The state’s veteran leader and seven-time MLA, former minister Devi Singh Bhati has once again joined the BJP. After joining the party, he gave an exclusive interview to The Daily Guardian. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: You were away from the BJP for five years. How was this time, and now that you have returned, how do you feel?
A: The past five years have been very good. I spent time in extracurricular activities. During this time, I wrote books on healthcare. We dug a 13-kilometre-long canal in the arid land without asking anyone for money. However, many professionals came forward and contributed money without being asked. We are establishing a cow sanctuary where currently 15,000 cows are grazing freely. Overall, I can say that these five years were very satisfying, and I did a lot of work for society.
Q: You said that you are working towards cow protection, focusing on preserving nature, while Adani is being allocated land in Western Rajasthan. Won’t nature be harmed in the name of green energy?
A: Look, Adani has been allocated land in Western Rajasthan, which is causing a lot of damage to our grazing land and arid land. The government doesn’t seem to understand this issue yet. They are cutting trees in the name of green energy, leading to the extinction of wildlife. Cutting trees generates more heat in the entire Western Rajasthan. Because of this green energy, the desert will spread further, and the entire environment will change. This is a very wrong practice. Therefore, we want the law to be amended.
Q: Your party joining was very sudden, and even some senior BJP leaders were not aware of it. It is said that you could have gone to Congress, so you were brought back into the party overnight.
A: See, Home Minister Amit Shah, National President JP Nadda, and National Organization General Secretary BL Santosh came to Jaipur, and meetings were held. It is possible that my case might have come up in the context of strengthening the party. Perhaps they have received feedback in the interest of the party. Because leaders from other states are going to different constituencies in Rajasthan and quietly conducting surveys. It is possible that they mentioned my name. And, when we talk about Congress, I cannot join a party that broke the country into different pieces.
Q: You are close to Vasundhara Raje, and talks about Raje being sidelined are going in the political sphere, which is also visible to an extent. What do you have to say about it?
A: One thing is very clear, if you have to strengthen the party, you’ll have to think in favour of the party. This is the time to strengthen the party, and Vasundhara Raje’s participation is very much needed.
Q: When you left the party, you had made allegations against Arjun Ram Meghwal. Now he is a Union Minister. What will you say about those allegations you made five years ago?
A: We had heard that some people in our party were talking differently. However, we are against Congress, and we cannot tolerate any wrong talk associated with the party. Before joining, I attended a video call with Arjun Ram Meghwal, facilitated by senior BJP leaders. The party has assured me that everything will be fine now. I was the one who brought Arjun Ram into politics.
Q: Did you approach the party to rejoin, or did the BJP contact you and what discussions took place regarding the election?
A: Many leaders and people had told me that I should come back to the party and strengthen it. I did not approach anyone for rejoining, and I had no expectations. Although in the past five years, I attended Vasundhara Raje’s meetings. The party thought that it would be good if I joined to strengthen the party.
Q: In the last few days, you had several meetings with CM Ashok Gehlot, so did those meetings put pressure on the BJP to invite you to rejoin the party?
A: CM Ashok Gehlot and I have a good bond, I meet him on various occasions. In the past few days, I met him to discuss the electricity crisis and many more. I don’t feel that the BJP had something to worry about regarding my meetings with the CM.