'Tell me one thing that Narendra Modi does and you don't
criticise. If he gives a ability to newcomers, you say he forgot the old guard;
if he gives a ability to an current you say Modi doesn't give a chance to young
leaders. Even if Narendra Modi sneezes people will find a reason to criticise
him for that.'BJP's Smriti Irani in her 'weirdest interview' yet.
A tired-looking Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member
Smriti Irani was at the Ahmedabad airport where she was hopping between
terminals on her way to Bhuj where the actor-turned-politician was scheduled to
campaign at six different places through the course of the day on Saturday.
Before zipping off on her campaign leg, she took time off to speak to Prasanna
D Zore.
Previous, Irani listened attentively to the flight
attendant - who gave instructions to her on what needs to be done in case the
flight lands in an emergency, seated as she was at the emergency exit - aboard
an early morning flight from Mumbai before catching up on much-needed sleep.
Waking up ten minutes before landing, Irani makes up her hair and gets ready
for a excited day ahead.
As soon as she comes out of the airport, a BJP worker
offers her a saffron cloth which she meticulously wraps around her neck.
Consistent efforts by another BJP worker to help her with luggage meets with a
stern yet sweet "Tamne khabar chhe, hu maro luggage jatech upadu choo (You
know I like to carry my personal luggage myself)," in fluent Gujarati.
A big fan of Narendra Modi and his style of governance,
and somebody who has worked with the Gujarat chief minister for almost 11 years
now under various programmes, Irani tells, she will vote for him
as India's prime minister if her party asks for her vote for the post in a
Democratic way.
You look very tired. How are you scheduled for the day?
I am doing a lot of up-and-down. Once the campaign bugle
is sounded one's schedule does get more hectic than normal. I have been in
continuous touch with people even before the elections were announced through
various projects. Be it the Sadbhavna Mission or the Vivekananda Yatra or for
that matter through mahila morchas we did meetings with women across all 182
constituencies in Gujarat. So it's been a continuous process.
Not at all. Anybody who is aware of the political
realities in Gujarat knows that this is no contest at all. It is just a
headline-chasing exercise for the Congress party. This particular nomination
from the Congress exposes the fact that (suspended IPS officer) Sanjiv Bhatt
was pursuing nothing but a farce which is actually a part of the political
strategy of the Congress party.
I remember, we questioned why Sanjiv Bhatt wanted to
receive packages from Congress leaders or as to why he was directing the
Congress leaders during the Sadbhavna Mission to put up anti-Modi posters. It
was quite weird to see a police officer doing all this. At that time people had
attacked us as to why we were posing these questions. And now Shweta Bhatt's
Congress nomination exposes Sanjiv Bhatt's close association with the party. I
have observed that since Shweta Bhatt filed her nomination papers, Sanjiv Bhatt
is answering media questions.
Narendra Modi's five big Achievements…
I can highlight more than five. Roads, electricity,
24-hour three-phase electricity to all cities and villages is a major
achievement. Especially when recently 20 states faced complete darkness,
Gujarat remained illuminated.
Also employability in Gujarat. The state has balanced
growth not only in industry but also agriculture. It is difficult to find a
harmonious balance between the two, but Mr Modi has done it successfully.
Women empowerment through water management committees,
assistance for women to start their own businesses through Mission Mangalam.
I have done a comparative study of welfare schemes
started by the central government and the Gujarat government. Not a penny has
been spent after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made the announcement
of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh scheme even after an allocation of Rs 300 crore.
Comparatively, the Gujarat government spent Rs 1,400 crore to employ more than
25 lakh (2.5 million) women.
During the state government's programme that tackles
malnutrition at village level, each sarpanch (head of a gram panchayat, the
basic unit at village level) handed out Rs 2 lakh publicly to tackle
malnutrition in their villages.
The Congress party controls and centralises authority but
the government of Gujarat not only delegates authority to the lowest rungs of
administration but also gives common citizens a chance to interact with the
chief minister so that they can put forth their problems and find solutions.
Since you have been touring the state so extensively, do
you see the Muslims in Gujarat moving towards the CM?
I am of the opinion that we have given many people across
all religious lines tickets to fight in terms of local elections and we have seen
amazing victories for them. I am very sure of one thing. In Gujarat or in India
where there is a Muslim or a Hindu or a Parsi - I am married into a
micro-minority (the Parsi community) -- the BJP thinks that an Indian can never
be a minority in his own country. One has to inculcate a feeling that if I
build a road then a Hindu or a Muslim or a Parsi or a Christian can walk on
that road. We all have equal right to share water, electricity or road.
So when I look at Indians, especially Gujaratis in Gujarat,
I am extremely proud to say that they are all a part of that development
process. Every citizen of the state has benefitted equally from the development
process and that is why Narendra Modi and BJP have won elections after
elections. Because of this particular concept you have seen a continuous wave
of victory for the BJP.
Why couldn't the BJP find one Muslim candidate to
represent Gujaratis at the state level?
I am an Irani and a member of Parliament in the Rajya
Sabha.
There is always some criticism. Tell me one thing that
Narendra Modi does and you don't criticise. If he gives a chance to newcomers,
you say he forgot the old guard; if he gives a chance to an incumbent you say
Modi doesn't give a chance to young leaders. Even if Narendra Modi sneezes
people will find a reason to criticise him for that.
I am part of the election committee at the central level
and when we decide to give a ticket to somebody we ensure we get the best
possible candidate who can sincerely work for his constituency. We don't
believe in 'pleasing the media' kind of effort. That's not how we do our
politics.
I was not given an opportunity because I am a part of the
Parsi community; I was not given an opportunity because I am a woman but
because I have a long record of service in the party and I was chosen based on
my contribution.
Will Keshubhai's Gujarat Parivartan Party dent the BJP's
electoral prospects?
Keshubhai Patel will not dent the BJP's victory in terms
of number of seats. I don't believe in speculation of that kind but there is no
dent whatsoever. Did you see a big chunk within the BJP joining Keshubhai?
But since he is a very senior gentleman who has served
the party for a long time we have respect for him. You will not find a single
BJP karyakarta (worker) speaking against him. We have maintained our respect
for him and it is for the people of Gujarat to respond to his political
programme.
Do you see Narendra Modi playing a leading role at the
executive level at the Centre?
That is an answer only Mr Modi can give. I'd like him to
lay a national role at all levels. Unlike the Congress our party believes in
democracy and takes a collective decision. If anybody asks for my vote you know
where my vote is.
Narendra Modi?
Of Course.
Your role model in the BJP?
There are two people I have seen in terms of their
working. One is Atal Bihari Vajpayee as India's PM. I have seen his
work for the party and in the government for Indians and I was extremely
touched with the kind of statesman that he was.
Secondly, I have worked with the BJP government in
Gujarat under the leadership of Narendra Modi as an MP for the past one year
and in the sanghatan (party) I have worked for 10 years with him and the fact
that I have a leadership that not only gives a chance to the youth of this
country and which respects the experience of the people who has served the
party for many years, the fact that the chief minister despite all his
achievements looks forward to new ideas in terms of technology from the youth,
is what fascinates a karyakarta like me. It is wonderful that our party has got
such a big gamut of leadership.
Where are you headed from here?
To Bhuj where six meetings have been scheduled. It is
going to be a busy day but I must tell you one thing. This is the weirdest
interview I have done at an airport.
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