‘BJP using govt agencies to threaten leaders in Oppn’
Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is targeting and poaching leaders from the Opposition ahead of the October 21 assembly polls. He spoke to Surendra P Gangan. Read edited excerpts:
Why do you think people should vote for Congress in the assembly elections?
People have now realised that the Devendra Fadnavis government has been a failure. Farmers’ suicides in Marathwada and Vidarbha have increased. In its assembly manifesto, the BJP has promised to generate one crore jobs, but it has failed to keep its 2014 promise of two crore jobs a year in the country. People are losing their jobs due to a drop in production in the automobile, among other sectors. They voted on nationalist issues in Lok Sabha polls, but it won’t be repeated in state polls. Modi wave does not exist anymore.
If you think there is unrest among the people, why did the Opposition fail to raise these issues?
We did raise issues. We did not get much publicity, but that doesn’t mean the Opposition didn’t do anything on ground. The issues should have been taken to their logical end where we failed. The issue of Aarey tree cutting (for construction of a car shed for Mumbai Metro) and Punjab & Maharashtra Co-operative Bank should have been taken up in the campaign in Mumbai, but we have not done it. Our leader of Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, was the face of the Opposition, but he defected to the ruling party. His decision did not happen overnight, it must have been cooking for quite some time.
Why did the Opposition fail to keep its flock together?
Our leaders were threatened with inquiries, agencies like Enforcement Directorate and Department of Income Tax were used to initiate action against institutions. Then [Opposition leaders] were assured protection from the action if they joined the ruling parties. Those who joined them were scared of some or the other action against them. The ones who did not budge are still on the radar.
But why should they be afraid of any action if they are not involved in any wrongdoing?
It is not about wrongdoing. An inquiry can be initiated for anything if one is running an institution. A notice in response to allegations of corruption or an inquiry is enough to malign the image as the case goes on for years, and even if you are proven innocent, the (political) damage is already done. People in public life are worried about this modus operandi. Action is not taken against the ruling party politicians involved in corruption and irregularities. Why no concrete action is being taken against the directors of the PMC Bank?
Are you saying that more Congress leaders are on radar of the BJP?
Yes of course. The BJP has been using government machinery in this election. Our leaders are being watched. Police officials are being threatened to work in [ruling party’s] favour. Ruling party leaders are using contractors to mint money for elections. Extortion is on the rise across the state. Political interference in police department and their postings has increased. Doctors, professionals are getting calls for extortion. This was witnessed even in the Palghar bypolls two years ago. Senior police officers stationed in the constituency were helping the ruling party. My family has seen power for 40 years but this type of misuse (of power) was never done.
Why is the state Congress unit a divided house?
It is not true. We have been fighting this election unitedly. All of us are busy in our respective constituencies, but there is better coordination. It is true that there were complaints over ticket distribution in Mumbai and Vidarbha, but we are fighting the election with full vigour. Our young generation is eager to fight.
Aren’t sections of Maratha community which was a strong support base for your party tilting towards the BJP because of its decision to give them reservation?
I do not think so. No benefit of the reservation is seen on ground. Government hasn’t filled vacancies meant for the community. Rather than reservation, unemployment and financial recession are bigger issues.
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar split the Opposition’s votes in Lok Sabha elections. Won’t it damage your party’s prospects in assembly polls too?
The response to the VBA has receded by about 60% as Dalit voters have realised that it was a mistake. Ambedkar has now changed his stand, but it is not clear who will be benefited by it. Had he come with us, he too would have benefited. Only he knows why he didn’t do it.