In the backdrop of Bharatiya Janata Party becoming a divided house over fielding Muslims in the ongoing Assembly polls in UP, Union Minister and MP from Deoria Kalraj Mishra said Muslims stood benefited by schemes launched by the Narendra Modi Government. “A recent example is that of Ujjawala Scheme where Muslim households received free lPG connections. This is a fact which anyone can verify,” he said in a freewheeling interview with The Pioneer. Excerpts:
Five phases of elections are over. What is your response and projections.
The BJP is doing very well. It has been proved without doubt that the BJP will form the next Government in UP. We are getting support from all sections of the society. In the first phase, media started projecting that the BJP had lost grounds as Jats had deserted the party. But they did not realise that MBCs and other castes voted in favour of the BJP which has more than compensated our loss.
You claim all castes and sections have voted for the BJP. Does it mean Muslims tooIJ
We appealed for votes from all sections of the society without any discrimination. In fact, we do not discriminate in implementation of policies. Modiji’s policies are meant for development of all sections. I can vouch that benefits of Ujjawala Yojana in which free lPG cylinders were given has been availed by Muslims. I have myself distributed those connections among Muslims. The BJP Government is working on the principle of “sabka saath, sabka vikas”.
But there is perception that the BJP is anti-Muslim.
That is a canard being spread by people and a section of the media. Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan always raises the deaths in Gujarat riot. But another leader of the same party, Amar Singh questions Khan saying that why he was not talking about Muzaffarnagar riots. There cannot be two rules. It is easy for some to brand the BJP as anti-Muslim to get political mileage.
But this belief was cemented by the controversy over the BJP not giving ticket to any Muslim candidate.
Election is a contest where you put your best foot forward. The only criterion for the party is winnability. The BJP strategists probably did not get any Muslim face who could win election for us. But this does not mean that we discriminate in our policies.
There is a belief…
Please shed your inhibitions (laughs). The Modi Government has set up SC/ST Board which is helping the marginalised sdections to get jobs and opening job avenues for them. The Opposition says we were unable to create jobs but the fact is in the last two years, the MSME department has given over 10,000 jobs in Deoria district only while in India this figure runs into lakhs.
If the BJP was doing such good work, why has it not projected a CM candidate in UPIJ
This decision has to be taken by the Parliamentary Board. We are contesting election on Modiji’s name. We are telling people that we will replicate the development projects launched by the Modi Government.
There are many names that are floating around for CM faceIJ Are you one of themIJ
(Again gives a hearty laugh) The decision will be taken by the Parliamentary Board. In fact, I donot know that my name is doing the rounds. You are the first one to tell me that.