She has been the quintessential Indian Bahu for the masses but National Vice President Bnartiya Janta Party Smriti Irani is not here to cash in on her screen image. For Irani the key word is development and she promises to establish women centres in each of the assembly constituency of Amethi. Smriti in a chat with "The Pioneer" on Thursday said that she was not going to play the emotive card and will infact focus on development issues in Amethi.
Talking about her prospects against the Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, Smriti said that she has always fought battles. "This is another battle that I will fight to win irrespective of the paucity of the time that I have. For me the key word is development in Amethi" said Smriti. On being asked if she would play the bahu card in her campaign since she has been always viewed as the archetypal Indian bahu, Smriti said that she would not play the emotive card.
"The "beta factor" has not helped Amethi much and I will not bring this dynastic factor in my campaign. For calling Rahul Gandhi the beta of Amethi has not helped the people of Amethi" she said.
She also categorically pointed out that she was not here to cash in on her screen image. "My political journey has always seen me start out at the grassroot level and the several years that I have been with the organization, I have not cashed in on my screen image ever then why should I do it now" said Smriti.
When asked what she was promising for the women, Smriti said that women wanted the basic "Bijli, Pani and Sadak". "The biggest challenge that Amethi faces today is the supply of electricity 24x7, lack of roads, clean water, health infrastructure and the bad state of education. Women are all concerned with these issues and I will focus on these under the leadership of Narendra Modi" said Smriti Irani. She also said that as far as women security of women was concerned she would establish women centres in each of the five assembly constituencies in Amethi. "These women centres will not look after security but in addition provide the much needed skills for various jobs and they will be established in each of the constituency" she added.
On being asked that when elected would she shift to Amethi, Smriti said that she would stay in Amethi. "I have been told that Rahul Gandhi is an occasional visitor to Amethi. But I will stay in Amethi" she added.
When asked if she was concerned about campaigning amongst the people when there actress like Hema Malini and Nagma had faced problems in their respective constituency, Smriti said that "When one steps out in the public to give the party ideology one has to move out without fear. I have travelled the entire length and the breadth of the country without facing any problem in the past and never faced any problem. Irrespective of which political parties they belong the representatives should be allowed to step out and speak about their party’s ideology" said Smriti.