Whether in power or not, always in the news, he strides the Indian political firmament like a mighty colossus. An erudite scholar, a PhD-holder from the Harvard University, an outstanding Parliamentarian being elected five times from 1974 to 1999, a firebrand intellectual orator, an author of many books, an authority on India’s foreign affairs, preferably China, Pakistan and Israel, Dr Subramanian Swamy is also a former Central Minister.
He was called to Geneva, UN in 1978 to formulate a draft policy on the economic cooperation of developing nations and later on formulated a new strategy which became the forerunner of trade reforms. Known as a formidable crusader against the Emergency era and as a staunch adversary of Indira Gandhi, he made whirlwind globe-trotting tours to arouse international opinion against the iron curtain imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. When it was imperative on his part to attend Parliament in 1976, he came to India incognito and after attending Parliament disappeared again to overseas throwing weight blanket on the prying eyes of RAW personnel. After this episode, opposition leaders of India looked upon Swamy as a hero of their times. Now he sails and swims with the BJP. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury while he was being whisked away to the Bhubaneswar airport.
Do you think that the Modi Government will bring back all the money stashed overseas banks daring its tenureIJ
Certainly, all the money deposited overseas will be brought back home within a year. You don’t have to wait a long tenure of five years. There are as many as 20 million Indian accountholders in foreign countries and even then though the dubious bank accounts with nil deposits are there, mechanisms are available to trail the money and to trace the owners of the accountholders. Thereafter, the names of the black money depositors should be made public as there is no Indian law prohibiting such publication. But then, the matter is in the Supreme Court and it is the apex court which will take the decision in this regard.
What about the cases you have filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and their cohortsIJ
You know I have filed a case against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and their associates in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi. The matter will come up on December 2, 2014 again and the court will hear from me too the brief fact of the case that Mahatma Gandhi had started from a meagre amount of Rs 5 lakh deposits and today they are the owner of five thousand crores in respect of the Associated Press and Young Indian matters. Wherefrom this whopping amount accruedIJ Cases have been registered against them under Sections 120B, 405 and 406 IPC and I am sure this will lead them to the four walls of prison one day. The day Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi enter into jail, all scams of the country will come to rest. You know it has taken eighteen long years for me to follow the Jayalalithaa case and despite engaging big lawyers she found herself in Jail. In each and every State, I have some issues and I am to purge India out of its dross. I’m sure the law will take its own course and lead to its logical conclusion.
How can cow slaughter be banned when the country is considered as a secular oneIJ
The Supreme Court has pronounced its ruling in the matter. You must know that it is covered under the Directive Principles of State Policy and it is the duty of all States to protect cows and banish cow slaughter. Your Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should be aware of the fact that a large number of cows are being smuggled out of Odisha through Bengal to Bangladesh. And it is his duty to stop such smuggling. I am ashamed to say India is probably the highest exporter of beef to the whole world. It is a matter of shame sorrow, anguish. Cows are an integral part of Hindu culture and civilisation. Besides, the milk of Indian cows is nutritious in comparison to the cows of New Zealand and other countries. Besides, the milk of Indian cows is known for its medicinal values. As regards your question ‘secular’, I must say Hindus are born secular. They believe that all religions are creation of the divine and it is there rich cultural heritage to protect, defend and worship cows. On the contrary, cow eating and cow slaughter are not an essential part of Islamic faith.
What’s your opinion regarding coming together of the erstwhile Janata ParivarIJ
Any coming together of Janata Parivar (Nitish Kumar, lalu Yadav, Deve Gowda, Mulayam Singh Yadav) will end again not with a bang but with a whimper only. They are the persons who spoiled the Janata Parivar in 1979 and I was the only member left of this Parivar and remained its president. With the merger of the Janata Dal with the BJP since 2013, the BJP is the real Janata Dal now.
Will the present Central Government provide a uniform civil code to all citizens living under the Indian skyIJ
Certainly within the stipulated period of five years as declared in the BJP manifesto, this will be made possible and there is no room for despair.
When Chinese are making incursions into Arunachal and collecting revenue, how is our foreign policy towards China justifiedIJ
There are no incursions from the Chinese sides actually. No Chinese have collected taxes from Arunachal. It is only a misnomer. There is nothing also to worry about China since there is no real threat from its side. But then, we have now got a good Foreign Minister and we should build our defence so strongly that no one dares to attack.
You are here at Bhubaneswar today when the Union Ministry expansion is going on. What’s your reactionIJ
Am I looking sadIJ When the entire Government listens to me in rapt attention when I raise an issue, that is enough for me. One need not have a position in the Ministry to be heard. I am happy in whatever situation I am. In ancient times, kings and rulers had the Brahmins (for consultations) who were not in power. Similarly, I do not believe to be in power.