Robert Vadra spoke exclusively to The Sunday Guardian on various issues, including the fuel price rise issue and farmers’ protest. He also spoke on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s challenge in UP politics and about the future leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Excerpts:
Q: You have been critical of the fuel price rise and have been attacking the government on its failure?
A: I have stood for labourers and the poor during the pandemic and now I am worried that the worker class is suffering due to inflation. I have spoken and met several people who told me that “we don’t have money for our livelihood”. After the lockdown, there is a cash crunch and they are suffering a lot. Raising fuel prices have pushed the poorer of the country in metros to go back to their native places. I am going to the office in protest on my cycle.
Q: How do you see elections in West Bengal?
A: In every election, we see the BJP using central agencies to put pressure and that’s what is happening in Bengal. Even when Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi go out to campaign, they have always used agencies like CBI and ED to target me; I have been raided and questioned many times and even when I have
submitted each and every document related to my business, still the process of misuse of these agencies is on and with years, I am hard to resist.
Q: You have been speaking on the farmers’ protest. What’s your take on what happened on 26 January in Delhi?
A: The issues related to farmers should be a priority for the Modi government to solve at utmost priority, but that is not happening; calling and engaging in talks won’t help, you have to reach out and listen to what the farmers want. On what happened in Delhi on 26 January, especially at Red Fort, I too was in Delhi; there was a huge force deployment and one cannot cross the barricades; how did people reach the Red Fort is a question the Central government should answer.
Q: How do you see Priyanka Vadra in active politics?
A: She has got a tough job and a challenging task to put the Congress in order in a state like Uttar Pradesh. She is working hard and I hope the best for her. I am concerned about her security as a husband when she goes out to campaign and attend public rallies; lowering down the security protocol worries me.
Q: A section of Congress is demanding that Rahul Gandhi take over as Congress president.
A: I have known Rahul Gandhi before I got married to Priyanka. He is a nice, simple man with commitment. People of the country should give him a chance to serve.