Hitting out at the Akhilesh Yadav government, Union MSME minister Kalraj Mishra charged that it was vindictive towards Opposition parties and extending benefits only to party workers.
In a freewheeling interview Mishra, who was on his way to Deoria – his parliamentary constituency, said that the Modi government is a strong advocate of the federal system where the state and the Centre work in tandem but the Akhilesh government is throwing a spanner by levelling false allegations.
Excerpts of the interview :
Q: The BJP looks buoyant after recent success in five states where Assembly polls results were declared recently. How will Assam and Kerala results benefit the party in UP IJ
A: Politics is a game of sending messages. In technical term, one may argue that the results of five states will have no bearing in UP because of different socio-cultural matrix. Actually, these results boost the morale of party workers. These (results) will give workers something to cheer about. If a party loses polls in a state, the workers' morale is low and vice versa. So, these results will act as a catalyst and help workers to put their heart and soul in the Assembly polls in UP.
Q: Agreed, the results might have given that extra zing, is it enough for the BJP to form the next government in UP.
A: look, people are fed up with the misrule of the Samajwadi Party. The jungle raj is back. People here no longer feel safe. When Akhilesh Yadav came to power, he had the mandate to restore law and order. What happened in the next four years and a half is for everyone to see. Development has come to a naught in the state.
Q: The SP government blames the Centre for not supporting the state. The Chief Minister has claimed that Centre has stopped funds meant for UP.
A: These allegations are false. Modi government is acting on the principles of federal democracy and is supporting state governments as and when required. The 14th Finance Commission has increased state’s share from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. The Centre has also taken care of the revenue deficit of many states and UP is no exception. Many people-oriented schemes have been launched in collaboration with the state government. The charge of the CM that Centre is not cooperating is false and misleading.
The Centre has released funds for national calamity and the fact is UP government has not utilized this which is still in the government’s excheuer.
Q: The CM has claimed that the Centre …
A: This is very unfortunate that SP government, which is on the last leg of its tenure, has adopted pick and choose policy as far as extending benefits to the poor is concerned. People who sympathise with the SP are getting government benefits while others’ names are being struck off, on one pretext or the other. This has happened in case of lohia Gram Awas Yojana. Only those who are close to ruling party have got houses.
Q: The allegations are that Centre is not supporting UP government and now you are saying something elseIJ
A: Go by facts. Union Power minister claims that there is surplus power with the Central pool. The Centre has asked UP government to take power as per its requirement but it has refused to do so. The result is the whole of UP is reeling under severe crisis. Infrastructure in the state is very bad. The condition of road is pathetic. Ministers in state government are talking about networking of roads – where is that networking IJ
Q: You feel the condition of UP is bad. People want a change and will vote the BJP to power. Why BJP why not BSPIJ
A: Mayawati’s party has lost its credibility. People were fed up with corruption in BSP and thus voted SP to power. But this decision has proved disastrous. Obviously, people will not go back to the BSP. They will opt for the BJP as our agenda is development. They have seen two years’ of Modi regime where schemes like Ujjawala and Jan Dhan Yojana have transformed people’s life. It is now clear that the people will go for BJP and we will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh.