Walking down the marble laid pathways in the Gorakhnath temple compounds one gets stuck by the intricate designs of the interiors of the temple. The path leads to the office of Mahant of Gorakhspeeth. It is early in the morning but people have lined up to meet the Mahant. They have come with their applications. The Mahant, Yogi Adityanath is busy meeting these people when The Pioneer caught up with him for a brief chat over prevailing political situation. The local MP from Gorakhpur is angry the way Akhilesh Yadav has adopted politics of discrimination. “You cannot have different development parameters for different religion. You cannot implement development schemes on religious lines,” he said making it clear that he means business. Excerpt:
So many issues are being highlighted in UP. For you which is the main issueIJ
The BJP wants to establish sushashan (good governance) in Uttar Pradesh. People are fed up with the misrule of the Akhilesh Yadav Government. They are craving for development. We have promised to bring good governance — and that is our commitment.
All the parties are talking about good governance how the BJP is different.
The concept of good governance of BJP is different from others. We want to end the politics of appeasement. People are fed up with discrimination of Akhilesh Government. They want development which is not driven by caste and religion. The BJP is committed to implement Modi Government’s philosophy of development for all appeasement for none.
Of late the BJP seems to have changed its poll strategy. WhyIJ
It is wrong to say the BJP, has not changed its strategy. Our campaign centres around our poll manifesto. Since day one we are raising basic issues like power, water, road, health care, agrarian crisis and education. We raised these issues in the western part of Uttar Pradesh and as the poll cavalcade has reached eastern part of the State these issues remain the same. In between we have raised local issues. It is the Opposition parties who have used divisive tactics to win votes.
HowIJ
The Samajwadi Party and the BSP first divided the State on caste lines then they brought discrimination in Government policies. Then they tried to divide society on religious lines. Scholarships to students were for given according to the religion they belong to. There was a special scheme for Muslim girls but no special scheme was for Hindu girls whyIJ
But it was BJP who raised the issue of Shamshan and Kabristan
The BJP raised the issue of discrimination among religious lines. The Akhilesh Yadav Government released money for graveyard for last five years but Hindu cremation grounds were spared. Only in 2015 some money was sanctioned after the BJP made hue and cry. Take example of power —Dewasharif gets power for 24 hours but Mahadeva temple does not whyIJ
People say BJP is anti-Muslim as it has not given ticket to any MuslimIJ
It is not people but the media is saying so. The BJP has given ticket tickets to those who can win elections for BJP. It is not important who got ticket and who not. Whoever parliamentary board thought fit got ticket. Important point is that our policies are not discriminating against people on religion or caste lines. Take any scheme of the centre. I can say one things - Muslims are secure in BJP ruled States.
What will the role of State Government in construction of Ram TempleIJ
On Ram temple the UP Government will play an important role. When in 1986 Ram Janmbhoomi lock was opened, view of Uttar Pradesh Government was taken. I believe whenever construction of temple will start role of UP government will be crucial. The role of state Government and temple construction is linked therefore if people want ram Temple they should vote for BJP.