DNA catches up with him to figure out what’s going on in the minds of Congress’ High Command.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s political advisor and kingmaker for many a leader of Congress, Gujarat’s own Ahmed Patel was on a campaigning spree in his hometown Bharuch. DNA catches up with him to figure out what’s going on in the minds of Congress’ High Command. Soft-spoken Patel fielded many a hard question in a rare candid interview. Excerpts:
How many seats do you expect for Congress this elections? Will you retain the existing 12 seats?
We are going to do definitely better than last time. It looks like we have already crossed 12 seats and even marginally better — which wasn’t the case last time. We are expecting more than 12 seats in the favour of congress this time. We are not just claiming it, but we are confident about achieving this.
Despite several leaders, Gujarat Congress lacks a clear face of leadership. Who is the face of Congress in Gujarat?
Our ideology is our face! Leadership is built. Sometimes leaders just happen — it’s a natural process. We have many young leaders, our PCC chief is youthful (Siddharth Patel); our chief of media cell is youth (Arjun Modhwadia). So it is not that leadership is not there in Congress. It will be decided when the right time comes. And it will be decided on merit, how they have worked and their efficiency. Leaders will emerge at the right time. Time will decide. Did anyone know Modi, before he became the chief minister of this state? It’s a natural process.
Why the Hindutva card is not being played by the BJP this time?
This is good. I am really happy to hear this. Why this caste politics or regional politics, it damages the state and whole country. They must have realised the thinking of the people of Gujarat. They have come to know that the card will not work now on the people. The move to play Hindutva card by their party was totally wrong. They have come to know that they can’t fool all the people, all the time. As far as the issue of Ram Mandir is concerned, they raise it only at the time of elections! They will not be in a position to form the government, but if we review their case hypothetically, if Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar or even Sharad Yadav come forward for the alliance, they will suddenly drop the issue of Ram Mandir to form the government!
Why are Muslims from Gujarat joining BJP in large numbers, including from your hometown Bharuch?
It’s all right. Polarisation should be stopped, it’s not in the interest of any particular community. I don’t appreciate that - because of the ideology. Its all right we are in a democracy and if some people say that their ideology is better what can I say? We are living in a democracy. I don’t claim that this is good or bad - it’s based on an individual. Not on basis of the minority leader or a person but it should be judged on the basis of ideology. Sometimes people go because of compulsions, sometimes there is arm-twisting etc.
I don’t think that they are doing this, but if they are doing so it is very bad. If they go because of ideology, its all right, but if they are going because of compulsions it’s very bad. They are running the government, home minister is theirs. Such people if they have gone because of being weak-kneed, then it’s of no value. We don’t want such people who are so weak. And if they come back because of reasons other than ideology than its worse. But I repeat that it will be very unfortunate if they have gone because of arm -twisting or pressure.
2002 riots don’t seem to be the agenda or issue these elections. Is it that the Muslims of Gujarat have forgotten or forgiven?
That is a very good sign that 2002 is not an issue. There is nothing that people remain stuck to forever, but whatever wrongdoing has happened is wrong and can’t be undone. If somebody speaks something and you forgive it, it is good. But whatever is wrong will be wrong forever…
What are your views on the Modi’s much publicised Global Investors’ Summit?
Go and ask the villagers, are they happy with the Vibrant Gujarat? What is the ground reality? There are so many problems. People know the reality very well. During last parliament elections, they came out with India Shining campaign. What was the ground reality of the India Shining? Everybody knows it well. People know the truth about the Vibrant Gujarat summit very well. People know the reality behind these claims - that it’s nothing but MOUs.
You mean there is no development?
I have never said that. What I am saying is that if Modi says that he have done everything and no one else has done anything, it is absolutely wrong. Central government has played a significant role.
Is it true that the per capita income has decreased after the BJP government came to power in Gujarat?
The debt was Rs 16,000 crore has crossed Rs 1lakh crore in recent times. The economic development is only for one or two industrialists and not for others after the BJP government came to power in Gujarat. I have never said that there is no development in the state, but the way the state government claims that central government has not done anything, is totally wrong.
In the event of a Congress-led UPA alliance coming back to power, will Congress ally with the Left, if they offer support?
It is too hypothetical to comment on the issue. The post-election scenario will decide the entire picture.
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