‘I’M INSPIRED BY RIG VEDA, LET THOUGHTS COME TO ME FROM ALL SIDES’

You have friends in the opposition?

Oh, yes, several.

Who is your closest friend in the opposition?

I was asked this question differently once. I was asked who had impressed me the most? Since it was asked publicly I had to offer something. I told them, ‘Hriday Narayan Dikshit’! Because I could praise myself, get impressed by myself in that sense!!

What’s your guiding principle?

I am inspired by the Rig Veda. There is a verse in this text which says ‘Gods, let thoughts come to me from all sides.’ I have always followed this for I believe that no thought is perfect. It’s always a view. Hinduism or Hindutva?

I believe Hinduism is wrongly used. It should be ‘Hindu-ness’ to define Hindu.

Your views on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He is a very imaginative leader who doesn’t work with a stereotyped approach to problems facing the country or mankind. He is always thinking to innovate, try something new. He successfully turned even non-political aspects like ‘swacchta’ (cleanliness) into a people’s movement. That’s remarkable. Your views on CM Yogi Adityanath?

He is a workaholic. I keep telling him to sleep at times! Since early morning till late night he is constantly on the job, working! What’s your take on population control? The PM has spoken on it.

It needs to be attended to on an urgent basis. Much of political reluctance stems from the bad example of 1975-76 when the population control campaign got a bad name. But Modi ji courageously took it up. Now that you have brought it up, we too would definitely think of something.

What are your views on one nation, one poll?

The UP government had tasked a minister to send its views on the subject. They were sent, I guess.

You are to leave on a foreign tour.

I am scheduled to be part of a delegation of speakers of Vidhan Sabhas and chairmen of Vidhan Parishads from across the country to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meet in Uganda. Before that I am scheduled to visit London and the Netherlands. Thereafter the meeting of CPA would be held in Kampala, Uganda.

What’s the agenda?

I am to speak there on problems that arise due to urbanisation. In UP, under chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and in the country, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several steps have been taken to address the issue. I will take up these issues, along with problems of urbanisation in commonwealth countries, and would also request all to pay attention to these.