I am working in Uttar Pradesh. May be I am alone who has been able to do this.

PC: But people are appointed as in charge of other states too. Like in a way you also garnered fame from Uttar Pradesh.

UB: For me there is no difference between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

PC: So, in a way it is second home for you.

UB: It is two parts of one home.

PC: But let me ask you the same thing again, suddenly you were made karyakarta again.

UB: No, I was not made karyakarta, I was always a karyakarta and my feet were on the ground.

PC: But other people who left the party, or were expelled, they were welcomed back with great respect and fanfare. Like Kalyan Singh was made election incharge, when Uma Bharti came from the medium of sangh, hindutva, does the party and its leaders have any problem in giving Uma Bharti a post.

UB: There is no importance of these things for me. Let me tell you one thing, I went to meet president Prathiba Patil on the issue of Ganga, when I reached the gate and walked towards Rashtrapatii Bhavan, there my bodyguards tried to tell officials there that Uma Bharati has come, the body guards there said that there is no need of introducing Uma Bharati, hence I don’t need any designation and fame.

PC: Your clothes explain who you are.

UB: May be, due to the grace of god, the place that I have in the hearts of the people is important.

PC: This is your large heartedness,

UB: What large heartedness.

PC: All the other people who were brought back into the party, they were given some official position.

UB: I have no importance to such things Prabhu.

PC: Don’t they fear you.

UB: Fear?

PC: Because you have come back, you went to UP, if you win elections, people will give you credit for the same without asking. That is why you are being given no post, hence everybody would seem equal.

UB: I am not someone to fear, I am lovable, and people may love me.

PC: From your nature, not talking about your face.

UB: Not talking about my dangerous face, beautiful people are also dangerous. There is dangerous mind and thinking, there is nothing in my mind to the effect that I want to threaten anyone.

PC: By heart you are a rebel.

UB: This is the way media projects it. Because when I participated in Ram Janmabhoomi movement, people with leftist thought were holding sway over the media. Since they could not find anything against me, they drew this analogy.

PC: But when you start this yatra, which will be your party’s fifth or sixth one.

UB: This is not a yatra I am telling you. Gatherings will be held at various places. There will be no movement in this, we will go and hold gatherings, just that it will happen with my co ordination.

PC: If your name is associated with yatra, then you are equal to Kalraji, Advaniji, Rajnathji, hence the name of your yatra is changed to something else.

UB: But this is the work I like, I have asked for it. I spoke to Nitin Gadkariji. There are two steps leading to an elections, one is canvassing and abhiyan and the second is other administration which is related till the polling booth. Hence I requested him for the former, and even worked in Rajnathji and Kalrajji’s yatra. I was also asked to initiate a yatra, but I said that I would like to participate in these two yatras.

PC: That means you are doing more of organisational work.

UB: I said that I will go for both yatras because I would like to go to both areas. One is with Rajnathji, the other with Kalrajji, I wanted to go to both areas. Both yatras were very good, and Advaniji’s yatra was at the national level, and for three days he was in Uttar Pradesh. The experience which I got from these yatras, after which I requested Nitinji for giving me work, which he gave me.

PC: Now days decisions are taken that some people cannot work in their own states. Let me do a teekhi baat, that why can’t you go and become a karyakarta in Madhya Pradesh.

UB: I go there. There was a time in Narendra Modi’s life when he was said not to go to Gujarat. I was not told so but I myself did it. If the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh faces any difficulty because of me being there, then that should be averted. Because for the past two years, the campaign was that I am capable of disturbing Madhya Pradesh. That is why I decided. But I go there, my brother is ill, to meet him.

PC: But you don’t go for political work.

UB: In guess that in a programme journalists asked this to Nitinji. Recently, I also got an invitation from the Madhya Pradesh government to be the chief guest for a function. But I could not go.

PC: Sanjay Joshi and Uma Bharati are working outside their own state.

UB: Sanjay Joshi is from Maharashtra.

PC: But he stayed in Gujarat and built organisation there.

UB: With Narendra Modiji, one for one – two years he was told not to go to Gujarat. This case is not the same with me.

PC: Now you starting a yatra, I am saying a yatra because people think is it yatra not abhiyan.

UB: It is an abhiyan, nobody thinks It is a yatra.

PC: When Uma Bharati’s name is attached, after Kalraj Mishra, Rajnath Singh, now it is possible somebody else will campaign after you. What is Uma Bharati’s slogan there, people will say she is a paratrooper.

UB: Till now nobody has said such a thing, people said quite the contrary. Even the survey that India today did, people agreed that me going to Uttar Pradesh has benefitted BJP. Hence, it is contrary, the people, party workers and leaders there have lovingly accepted me. My village is also an important reason for this , the village that I hail from has two parts, it is on the border of UP and MP. Hence my village is half in UP and the other half in MP.

PC: Same like Jaiprakash Narayan. if you want to go to Bihar you have to go via UP.

UB: Hence, UP people did not feel that I am not from there.

PC: Since you are saying political acceptability, then there is possibility of you being political leader and chief minister there. I am not saying you want to be.

UB: This is not the issue now. The issue is that we have to form a government there. The present condition there I feel that that the people want to see our government being formed there. Now we have to set out systems rightly. Hence I requested Nitin Gadkariji, to give me work of co ordination for some time.

PC: Will you fight elections there.

UB: I will take no decision regarding me, Nitin Gadkariji will do that.

PC: But the state the organisation is in, on what issues you will win elections. Uma Bharati says that she will not contest elections. There is also no chief ministerial candidate. Plus you are pitted against Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Ajit Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, but BJP has not candidate.

UB: I accept that two parties are strong there. One is SP, the other is BSP, they have got state level leaders too. But people are miffed with BSP these days, this is said by people all over UP. People consider SP, even worse than BSP. Congress has no existence there, even if Rahul Gandhi does extensive campaigns. Now he has said such a thing, which has heart the self respect of the people of UP, that people go to beg, he does not know that people go to work there as labour. There is a difference between doing labour work and begging, this understanding Rahul Gandhi does not have. UP is a place filled with nationalist people, and to say that they are beggars is absolutely wrong.

PC: But Rahul has made Mayawati and your situation difficult there, because of the impact he has on the people and the media, you have nobody in comparison.

UB: I don’t think this way, one the other had the way media focuses in Rahul Gandhi yatra, the same way focus on me. My programmes are better than his.

PC: He is a new face

UB: He is no new face, he is 40 years old and middle aged.

PC: But at 40 he is young compared to all other leaders. But Rahul Gandhi is leaving an impact there. Even you had become chief minister at age of 40-42, weren’t you middle aged then?

UB: No, congress has no influence in UP. They would not get even a polling agent. They have so many problems; they have taken the support of Mayawati and are also troubling her. I will say that the stand taken by Mamta Banerjee was good, he took a stand on inflation and fought with the government. Mayawati has given support to the central government; they are both in a strange association. Now also you will see they way Congress has trapped Mayawati, you will know how Digvijay Singh said, and ‘we have the CBI’. This is Digvijay Singh’s statement. There is difference between CBI investigations and a party post holder saying that “we have CBI”. CBI is with the government and not with the general secretary of any party. Digvijay Singh, one the issue of Batla house, or Karkare, Mayawati, he has tried to prove that the central agencies work on his directions.

PC: I feel that elections are not between Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav but Uma Bharati and Digvijay Singh.

UB: I can say that destiny is such that, when he was chief minister in Madhya Pradesh, I went there and defeated him. After which he was incharge of Bihar, where I was there to defeat Laloo and Rabri. Now, he has come here.

PC: In UP there will be conflict on communalism and secularism. Digvijay Singh is sec

ularist and you are communal, this message will be spread by the people.

UB: No, I don’t believe that Digvijay Singh is secular, and I am communal. One who is Hindu and hindutvavadi is secular. One who is against hindutva cannot be secular, he will be communal. Now, it is a different issue that you don’t consider muslim leaning as communal, but say hindutva is communal. I find him a muslim leaning person.

PC: He is secular.

UB: Muslim leaning and appeasing does not mean secular. That is communalism.

PC: You say that Mandir vahi banega, your program is mandir, and your party president Nitin Gadkari said that this is not your poll agenda the next day.

UB: Both said the right thing. We said that where Ram Lalla is there we want to see a mandir there. And it is also true that in the UP elections, criminalisation and corruption are the major issues. Hence, both issues what Nitinji and I said are correct.

PC: What will happen if you become chief minister by chance, same that happened during Kalyan Singh’s time.

UB: The land earmarked by the centre for building a temple, that land should be given to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.

PC: But you will abide by the Supreme Court judgement.

UB: The judgement which came and was accepted by the Muslims and Hindus with grace, it paved that way that the temple will be built there.

PC: But that is on your agenda.

UB: That is the agenda of the whole country, all Hindus.

PC: But like there is no agreement on who will be chief minister, there is no agreement on who will be prime minister, you said Advaniji can become, somebody else also said he can become. Was Advaniji successful in his yatra, at many places yatra did not go too well? Did he become weak, or is he still the prime ministerial candidate.

UB: In my opinion, of all the yatras I saw, Advaniji’s was the best.

PC: He is a strong candidate for prime minister’s post.

UB: See I will tell you the successes of Advaniji’s yatra. In Anna Hazare’s movement, all political parties and leaders were put on one side, and made to look as villains. And there was a mood that only people running NGOs can be against corruption and nobody else. There was a need to fight corruption on a political agenda, because when that step will come, the party who will fight corruption on political agenda will have the onus of proving themselves clean first. But the issues which Advaniji took up he said that our leaders should declare that they have no bank accounts abroad.

PC: But according to you is Advaniji a prime ministerial candidate.

UB: What has happened to you Prabhuji, what has happened to the media of this country? Why are you raising questions against our party regarding prime minister and chief minister somewhere, I am speaking on the issue of Advaniji’s yatra.

PC: Now are you missing Atalji’s absence.

UB: Now, I will focus on what Advaniji said that those who will speak against corruption, first will have to show that their party is clean. Advaniji dared and got the party to your scrutiny. Media now should watch BJP.

PC: You started to imitate Anna Hazare

UB: Black money and corruption are our election issues of 2009.

PC: But you lost the elections, the people did not accept what you said.

UB: Losing elections does not mean that the issue is lost.

PC: Now you don’t want to talk about the prime minister.

UB: This is a non issue.

PC: This is a non issue for your party

UB: It is a non issue for me.

PC: For you PM and CM is non issue.

UB: Yes, they are non issues.

PC: Ram mandir and corruption are issues for you.

UB: corruption, criminalisation, ram mandir are issues for me, not who will become CM and PM

PC: Let see how your UP yatra goes

UB: Abhiyan

PC: Thank you for coming to our studio.

UB: Thank you Prabhuji !

PM must get his House Maths right/Power&Politics/November 27, 2011, The Sunday Standard

Power & Politics

Prime Minister must get his House Maths right for the people

Anyone who has something to hide or fear runs away from dialogue and debate. Instead of taking detractors head on, they take refuge in whispers, vendetta and verbal vandalism. Such cowards are subjecting India’s parliamentary democracy to the worst kind of assault.

The UPA Government doesn’t want to face reality. The Opposition is insisting on dictating terms rather than the agenda. For the past few sessions, Parliament has transacted little business. All its bright, earthy and absentee members will continue to get their perks, salaries and daily allowances by merely marking attendance. The substantive blame for parliamentary paralysis lies at the UPA’s door. Its leadership lists bills to be discussed in the House, but lacks the will to see them through by building consensus. Instead of creating an environment for reconciliation, the Government is resorting to confrontationist tactics. Its reluctance to accept some of the genuine demands of the combined Opposition stems from insecurity. Going by the arithmetic composition of the house, the UPA is in a hopeless minority. It is hobbling along on crutches given by some of its allies who are but providing only outside support. The Opposition is legitimately exploiting the mathematical discomfort of the Government. Both the BJP and the Left have been confabulating on rules regarding voting in the House once discussions on politically volatile issues like inflation, corruption and Telangana are done. Even during the last two sessions of Parliament, both Houses had to adjourn without transacting any business because the Government didn’t concede the Opposition’s demand to allow either a censure motion against the UPA or to vote on various issues. Since the Opposition is aware of the contradictions and conflicts within the UPA, it has always tried to corner the Government by bringing controversial resolutions on corruption and black money on the floor of the House. Since the Congress has only 206 members in the Lok Sabha, it needs 70-odd more votes from its allies for survival. So far, only NCP and the National Conference—whose combined strength is barely 19 MPs—haven’t served any ultimatum to blackmail the government. But the TMC and the DMK with 40-odd MPs are always threatening to walk out of the Government. Last month, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced unequivocally that she would withdraw support to the UPA if the Government raised petroleum prices again. She also openly opposed the Cabinet decision on allowing FDI in retail. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi of the TMC even left the Cabinet meeting after the Prime Minister and finance minister chose to ignore his reservations on the matter; though he did seek the Prime Minister’s permission to leave. M K Alagiri, the only DMK nominee in the Cabinet, was conspicuous by his absence as his party is also opposed to the move.

With the numbers stacked against the Congress, its floor managers are not willing to take any risks. The conduct and posturing of UPA leaders betrays their lack of confidence. Last week, its floor managers used every rule in the book to stall any debate that would expose the Government’s numerical minority. For voting on the floor of the House on subjects like inflation and black money, even UPA allies and sympathisers wouldn’t want to be seen being on the Government’s side. Opposition leaders like L K Advani, Sitaram Yechury and others are determined to prove that the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of not only the allies who are part of the Government, but also of those who are supporting the Government from the outside. On the other hand, Manmohan’s floor managers and promoters are equally aggressive in preventing Parliament from giving any number-driven verdicts against the Government. Political compulsions prohibit all political parties from wanting a mid-term poll and hence they are refraining from making any move that might bring the Government down.

In fact, the ruling establishment is seriously divided over the manner in which parliamentary business is managed. No UPA minister has been able to infiltrate the Opposition. Worse, hardly any of them commands respect or has a reasonable rapport with those who matter in the BJP or in other powerful opposition parties. Sadly, the weakness and irrelevance of the few individuals in the Government has made the Prime Minister’s position shaky and untenable. Already weakened and crippled by various scams, any question mark over the majority the Government enjoys in Parliament subverts the Prime Minister’s authority. If Manmohan wishes to regain his political clout, then both he and the Congress has to dispel the impression that the Government does not enjoy full support in Parliament, even though public perception feels so. The sooner this is done, the better it is for the stability of India’s political system. prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com

Teekhi Baat with Abishek Singhvi_Prabbu Chawla/November 19,2011 _IBN7

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Spokesperson

of the Congress Party on Teekhi Baat

Bengal's Great Game Changer is Really Just a Name Changer/Power & Politics/November 20, 2011/The Sunday Standard

Power & Politics

Bengal's Great Game Changer is Really Just a Name Changer

To her admirers, Mamata Banerjee is a mission and a message. Her mission: trounce and liquidate the Red Empire that ruled West Bengal for three decades. Her message: restore responsive and participative governance. But after six months, the 56-year-old first-ever woman chief minister of West Bengal hasn’t been able to find a credible mechanism to deliver her message to people so that she can achieve her mission.

Mamata is a known rabble-rouser. Soon after her resounding victory in May, she was conferred a powerful corporate adjective — the Game Changer. But last week, her actions and utterances betrayed all the expectations her underwriters had promised. Instead of being chief ministerial in her posturing and performance, Mamata is still competing with her old rivals to retain the title of the state’s most effective Leader of the Opposition. Her attack on the Congress leadership, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and her dealings with Maoists who were her former comrades-in-arms reflect her combative attitude.

Mamata has always been known for throwing tantrums and dictating terms. She hasn’t understood, or refuses to understand, the meaning of coalition dharma. She believes that it is her fundamental right to occupy both the Opposition’s and the ruling party’s space. If the Congress refuses to see reason in her unreasonable demands, she takes to the streets and lashes out in an offensive and humiliating manner. Last week, when Pranab invoked genuine constitutional provisions, stating his inability to fulfill her demand for a huge financial package, her response was, “We may not be a pundit like him. He has been in politics longer. He knows a lot and is a great and respected leader. We may be servants, but we will protect the prestige of West Bengal. I can tolerate everything. But not insult to the people of West Bengal. We are not seeking alms from Centre. It is our right. Bengal should be considered as a special case as we are carrying on with a paralysed economy.” Since the Congress party depends on her for survival in Delhi, it suffers her insults. However, when some courageous Youth Congress workers protested against her government’s repressive attitude, she threatened the Congress with serious consequences. On Friday she said, “It’s for the Congress to decide whether to support Trinamool or extend indirect support to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). It will be sorted out because both cannot go hand in hand. They (Congress) have earlier done the same thing. Trinamool doesn’t want to stay with political parties which have covert relations with CPI-M.” But most surprising was her fallout with the Maoists who provided her the weapon and muscle to keep the Marxists in check during the elections. Not only has she forgotten her promises to resolve contentious issues but has threatened to launch a full-fledged war against them. Now she is accusing them of planning to eliminate her: “I have reports that a joint conspiracy has been hatched to eliminate me.” Mamata has become the second woman chief minister after Mayawati who has received assassination threats.

It is not just the terms of engagement with her ally or with others that has made Mamata’s message West Bengal’s nightmare. Except changing the name of her state, she has hardly done anything that symbolises change in governance—not one portfolio under her has shown any progress in any area. She holds all the politically important portfolios of home, health, public administration, land and land reforms, cultural affairs, education, power, information and administrative reforms.

Listening to others has never been Mamata’s virtue. When she storms into a police station with her power-hungry supporters, the cops don’t know to handle the unprecedented situation in which a ruler herself breaks the law and takes away the accused. Earlier, when she visited one of the badly run government hospitals, she found fault with the doctors and not with what was ailing the hospital. During the past six months she has grabbed every photo-op to be in the headlines for her words instead of her deeds. She has used her clout to get the petroleum price hike, the Teesta river accord with Bangladesh and some provisions of the Land Reforms Bill reversed. But she hasn’t changed the face of her own bureaucracy or empowered her colleagues. Least of all, Mamata hasn’t defined her agenda for change. What is definitely looking better, though, is the exterior of the Writers’ Building with its fresh coat of paint. Inside, the rot is worse than what it was during Marxist rule.
prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com

Teekhi Baat_Akhilesh Yadav_Prabhu Chawla/IBN7 November 12, 2011

Interview with Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Teekhi Baat for IBN7

Excerpts:

PC: Are you a future national leader, or have you already become one.

AY: No, I am not a future leader, but I am president of Uttar Pradesh (for the party).

PC: I said future national leader.

AY: I don’t know what I will become in future. As of now I am working for the party, and for UP.

PC: With family run politics in the country, in regional parties also the son takes over the reins. Now Rahul Gandhi would be anointed.

AY: I have come above family run politics. When I had chosen to fight election for the first time, many questions were raised, but I won. And they made an issue that this is family run. But our family has struggled. We did not get any post, we were told to ride cycle, face the lathis. We are frequently doing andolans (protest). People with us are being beaten and also put in jail. Many are not allowed to come out of the house. If one gets this in family run politics, then we are in struggling phase.

PC: It means you are becoming a leader by facing lathis.

AY: Certainly, I am facing lathis and riding cycle.

PC: But your rath is air conditioned.

AY: Am onboard the rath (chariot) because the program includes a rath, the Kranti rath. Netaji had once announced a rath program and moved all over Uttar Pradesh. That time Janta Dal was in power and our party came back to power again. We are hopeful, that we will go among people, put forward various questions, and we hope that people will support us and Samajwadi party will form the government.

PC: Akhileshji, there is a fashion of rath, it is remembered during before the onset of elections. Before that neither rath nor cycle is remembered, other times there are air conditioned cars, planes, foreign trips. Before elections politicians recall rath, cycles and red and white topi.

AY: From the time Samajwadi party is out of power, only six months after the result, we were not struggling. After six months, we are continuously doing andolans. We are continuing our fight against the government, our supporters are being beaten up, there are conspiracies of filing false cases and we are working continuously. Nobody can’t say we are doing all this because of elections in future, even the date of elections is not clear.

PC: But the elections would surely happen before May, this is decided.

AY: It took us six months for deciding the tickets. Party wants that the leaders go among people by using rath, hence we can reach the maximum number of people.

PC: You can also go by helicopter, which you used to use more often earlier.

AY: The rath starts form 9.30 am, and goes till 11 pm, 12 pm. There is no comfort in rath.

PC: But you said you are struggling.

AY: There is struggle when you are travelling in a rath too.

PC: Who this struggle is against.

AY: The government of Bahujan Samaj Party, which looted Uttar Pradesh.

PC: They developed UP, cleaned Lucknow.

AY: Tell me in the whole of Uttar Pradesh if any farmer is getting fertilizer. When a farmer went to take fertilizer, he was beaten with lathis. When the farmer went to take DAP, he had to give double or three times the amount of money. He is not even getting the minimum support price.

PC: Who is your enemy in Uttar Pradesh?

AY: In Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi party will have a straight contest with Bahujan Samaj party.

PC: You have a secret friendship with the Congress?

AY: There is no friendship. Samajwadi party has supported them only to stop the BJP. As far as fighting for the rights is concerned, Samajwadi party is fighting on the question of inflation.

PC: When you are supporting the government in whose rule inflation is rising.

AY: In Lok Sabha, Netaji and all of us raised the issue if inflation.

PC: Inflation has not ceased in the past five years.

AY: More than Congress, the BSP is responsible for the poor state of affairs in UP.

PC: You think the state government is responsible for inflation in the state.

AY: Why is not the state government responsible?

PC: Is the state responsible for raising prices of petrol.

AY: If the petrol prices have increased, isn’t the UP government also charging tax from it, for diesel also they are charging tax.

PC: You the Congress has less share of responsibility for the state of affairs.

AY: Both are responsible equally for the state of affairs. Congress and BSP people are responsible for inflation and the sorry state of affairs in UP.

PC: In 2008, Samajwadi party saved the Congress government, you are with them on the issue of inflation, on the issue of CAG report, your party votes in favour of the Congress, in JPC too, you party people are with them.

AY: The issue is we can never stand with BJP.

PC: What will happen if you support BJP in PAC on the issue of countering corruption.

AY: The recent decision of the parliamentary board was that we will not save the Congress government if it falls on its own. This is so that the Congress has given assurance time and again that they will curb inflation, corruption and improve the condition of farmers. More than anybody, Congress is responsible for the poor state that the farmers are in.

PC: You say Mayawati is responsible for inflation, corruption but you will be with Congress in PAC on the issue of 2G.

AY: Who demanded a JPC in the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi party did. And we are raising the issue of 2G, because it is such a big scam, that we cannot explain it to the common people.

PC: But why you went against the PAC report, if the scam is so big, when Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi presented the report, you went back. You supported them, hence they got majority, hence on 2G corruption issue, you sided with the government.

AY: See, we will never let corruption increase.

PC: Let me ask you Teekhi Baat, when PAC report comes now, you will side with the report or the government.

AY: We will read the report first, if it has been made fine, the we will take a decision. In the 2G case, how members can read such a voluminous report in one day.

PC: But it must have been circulated.

AY: It was not circulated.

PC: You could have demanded that it be circulated, after that you could have vote.

AY: If it is circulated, the party will think on the same.

PC: When whenever there is a no confidence motion, you will stand by the Congress.

AY: The corruption and inflation because of the Congress party and the way they are supporting BSP. Rs. 700 crore was spent on laying stones.(Referring to parks built by Mayawati)

PC: You decide who the Congress is with, they are taking support from them and you.

AY: As far as Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi party is concerned, Samajwadi party holds both of them responsible for the poor state of affairs in UP and the bad state that the farmers are in.

PC: Then why don’t you withdraw support.

AY: When the time comes, Netaji will decide. The state president of UP cannot take this decision. But we can have an opinion.

PC: What is you personal opinion.

AY: An individual opinion will not be agreed to, the party opinion will be agreed to.

PC: You think that the Congress is a lesser evil in BSP, on inflation, corruption.

AY: No, as far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned.

PC: I am talking of the country, UP is in the country.

AY: As far as UP is concerned, inflation, corruption and loot, both are supported each other and the state has suffered. They both are responsible for ruining the condition of farmers. Now the minimum support price of gains is not being given, hence it is being bought in the open market. But nobody is bothered about it.

PC: You are accusing both, but one you are feeding with support other you are running behind with lathis.

AY: As far as UP is concerned, SP takes steps to stop the BJP. We are working to stop the BJP.

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PC: You think if you withdraw support from the government, BJP will come to power.

AY: Why won’t it come?

PC: How, 116.

AY: On the issue of nuclear deal, BSP stood by BJP.

PC: You saved the government on the nuclear deal.

AY: We saved the government, because there was a problem before the country.

PC: You saved the government, for which you member went to jail, one member got bail, HC gave stay order. Giving support was your decision.

AY: Whatever the issue, it is before the court, decision will come out.

PC: It was a party decision to save the government.

AY: Yes it was party decision.

PC: You are saying to ward off the BJP you will keep supporting the Congress, let corruption or inflation increase.

AY: No, not on the issue of corruption or inflation. In Lok Sabha, Samajwadi party members spoke against the Congress party, corruption and inflation must stop. An assurance has been given. An our central parliamentary boards recent decision, says that if the Congress party goes, we will not save it by giving support.

PC: If a no confidence motion is tabled against the Congress on the issue of corruption.

AY: We are working in UP continuously.

PC: You are not answering my question. It seems you have not authority to speak anything regarding the Congress.

AY: It is not the question of authority. I told you Netaji’s decision that if this time the Congress goes, we will not save it.

PC: How will it go if you don’t withdraw?

AY: If others are taking back support on the issue of inflation. We have fought on the issue of corruption, even in Lok Sabha, Congress has given assurance that it will improve things.

PC: In saving the Congress government, Mayawati and Mulayam Singh are on one side.

AY: As far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, we are continuously doing andolans and speaking against both, that is why I said. If Uttar Pradesh is in ruins, farmers are in a bad condition, then BJP and even Congress is responsible. Stones worth Rs. 700 crore are laid in Noida, stones worth thousands of crores are laid in three places.

PC: She is such an honest chief minister, if there is any allegation against his MLA, he is sent to jail. If there is a charge against a minister, he goes to jail. Do you expel any leader from your party when there is a charge against him.

AY: Such organised corruption, loot and so many allegations have not been levelled against any government that have been levelled against this government. Let it be of rape, dishonesty or corruption. And farmer would have not been is such a bad shape that the BSP has led them to. Today everything that the farmer buys from the government is expensive. They should get MSP for grains, which they are not getting. There is loot in BSP’s rule. If district officer, police are dishonest and they win elections, then is this democracy.

PC: Is it right to say that if they win, it is dishonesty, if you do, it is not.

AY: On so many booths, their ministers distributed money; the police were working to see that they win. That is why I said, the people of UP are not happy.

PC: You are saying time and again that Congress is responsible for leading UP to ruin. Before elections you have no alliance with Congress, what after elections.

AY: After elections I have confidence that Samajwadi party will form a government will full majority.

PC: If there is a need would you go with Congress

AY: I am saying we will come with full majority.

PC: This is your imagination

AY: This is not imagination, not because SP MLA’s have lost with slim margins.

PC: If there is no majority, will you sit in opposition.

AY: I am not thinking that we will not come, SP will form government with full majority.

PC: Will you take anybody’s support later or not.

AY: I have told you that there will be no issue of taking support because SP will form government with majority. That is why tickets have been given one year ago. That is why we started campaigning so early, that is why we have to go on cycle, we are travelling on cycle, also on kranti rath. Because, we are going in the midst of farmers, lot of them suffered losses due to floods but they got no compensation, not any good price for their crop, that farmer is ready to vote against this government.

PC: Why do you think people will give you vote, you are only a Yadav party, people say. Yadavs and some Muslim brothers are with you.

AY: When opposition has no allegation to make, then they raise allegations of dynasty. Then they say it is Yadav party. Today there is no such section of people who does not form the support base of Samajwadi party. If today we gave ‘kanya vidya dhan’ to women, there is no section of people left.

PC: You had 97 MLA’s, only 77 are left, 20 left you.

AY: Some went because of greed, some others, they were threatened, troubled, implicated in false cases and they left. The strength of SP is that party worker, leader and people are looking at SP today.

PC: What is your slogan.

AY: Samajwadi party wants that the farmer should prosper.

PC: You are working only for farmer.

AY: ‘Roti and Kapda’ prices should come down, why not. This is the slogan of Samajwadi people.

PC: Will SP win only on farmer vote, rest there are shopkeepers in the city, harijans and others.

AY: The principle of Samajwad is walking together with all people. And show them the path of prosperity. There is no class of people who are not with us. Today SP has the most number of dalit MP’s. There is no class of society whom we have got together with us. We don’t do politics on the basis of caste. The place from where I am elected, Kannuj, there I have not won by doing politics of caste.

PC: In last elections also, I saw film stars, businessmen, could be seen on Samajwadi party’s stage, used to campaign in elections. Will this time also their support would be taken.

AY: Samajwadi party is going among the people on its principles and causes that it struggles for, and the issues that farmers are facing.

PC: I ask you some question, you come back to farmer issue. Like earlier netaji (Mulayam Singh) used to be seen between film stars and businessmen.

AY: There is no wrong thing in business coming on our platform. Businessmen will come, set up businesses and factories.

PC: They used to give speeches, come your functions too.

AY: No, they never gave speeches.

PC: You people had a good company with them. Will you call film stars this time for campaigning.

AY: If any film star wants to come and campaign for Samajwadi party then surely we will welcome him.

PC: Sanjay Duttji was your general secretary.

AY: That you will have to ask Sanjay Duttji whether he wants to come or not.

PC: Is Sanjay Dutt general secretary of your party even now.

AY: Now he is not in the party.

PC: You expelled him or

AY: Expelled him.

PC: If he wants to come you will take him back.

AY: If he feels for working for the cause Samajwadi party espouses, then we will welcome him.

PC: You mean that you will not call any film star for campaign; if anybody wants to come you will welcome him.

AY: We will not stop any film star.

PC: You will not call

AY: We will not calling from our side.

PC: Who are they; tell me name of one filmstar. Earlier Sunjay Dutt was there, Jaya Bachchanji.

AY: Jayaji is in the party.

PC: She is still a member of the party.

AY: She is a member of the party. She is the part of the national organisation.

PC: You will call her for campaigning.

AY: If anybody wants to come for campaigning.

PC: She is in your party.

AY: Should we ask anybody forcefully that please come for campaigning, this decision is taken by the leader that he will go for campaigning.

PC: You expect that Jaya Bachchanji should come and campaign for you.

AY: Along with Jaya Bachchanji, if anybody wants to campaign for SP, and help its cause, we will welcome him.

PC: Earlier film starts used to be called, this time Akhilesh Yadav will not go searching for film stars, if they come themselves it is fine.

AY: Please see, that is why, with kranti rath, we went among people and frequently whenever needed we are going via cycle. We went on cycle from near your studio. On the first day, we rode 80 km on cycle.

PC: Your training has been good, I am asking you some question, you are answering something else.

AY: No, there is no question of training in this. We people from Samajwadi party are going among people, and will continue to go among people.

PC: Don’t you think that netaji faltered, it was seen that SP was a party of businessmen, film stars. Slowly, you are changing the image.

AY: I am welcoming businessmen even today.

PC: For opening factories.

AY: Sugar mills were set up in UP, Netaji was responsible for setting up most of them. Because of SP, sugar came, hence people are happy. I am asking what industry this government set up. During our time the environment was such that many others set up industries.

PC: The people who helped you get industry. Let me ask you straight, whatever happened to Amar Singh, do you think that government did the right thing.

AY: I used to address him as uncle earlier; today also I address him as uncle. netaji told what benefit did uncle get, the Congress government was saved.

PC: Hence, whatever action happened against him was wrong.

AY: Please see, that matter is in the court. But as far as netaji is concerned, he made a statement and said that the Congress government was saved. Really, injustice happened with him.

PC: Will you make an effort to take him back into the party.

AY: That question cannot arise, because he is our of the party now, but is my uncle.

PC: Will you make an effort to get him back.

AY: No, there will be no effort from me to get him back.

PC: So, you will groom new people. Akhilesh Yadav is forming new band of people in his party.

AY: No, I am not forming any new band of people in the party, whoever is of SP, is also mine. And all those who are together in Samajwadi andolan all those are Samajwadi.

PC: Let us see what kind of andolan you run. Thank you for coming to our studio.

AY: Thank you sir!