‘BJP not polarising... Cong doing appeasement politics’

DEHRADUN: Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the BJP is not polarising the assembly election in the hill state, but it was the Congress that is playing appeasement politics. The Congress is not talking about setting up schools, hospitals or roads in the state, but a Muslim university for which the people will never forgive it. In an interview to he spoke about varied issues ranging from tough challenge from Harish Rawat to his priorities if the BJP retains power.

Neeraj Santoshi, Edited excerpts:

Cong has been alleging that the BJP is trying to polarise election to counter a Congress wave in the state?

The BJP is not polarising the election. See, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, there has been tremendous development, be it roads, railway lines, healthcare, air connectivity. We are working as per the mantra of “Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas” (development of all with the cooperation of all). But the Congress has been indulging in the appeasement politics, right from Independence of India, for garnering more votes. And, they have again started the same appeasement politics. In Devbhoomi, they are not talking about setting up hospitals, schools, roads, railway lines, but about setting up a Muslim university here. Their own leaders are talking about this. We are not saying this. The people of Devbhoomi will give a befitting reply to them on February 14.

With Cong giving a tough fight, do you still think that BJP will win 60 plus seats?

Yes, surely. That is why we have given the slogan “Ab ki Baar, 60 paar” (this time we will cross 60-seat mark). The people of Uttarakhand will bless us and put a stamp on our slogan.

If the BJP retains power, what will be your three main priorities?

My main priority will be holistic development of the state. Also, I want to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country by 2025. We will focus on education, healthcare, tourism and energy sector. We have already formed a road map for 10 years in this regard.

As you have been campaigning across the state, do you feel you didn’t get enough time to focus on your own seat Khatima?

I have campaigned so far on nearly 40 seats across Uttarakhand. I have travelled across the state. And in case of my own seat, I have dedicated election to people of my constituency. This time, they are fighting election for me. For me, whole Uttarakhand is my home and I have been travelling across the state throughout my life and now also. Many senior leaders have got stuck only in their own constituencies.

You are the youngest CM of the state and now you have been pitted against veteran politician like Harish Rawat, who has vast political experience. Do you think it is one of your biggest challenges?

There is nothing like that. I have no competition with Harish Rawat. He is a very senior leader. He is very old also. And the way Congress has behaved with him, even we don’t feel good about it. The Congress made a mockery of him; sometimes he was given a ticket from Ramnagar, then they withdraw his candidature from that seat. Then they send him to Lalkuan. He even shared his frustration about party leaders not supporting him on his social media accounts. So, it is obvious that his own party here doesn’t take him seriously.

If Congress loses the election, as you claim, what will be the main reason?

Their track record so far – corruption and scandals, they haven’t done any work for the people of the state. Everybody has seen what they have done in the past. In contrast, BJP works. The BJP has been working and it will continue to work for the people of the state in future also.

Cong is alleging that to counter Rawat, BJP has been forced to bring heavyweights such as Modi?

They don’t have any big leaders. If they bring Rahul Gandhi, that benefits us. Whenever he cones, he helps us in a way. The BJP is a cadre-based party and we have many big leaders. And why shouldn’t they come here. Congress lacks such leaders. They only have Char Dham and their char dhams are - Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka and Robert Vadra. Only those who circumambulate around these leaders will get seats and posts in the Congress.

What you have to say about Congress having made Char Dham as theme of its manifesto?

Whether it is Char Dham or Char Kaam or dharma or culture, it has never been part of Congress’s culture ever. It is the work of Modi ji that people who were not into dharma, now they have to make a show-off on the same front, their leaders are going to temples, offering prayers, Rahul offered prayers at a Ganga ghat in Haridwar. We are happy that due to Modi ji, they at least got an opportunity to go to temples, wear sacred threads and so on. On the other side they are talking of setting up a Muslim university here.

Many MLAs have left the party or have been expelled in last six months. Do you think it will hurt the BJP?

These things happen around elections. Ours is a big party, it is the largest political party in the world. And, we are a cadrebased party. People come and people go. Some feel they have not been heard; they have not been given tickets.

I have no competition with Harish Rawat. He is a very senior leader. The way Cong has behaved with him, even we don’t feel good about it. Cong made a mockery of him. He was given ticket from Ramnagar, then they send him to Lalkuan...