Q: Your father was a prominent politician and you are trying to carry forward his legacy. Is it challenging to walk in the footsteps of such a towering figure?
A: Yes, it is indeed very challenging. People compare everything to my father. They assess me against his standards. The pressure is immense, and you become a leader not just because you are the son or daughter of a great leader but because of your capability. Those who don’t have the capability, are not accepted by society. You have to struggle hard.
Q: It is evident that you have faced challenges. You left the NDA, went against them, and then returned. During an NDA meeting, the Prime Minister treated you warmly and affectionately. Such images are common in politics.
A: It is better not to draw too many conclusions from such images. I share a personal relationship with the Prime Minister. When my father was ill, he used to call and inquire about his health and talk to the doctors. But people have taunted me many times that I don’t speak against the Prime Minister. They call me “Hanuman,” but they don’t know what he has done for us.
Q: Regarding your uncle, there might not be two opinions with which you have struggled. As a result, you went out of the NDA and then came back in. Will there be any merger of both your factions?
A: Touching my uncle’s feet is part of our culture. However, as soon as it gets connected to politics, its significance diminishes. We make significant decisions here, and Uncle’s decision to leave was his own, and he himself said that the sun could rise from the west, but my nephew won’t join him. So, now you understand.
Q: What number of seats do you expect from the NDA?
A: Talking about seat distribution would violate the principles of the alliance. However, I can say that I am satisfied with what we discussed behind closed doors.
Q: There seems to be so much love for Nitish Kumar. Even during the elections, you caused a loss of 28 seats. You continuously speak against him. But you never criticise Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi to that extent.
A: It’s because Nitish Kumar has been ruling Bihar for 19 years. His policies have been constant. He formulates policies with one hand, and the other hand doesn’t know about them. What has he done so far? Are roads, electricity, and water the only aspects of development? Why do people from Bihar have to go outside for jobs? Why aren’t industries set up there? Other states have progressed, but why has Bihar not progressed? People from Bihar even go outside for eye surgery. There isn’t a single hospital in Bihar that can do an eye operation.
Q: Manipur has had a dreadful and despicable incident. Agencies are investigating whether Seema Haider is a Pakistani agent or not. But one faction claims that if she is not a spy, she should be allowed to stay in the country.
A: This is a matter related to the country’s security. The agencies are investigating it, and we shouldn’t say anything definitive about it yet. These issues should be debated in Parliament to find a solution.
Q: In the 2024 elections, how many seats will you get from the NDA in Bihar and poll chances?
A. Getting seats is not a big issue if one is a part of an alliance. We will have a resounding victory. The Opposition cannot stand against PM Modi. They have nothing substantial to say.
Q. Finally, your thought about the UPA alliance coining a new name “INDIA”.
A. This is nothing but a desperate attempt by them to cobble together like-minded forces. As far as giving new name as “INDIA” is concerned, it does not make any sense as the country and its people have understood their politics wel