Om Prakash Mathur, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and current in-charge of Chhattisgarh, had a special conversation with The Daily Guardian about politics in Rajasthan. During this, he did not refrain from targeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. Excerpts:
Q: You are in charge of Chhattisgarh. BJP fielded 55 new faces there. Will you be able to win Chhattisgarh’s electoral battle based on new faces?
A: Our party is a process-oriented party. New people come, and they will continue to come. This is not a party based on family, caste, or region. It is a cadre-based party, so new people join. In Advani Ji’s team, I myself was the National General Secretary, but not anymore. The reason is that our party follows a process. When the Jan Sangh was founded, it was said that it was a party of prominent people. Modi has turned it into a party of the poor. “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” is essential. In a democracy, heads are counted. So, new people also join. New people are not there just for experimentation.
Q: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said a few days ago that Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was going to be put in jail four days before the BJP elections. He alleges that the BJP is misusing ED, CBI, and the Income Tax Department. What do you say?
A: I want to ask CM Gehlot whether Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was put in jail. Has CM Gehlot helped him with the bail? These people talk about the ED and CBI. During UPA one and two, they exercised power for 10 years, did IT and ED not function then? At that time, did ED, CBI, or the Income Tax Department operate under BJP or Narendra Modi? These are constitutional institutions, and their job is to work. When Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he formed an SIT under the orders of the Supreme Court, and an inquiry was conducted for many days. However, nothing happened because there was no wrongdoing. The question is why these people are afraid. Today, when Rahul Gandhi is served an Income Tax notice, they start creating a ruckus. ED has registered an FIR against Bhupesh Baghel; Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should read it once. Anyway, Ashok Gehlot is the Chief Minister only until December 3.
Q: You are saying that Chief Minister Gehlot is only the Chief Minister until December 3. While today, during a press conference in Telangana, he said that the CM’s chair is not leaving him.
A: Ashok Gehlot has been saying this for the past five years. But, he should know that the chair can also break. It seems he has glued it with Fevicol. However, someone with him is putting effort into tearing off that Fevicol, while the other one is trying to break the chair. That is why, it will only be clear on 3 December.
Q: The PM is moving forward with the vision of 2047. If in this scenario, CM Gehlot talks about 2030, why is the BJP facing a problem? They are also talking about development. What will you say?
A: Absolutely, BJP has no problem with this. But the reality is that Congress itself is not trustworthy anymore. Today, after being the country’s largest and oldest party, it is forming alliances with many small parties to save its existence. In this country, the public has seen a family rule for 65 years. When the PM gave his first speech, he said that there had not been uniform development in the country. So, he talked about equal development. When you talk like this, you have to have a vision. Congress has been given ample opportunities by the public, but they did not have a vision. Therefore, today Congress is ending.
Q: How can Naxal-affected areas in Chhattisgarh be mainstreamed? You have been in charge there for a long time. What is the situation there?
A: Chhattisgarh shares its border with many states. Many districts are affected by Naxalism. But, many times, when good officers come, the conditions of Naxal-affected areas improve. I myself went to 12 assembly constituencies affected by Naxalism. Before my visit, our worker was a target of killing.
The path of Naxalism needs to be removed. You will be surprised to know that tourism can be developed in Chhattisgarh. There is a dense forest for tourism. But, due to Naxalism, tourism is not developing. There are 12 seats where party workers cannot even reach 30% of the booths. Our worker visited one of those seats and found that 20 pieces had been broken with an axe. Much work needs to be done there.
Q: You are saying that going to 30 per cent of the booths on 12 seats is difficult. In this case, is there any political protection granted to the Naxals in that region?
A: See, the leftists have started giving protection here. The matter is political. In Naxal-affected areas, these people sometimes boycott and sometimes conduct polling. However, in my opinion, the state and the centre should work together there. It is important to encourage the growth and development of the region.
Q: Since you are from Rajasthan, what do you think about the Rajasthan elections? Also, there is a lot of discussion about the CM face. What will you say?
A: In Rajasthan, our government is about to be formed with a massive majority. The candidates are winning with very good margins. As for the Chief Minister, the decision will be made by our parliamentary board. Without a doubt, we are winning elections in all five states.