The only second generation BJP leader seen in Dhoti-Kurta, Rajnath Singh has taken over as the party’s national president for the third time. In an interview to Kumar Uttam, Singh was upbeat about party’s prospect in the lok Sabha polls. He spoke at length about possibilities of early elections, Afzal Guru’s hanging, boycott of the Home Minister, threats from China, and other issues. Excerpts:
Afzal Guru has been hanged. Is the BJP on the back footIJ
There is no question of being on the back foot. The Government has still to explain the circumstances behind the inordinate delay in taking a call on his mercy petition. We in the BJP feel that the mercy petition of convicts involved in heinous crimes should be disposed of within a time frame. It cannot be kept on hold for decades all together.
What about your “Muslim appeasement” allegations against the CongressIJ Will it stand even after Guru’s hangingIJ
The Congress is trying to be too clever by half. It has converted a simple legal process (of Guru’s mercy petition) into a political issue. The Congress is mistaken if it feels that people cannot see through its gameplan. You cannot wash off your sins with one decision. There are several questions that need to be answered.
Do you feel that the Government will be on the offensive after Guru’s hanging and you will be compelled to withdraw your call to boycott Home Minister Sushilkumar ShindeIJ
Certainly not. The two issues are not linked. The Home Minister has accused us of running terror camps. He will have to prove this or apologise. There is no middle path.
The BJP seems to be returning to older issues of Hindutva and Ram Temple. Will it not deter potential allies from joining the NDA, pre or post-electionIJ
Our commitment to Ram Temple is known. It has been there in our manifestos. As far as Hindutva is concerned, even the Supreme Court has maintained that it was a way of life. What problem can anyone have with thisIJ We have ruled this country for six long years and have proved that it was the only non-Congress alternative that could give a credible and development-oriented alternative at the Centre.
What sort of a campaign then do you plan for the next election.
Corruption, inflation, bad governance, poor state of the economy, internal and external security threats and many more - the Congress has given us so many issues. But our campaign will not be based on the “negatives” of the UPA. BJP-governed states have shown how progress can be made despite the hurdles put up by the Centre. They have many good things to showcase. Industrial development of Gujarat, agricultural growth in Madhya Pradesh, pro-poor schemes of Chhattisgarh and agrarian-friendly policies of Karnataka - we have many positives to showcase.
In 2009, you party had built up a “weak Prime Minister campaign”. Will it be a repeat of that this timeIJ
What all we said then has turned out to be correct. This Government is really weak. Or how else can you justify the muted response of the UPA after the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan army men on this side of the loCIJ I had said then that all CBMs and diplomatic engagements be scaled down for a while. Then you have the case of China, which dared to issue stapled visas to people from Arunachal Pradesh and J&K. India should have responded in a similar manner and told China that New Delhi would also issue stapled visas to people from Tibet. You need to flex muscles sometimes.
Is the BJP prepared for 2014 electionIJ Do you feel there could be a snap pollIJ
Given the desperation in the Congress camp to address the “problem of perception” (about them), I sometimes feel it was preparing for an early election by the end of this year. There are certain shortcomings with the BJP’s preparedness, but I am confident that we will overcome them and put things in place.
Who will be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in 2014IJ
The parliamentary board of the party will take a call on this issue at an appropriate time.
