Following are excerpts from the interview of senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in which he answers questions on a range of issues including the Gujarat elections, anti-radicalisation measures, party growth and changes in education.
Q. How do you see AAP as a political force, its announcement of populist measures and what it will achieve in the Gujarat state assembly elections? A. Every party has the right to work in any part of the country, but it is up to the people whether they accept the party or not. Wait for the election results, your name may not appear in the list of successful candidates.
And people also know that if someone makes more promises than the budget, then it cannot be fulfilled. You are nowhere in the minds of the people of Gujarat.
Q. The opposition has accused the government of misusing investigative agencies against its political opponents.
A. The country has an independent and neutral judiciary, and if there is any misuse by the investigating agencies, they can approach the judiciary.
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Q. The Popular Front of India (PFI) was banned by the government – what was the need? A. The Modi government decided to ban PFI after gathering a lot of information and evidence related to their anti-national activities, especially their activities of radicalizing the youth.
Such activities clearly state their intentions and their objectives, and many states have demanded a ban on PFI.
Modi government will not tolerate such activities by any organization. Prime Minister Narendra Modi There is a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and extremism.
Q. Recently, the BJP in its manifesto for the Gujarat assembly elections announced the formation of anti-radicalisation cells. Will a similar measure be taken in other BJP-ruled states? A. Gujarat unit of BJP has taken a good initiative and let it materialize first. He will be given a shape; Its functioning will be decided.
Radicalism should be stopped not only in Gujarat but in the whole country. We all should try to stop radicalization because it is not good for the society and the country. And it can be considered nationally and in other states.
Fundamentalism has nothing to do with any sect but we all know which forces are promoting fundamentalism. And the whole world is worried about it.
> National issues are being raised in Gujarat elections. What was the need to raise national issues in state elections? A. Gujarat’s security is related to national security or not? Gujarat’s security and national security are not separate issues.
And if the country is not safe then how can Gujarat be safe? Therefore, national security is a major issue in all state assembly elections.
We cannot allow national security to be affected at any one place in the country. And being a border state, the people of Gujarat are sensitive to national security. But we have lived up to their expectations.
Q. As you said national security is a major issue, are people affected by it or not? Or issues like inflation matter more to them.
A. See my job is to put my message in front. I try to take my message to the people. The results will tell whether the public accepts it or not.
And inflation is a global challenge. India is the least affected by this and I am sure India will deal with this problem effectively.
Q. During the election campaign, BJP is constantly discussing and raising the issue of law and order in Gujarat.
A. It is our achievement that there is no law and order problem in the border state of Gujarat. We are explaining and telling people that since they have reposed faith in BJP, there is no such problem here.
Q. BJP is focusing on its expansion in southern and eastern states, but it is still not able to form government in states like Kerala and West Bengal.
A. Our vote share has increased to 40% in West Bengal and BJP has won 18 Lok Sabha seats. It will further improve its numbers in the next Lok Sabha elections and form the government in the near future.
Our vote share has increased in Odisha. We have become the main opposition party in Telangana. We will do well in Andhra Pradesh. The party is doing well in Tamil Nadu. The expansion of cadre based parties is not possible overnight. It takes time but we are doing well in these states.
Q. You have been stressing on imparting technical education in Hindi and regional languages. What is the need of this? A. Technical, medical and law should all be taught in Hindi and regional languages. All the state governments should take initiative and plan to properly translate the syllabus of these three areas of education into regional languages so that students can learn in their mother tongue in these three areas. This will boost the country’s talent in higher education.
Today we can utilize only five percent of the country’s talent, but with this initiative, we will be able to utilize 100 percent.
And this five percent comes from an English background. And I have nothing against English as a language per se. is that a student’s ‘fundamental thinking’ (original thinking) can be better in the mother tongue and that there is a strong correlation between ‘fundamental thinking’ and ‘anusandhan’ (research).
Q. You say that you are a student of history and have been giving many suggestions about the course of history.
A. I appeal to the students of history to study 300 leaders of our past who have been ignored by historians and 30 states who ruled India for more than 150 years and were a highly effective model of governance Gave.
Students should read and write about them and professors should inspire them. For how long will we criticize what historians have written. Now that times have changed in the country, people should know about the real history.
> BJP has been winning elections, but its dependence on the Prime Minister is increasing.
a. He is our leader and the party believes that when we have such a popular leader then why not contest elections in his name? He is the most popular leader of the country. There is no reason why we should not contest elections in the name of our top leader. And he also leads from the front.
> Why does BJP keep returning to power? A. If the party and the government keep evolving and adapting to the expectations of the people and the changing times. That’s what we’ve done here.
Normally you will see that a government has one or two thrust areas, but here the BJP government under the leadership of Narendra Modi established a model of inclusive and comprehensive development. And people have felt this development.
> Where do you see the Congress standing in this Gujarat election? A. Congress is still the main opposition party in Gujarat but it is facing crisis all over the country and its effect is visible in Gujarat.
> How many seats will BJP get in Gujarat? I don’t want to get into the numbers game. This time BJP will get unprecedented seats and vote percentage in Gujarat.
> How do you view the efforts to bring all regional parties on a single platform? A. If you look at the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government he has given in the last eight years, I don’t think such an alliance will have any effect.
These regional parties have nothing outside their respective states. See the Samajwadi Party has an alliance with the Congress, but it has nothing in Gujarat. Hence, it exists only on paper and is good for garnering headlines.
> How do you see Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and its results? A. I have always believed that politicians need to work hard and it is good when one works hard. But in politics only continuous efforts show results. So let’s wait and see.
Q. There has been an increase in the number of targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir. And when can assembly elections be held? A. Targeted killings have come down. In recent times, there has been a huge decline in them.
And as far as assembly elections are concerned, they can be conducted after the electoral rolls are prepared. And it also depends on when Election The commission will announce the programme.
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