Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
Q. Controversy surrounds Rahul Gandhi’s Nagpur event on the Constitution after a reported ban on media presence in the venue. What’s your take?
Rahul Gandhi is less of a Congressman now. From a communist, he’s turned into an ultra-Left ideologue. He flaunts a copy of the Constitution with a red cover, not the traditional blue. He’s surrounded by anarchists and Urban Naxals, who define his policies and set the narratives…180 organizations participating in the Bharat Jodo yatra were subversive elements…Rahul holds the Constitution in one hand and propagates anarchy through his deeds. The Constitution is order, anarchy is disorder and that’s why his copy of the statute is red in colour. They talk of saving democracy, but they keep the fourth pillar of democracy out of the meeting on the Constitution.
Q. You went into a huddle with RSS office-bearers at least five times after the Lok Sabha debacle. Will the Sangh come to BJP’s rescue in assembly polls?
I am in constant touch with swayamsevaks. Remember, RSS doesn’t overtly work for any political party. But we sought Sangh Parivar’s help to counter the anarchist forces and Vote Jihadists who sabotaged the Lok Sabha polls this year. I always seek guidance from the Sangh and its affiliated organisations. We are not fighting the Congress, but the anarchist and anti-national forces embedded in the grand old party’s machinery. And the Sangh affiliates are aiding us to counter the anarchist narrative.
Q. What are Mahayuti’s prospects in returning to power in Maharashtra? Is the Ladki Bahin scheme a gamechanger?
People of Maharashtra are all set to return us to power again. The Ladki Bahin Scheme is a gamechanger as it has generated positivity and hope among women. Also, people witnessed how our govt fast-tracked development projects. We restarted projects like Wainganga-Nalganga river-linking project that would change fortunes of Vidarbha and bring 54-tmc sea water to Marathwada through the water grid project. We have even begun work on Vadhwan sea port, which will be one of the biggest in the world. Our work speaks and generates trust.
Q. BJP conducted pre-poll surveys and your alliance lagged behind Maha Vikas Aghadi. What changed in a couple of months? Every survey has its own limitations. We have undertaken a political course correction after the Lok Sabha debacle. Remember, these surveys were conducted immediately after the general elections, when we were on a sticky wicket. If surveys are conducted now, you will find a huge swing in Mahayuti’s fortunes as there is positivity everywhere.
Q. How did you carry out the political course correction? How did you change the narrative after the Lok Sabha poll debacle?
The Congress-led INDI alliance set two fake narratives — first the Constitution of India was in peril, reservations will end, and second was the ‘Vote Jihad’. The first died a natural death as its shelf life was limited, thanks to Rahul Gandhi, who did our job with his statement in the US on ending reservations. Next was ‘Vote Jihad’, through which they polarized society. Fatwas were issued in Allah’s name to vote against BJP and people were delivered oaths. Now, minorities realise they were misled and used. How many Muslims are there in the Congress candidate list? The betrayal is too hard to miss.
Q. Was there any impact of ‘Vote Jihad’ in Lok Sabha?
We lost 10 seats in Lok Sabha polls due to ‘Vote Jihad’. After this result, the Sangh arm, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, felt that if elections are won through ‘Vote Jihad’, then minority appeasement will take upper hand. So, they have decided to help us. We are not against minorities, but against appeasement.
Q. Former home minister Anil Deshmukh often speaks about a pen drive that contains damning evidence. Patole too claimed proof on phone tapping by former DGP Rashmi Shukla. What’s your take?
Anil Deshmukh’s lips froze for two years after he came out on bail. He suddenly began talking against me and even launched a book, which is nothing but fiction. In one of the extracts, he used evidence of a jailed conman. In one chapter he narrated his trauma in jail for 11 months. He went to prison in November 2021 when MVA was in power. He should explain who was harassing him, when his own govt was in power. The apex court and high court orders mention damning evidence against him. The judiciary released him on bail on health grounds, he was not acquitted.…as far as Patole is concerned, he a good friend and has a big role to play in catapulting Mahayuti to power.
Q. Why does Manoj Jarange always target you? He has suddenly withdrawn from the fray.
A. In democracy, everyone has a right to contest or withdraw. He joined hands with Muslim clerics and others, declared candidates and suddenly withdrew. I don’t want to comment on that. He targets me thrice a day as it is convenient for him.
If anyone wants to weaken our three-party alliance, they know they need to target me as BJP is the biggest party. The Maratha reservation protests began in 1980. In 1982, then MLA Annasaheb Patil shot himself for the cause. For 34 years, there was not even a flutter. It was my govt which granted reservation to Marathas.