I’m not BJP’s enemy, but can’t be quiet about wrong decisions
LUCKNOW: Yellow flags line the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan in Lucknow as Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national president and backward class welfare minister Om Prakash Rajbhar reviews preparations for the party rally to be held on here Saturday.
“It’s defining moment for me, I have called supporters from all the over state to participate in the rally. I will take a decision on the future course of action and political realignment after discussing (it) with my supporters. After BSP chief Mayawati, few leaders have dared to hold a rally on this ground,” he said in an interview with
Rajesh Kumar Singh.
He also spoke about his political journey, the relationship with the BJP and his political plans.
Why has your relationship with the BJP turned sour within a year and a half of joining the state government?
There is a general perception among the people that I am angry with the state government. It’s wrong. Few BJP leaders or the alliance partners have the courage to speak truth. Along with cautioning the BJP about the antipeople policies, I am drawing the state government’s attention to the matters concerned with the welfare of the masses. I have objected to the BJP government’s decision to bring an ordinance to stall the Supreme Court order on the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The BJP will have to taste a bitter fruit in the Lok Sabha election. I am not the BJP’s enemy, but its ally. At the same time, I will not remain a mute spectator to wrong decisions taken by the state government. I do not care for the minister’s post, but the support of the masses tops my agenda.
Why are your holding rallies on the reservation issue even after an assurance by the BJP leadership?
When union home minister Rajnath Singh was the UP chief minister, he had constituted ‘Samajik Nayay Samiti’ to ensure that all the backward and Dalit castes got the benefits of reservation. The aim was to divide the backward and dalit communities into three categories according to their representation in government jobs. The representation of several backward castes and Dalits in government jobs is at a minimum. Upwardly mobile communities are grabbing the jobs. During the 2017 assembly election campaign, BJP national president Amit Shah assured the people that under ‘sabka saath- sabka vikas’, the BJP government will divide the backward community into three categories. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced in the assembly that all the castes will get the benefits of reservation. Six months have passed, but the government is silent on the issue. The government is going back on its promises to the people. The SBSP will fight for the rights of the common people and the have-nots.
Will the Ram temple issue pay dividends for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha election?
The BJP has failed to fulfill promises made to the people. None of the issues on the Hindutva agenda like scrapping of Article 370, construction of
Ram temple etc has been fulfilled. Rather the saffron brigade leaders are giving confusing statements.
RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) chief Mohan Bhagwat recently said Muslims are part of Hindu Rashtra; Modi is visiting mosques. Now, the BJP will not be able to take the people for a ride. The backwards and the Dalits want a share in governance. The people want development and employment.
You have been critical of the bureaucracy and the police. What’s the reason?
The bureaucracy is trying to take the state government for a ride and misguiding the chief minister. Recently, I raised the issue of the scholarship for backward community students, who have been denied such benefits. The CM agreed to the proposal and ordered the release of the Rs 94 crore. Six months have passed, but the finance department is sitting over the CM’s order. In a meeting on October 22, I told the CM that bureaucrats are misguiding him. Even the BJP leaders in Basti, Bhadohi and Moradabad staged a sit-in against the functioning of bureaucrats. The leaders also raised the issue of the corruption in the state police. Addressing public meetings, the chief minister expressed concern over corruption in the administration and the police.
Is the RSS interfering in the working of the state government?
The letter written by minister Anupama Jaiswal to an RSS functionary clearly indicates that RSS is interfering in the working of the government.
What’s your take on the BSPSP alliance?
The alliance will prove a nightmare for the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The BJP leaders and candidates know that it will be tough for them to win the election. The delay in the (firming up the) alliance might give some relief to the BJP. The division of the reservation benefits among the backward castes and Dalits is the only formula to stall the offensive by the alliance. I have been telling the BJP leaders to bring the legislation(on this) before the election. But there are few takers for my advice.
What impact will the political party launched by Shivpal Yadav and the one planned by Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya have in the Lok Sabha election?
The state government not only allotted a grand bungalow to Shivpal Yadav but restored his Z-plus security. The BJP leadership is wooing Shivpal to divide the Yadav vote. To check resentment among the upper caste voters against the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the BJP leadership is encouraging Raja Bhaiya to launch a political party. He will try to rally the upper caste voters. To woo him, the state government announced the launch of a Rs 350 crore bridge in his constituency.
What’s your advice to chief minister Yogi Adityanath?
The CM should have faith in his team of ministers and MLAs, and not in the bureaucrats. He should know that bureaucrats are loyal to none. The MLAs are representatives of the people. In the review meetings, he should not tell the bureaucrats not to listen to the advice of the people’s representatives and work freely. Why will the people’s representatives be concerned about the party or the government if their suggestions are not given due weight.