‘Ram Temple a commitment of every Indian’
NEW DELHI: Union minister Kalraj Mishra, one of the prominent Brahmin faces of Uttar Pradesh, said Ram Temple at Ayodhya was not a political issue for the BJP but a national issue. In an interview with HT, Mishra expressed confidence about BJP winning the 2017 assembly elections. Excerpts from the interview:
The BJP is rolling out four yatras from November 5. What are the issues that BJP will highlight?
Development, corruptionfree government, communal harmony and law & order situation are issues for the BJP and people of Uttar Pradesh.
Several BJP leaders and those of Hindu outfits are talking about the issue of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Will this be an issue for the BJP?
This is not a political issue for us. It is a national issue. BJP’s policy is clear on this. We have said it so many times. A solution has to come through court judgment, a consensus among the two communities or through law. Construction of Ram Temple is commitment of every India. But it should be symbol of communal harmony, culture and national integrity. This is our effort.
The BJP had declared Samajwadi Party as its main rival. How is the recent rift in that party going to affect the BJP?
The moment we said SP was our main rival; it created flutters in that camp. The unity and preparedness of BJP has the SP leadership worried out the electoral outcome. They are fighting amongst themselves to decide who will distribute ticket, who will control resources and others. People have lost faith in the SP and they realize that BJP is the only alternative. BJP will get a huge majority. Will Akhilesh Yadav’s effort to step out of the shadow of his father affect BJP’s prospect? Party ka tootna kisi ka bhi achcha nahi hota, lekin party toot rahi hai to loktantra ke liya achcha nahi hai (It is not good for democracy if any party get split). Any person might appear good, personally but when a party is breaking, people lose hope in that outfit.
Do you agree that a weakened Samajwadi Party may lead to Muslims shifting allegiance to the Bahujan Samaj Party? Will it force the BJP on back foot? Even minority communities have realized that Narendra Modi and his government have done a lot for their welfare. We haven’t done anything against their interest... Some of them will go to the
SP, some with the BSP and a section of them will also come to us...
The BJP hasn’t declared a chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh. Elections are only a few months away. Who is going to the BJP’s face in UP?
Our party is our face. BJP is organized and disciplined. People will vote in the name of BJP. The parliamentary board will decide after victory...