Himachal Pradesh, which will witness assembly elections later this year, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said in an interview with News18 that he considers the Congress a challenger as the Aam Aadmi Party is not present in the state. “The state has never accepted any third party, and what does it say about the kind of incidents happening in the party, whether it is the Punjab minister’s involvement in corruption and he had to be sacked?” Thakur insisted.
Thakur had earlier told News18 that the Uniform Civil Code is likely to be implemented in Himachal Pradesh. Asked whether any progress has been made in this direction, Thakur confirmed that the UCC could be implemented in the state like the neighboring state of Uttarakhand. He said that at present the state government is taking feedback from the people, which is quite ‘positive’, hence there is a ‘strong possibility of going in the direction of UCC’.
Question: Uttarakhand has formed a committee on Uniform Civil Code, and you said that Himachal Pradesh is also ready for it. Has there been any progress in this? If so, do we expect it before the announcement of the election?
Answer: We have studied Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and examined it further. We are taking feedback from people as to what will be the effect of implementing it. I believe it can be done (here) just like in Uttarakhand and there should be no problem in it. The response we are getting is very positive. We are assessing when it can be implemented and there is a strong possibility of going in the direction of UCC.
Question: The opposition is asking who will lead the BJP in the elections?
A: It would not be appropriate for me to speak on this. Our party leadership decides on such things. We have got the love and support of the Prime Minister. We have worked in Himachal Pradesh in tough times and got better results. The PM has also appreciated the work done by the state. And the way he mentioned all these things in the rally, it is definitely a message.
Question: Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have broken tradition and elected the current governments, does this put pressure on you to work in the state again?
A: It’s not about the pressure. We have committed to the state that we will fight and win. I agree, it is a challenge and we will leave no stone unturned to form the government in the state.
Question: Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that Health Minister Satyendar Jain was arrested because BJP was losing Himachal Pradesh.
A: Their (AAP) assessment with respect to Himachal Pradesh has gone bad. The state has never accepted any third party, and what does it say about the kind of incidents happening in the party, whether it is the Punjab minister’s involvement in corruption and he had to be sacked? The party has given tickets. They have no moral right to speak about corruption.
Jain may be the party’s Himachal in-charge for AAP, but the case was registered long back and it reached a conclusion and hence the arrest. Kejriwal raises his voice against corruption. Now he is exposed. World Know that they only do petty service on corruption.
Question: Do you think the law and order situation in Punjab, as it is a neighbor of Himachal Pradesh, will have any impact on the upcoming elections in the state. Will the echo of the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala be heard in the elections?
A: This is a big setback for the Punjab government and it has put it in the dock. Taking away (Moose Wala’s) security a day before the murder is a big deal. Secondly, giving and taking protection of an individual should not be a political decision. It has a mechanism. A committee is formed which then decides on the level of threat and then a report is filed and the home department decides what kind of security should be allotted. Such decisions just to grab headlines are unfortunate.
I understand that the Chief Minister of Punjab is the new administrator and is under pressure. AAP fought elections in the name of Kejriwal and Punjab voted for his party but Himachal will never accept him. People are politically aware and sensitive.
Question: Do you think Pratibha, wife of Himachal Pradesh Congress President Virbhadra Singh, could be a challenge for the BJP as the opposition party is walking away from the legacy of the former chief minister?
A: The Congress has already taken a knee as they felt there was no other option (to come back to Virbhadra Singh’s legacy). At present, there is not a single leader who can be called the leader of the state. Who is the face of Congress in the election? Four are working presidents and all four are CM candidates in their respective groups. The party is in chaos. No one will accept them. For the Congress, this problem exists not only in Himachal Pradesh but in the entire country.
Q: Who is your main rival: Congress or you?
A: I am very clear that our fight is with Congress, and AAP is not present in the state. He had to dissolve the state unit. It is a democracy, and everyone has the right to contest elections but it is not a challenge for us.
Q: Are there any big names in Congress who are in touch with you and may join BJP before the elections?
A: Yes, they are in touch.
Question: What do you think of the events unfolding on the Gyanvapi issue?
A: The kind of evidence that has emerged says a lot about the truth. All I can say is that since the matter is sub-judice, in many other issues like Ram Janmabhoomi, a lot of effort has been made to distort the history and the evidence related to it. In spite of all this truth has won and in the matter of knowledge, truth will prevail. If there is a temple at that place then it should be respected. The other side should accept it with grace. If there was a temple and their ancestors encroached upon it, there is an opportunity for them to fix it.
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