Imran Masood, 46, shot to controversy when an old video of him allegedly threatening to chop Narendra Modi to pieces, surfaced during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In an already polarised atmosphere after the deadly 2013 Muzaffarnagar communal violence, his “hate-speech” episode further deepened the divide. Mr. Masood’s family has immense clout in parts of west UP. He is said to be a key part of the Congress’ revival and outreach among Muslims, especially in West UP — the party also credited him for its surprising victory in the Deoband by-poll recently. However, by elevating him as its Uttar Pradesh vice-president ahead of the crucial 2017 elections, the Congress is accused of playing a risk-game, a decision that could set off another round of communal polarization, as some observers say.
In an interview toThe Hindu, he says he is being wrongly portrayed as a communal figure.
Once the news of your promotion broke, you were widely profiled on social media as the “boti-boti man,” especially by the BJP. That controversial statement refuses to leave you and you are today termed a polarising figure. Could you explain why you made that statement?
That is the local manner of speaking in our area (west UP). We often use such words for each other. But I did not have any such intention or am I such a person. The image being portrayed of me, is just the contrary of my real image. I have support and work among both Hindus and Muslims. Nobody has done more work for communal harmony than us [Masood family]. A secular person like me was projected as a communal figure, someone whose entire political life, and that of three generations of my family, has been on communal harmony — it will remain so in future. If you want to draw an image of Imran Masood, go to Saharanpur and ask any poor man walking the streets.
The BJP also elevated a controversial figure — MLA Suresh Rana — who is an accused in the riots. There is a parallel drawn between you two, as two sides of the same coin.
There is no comparison between us. His line is just the opposite. He talks of hate. Till date, I have not spoken a word of hate between Hindus and Muslims. The statement, for which I am being blamed, was only targeted at a person, not for any community. They [BJP] are targeting an entire community, but who’s calling them communal? I only said I wouldn’t let him [Modi] turn UP into Gujarat. My choice of words may have been wrong — may not have been polite. But my intention was not wrong. Our ideological tussle with Narendra Modi remains, we cannot forget that. We cannot forgive Narendra modi for 2002. And just like he murdered humanity and implemented the Gujarat Model, in 2013 he replicated it with a noora kushti (fixed fight) in UP with the SP. Muzaffarnagar happened. If we cannot forgive Modi, then we can also not forgive Akhileshji for 2013.
There was a lot of cloud over your infamous speech. Was it delivered before the 2013 riots?
Yes. A few months before the riots, the BJP was attempting to rake up similar tension in Saharanpur. Several incidents took place but nothing was allowed to flare up. We were going from village to village, appealing people to maintain harmony. During one such interaction, somebody said something, and I happened to blurt out the wrong words; it came in the flow. It was not a speech. It was a way of explaining my point to the people but it came out to be harsh. I admitted it, and also said that I don’t consider my words appropriate in any sense. But what was not reported was that there were Hindus in my gathering. Our acceptance is among both religions. My second line is only Hindus. We supported a Hindu candidate Naresh Saini against the son-in-law of Imam Bukhari. It was a Muslim-dominated seat and our candidate lost by just 200 votes-- he got most of the Muslim votes-- while Bukhari’s son-in-law lost his deposit.
But your image of a polarising figure is being strongly projected...it could harm the Congress’ prospects?
The BJP just needs a target. They are targeting me to polarise. But nothing will come off it. We will try our best to not allow them to polarize. I busted the myth of Kairana exodus — I helped the media outlets expose the lies. I also told Hukum Singh if he tried it in my area I would make traders in my area file cases against him.
Did Prashant Kishor have a key role in your appointment?
I don’t have that information. But I know that Rahulji and Priyankaji like me. I work hard, and it is all about collective work, everybody is working together.
So are you now the new Muslim face of the Congress?
Don’t call me a Muslim face. I am the face of the Congress (smiles).
What will be your next step in your new role?
We will first focus on communal harmony — BJP people are spreading an atmosphere of hate. We have to stop that. No party in the country can fight communalism other than the Congress. Mulayam Singh talks of secularism. But his decisions show that he is hand-in-gloves with the BJP. He did it in Bihar and in UP, where he promised a lot to Muslims. Not a single one has been fulfilled — they made a lot of noise that they would bring in a mechanism wherein 20 per cent benefit of the schemes would go to Muslims. But what have they got? He has only hollow promises for Muslims. What is Azam Khan doing? How many people have you given jobs? What is the mechanism that Yadavs get jobs but others don’t? Take the SP lists — MLC, Rajya Sabha, Zila Panchayat — you will find Yadavs in every list. They have announced a national executive of 45 members — just three members and two secretaries — Kamal Akhtar and Azam Khan — are Muslim. You claim to be a party for Muslims?
There is a perceptible enchantment of Muslims with the SP but it is seen that the party still commands the largest support of the community. How will the Congress wean away the Muslims — once its core supporters in UP?
We are regularly going among the people, telling them that ‘Mulayam Singh, who you call your messiah, you must know his reality as well.’ 2013 is a black mark for UP. Whatever happened in Muzaffarnagar — till today, there are villages where mosques are desolate. If you hold Narendra Modi responsible for a similar incident in Gujarat, how can you forgive Akhilesh who helped BJP polarise the atmosphere and come to power?
How do you plan to improve the Congress’ working structure in UP? It is in shambles.
We need to mobilise the booths. My results in Saharanpur show it — we increased the votes in all Vidhan Sabhas by 25 times in 2014 [He won 4,07,909 votes ]. Our planning is to nominate 10 workers on each booth and distribute them among the voters — say if there are 1,500 voters, it would mean each worker gets 150 people, 20-25 families. He is responsible to get them to vote, convince them and knock at their doors. Whenever I have fought with this strategy, I have got the highest polling. We are training such people for booth management. My strategy is to replicate such a formula in the rest of UP. And, after Rahulji and Priyankaji create an atmosphere with their rallies, we need to convert the crowds into votes.
Some say your high votes are due to polarisation?
Have I polarised the results? I get votes even in those villages where not a single Muslim lives. If I was communal, why would they vote for me? I get votes from every village and every community. The BJP does that, nothing else — they repeated the Gujarat experiment here in 2013 and with Mulayam Singh’ help.
The Congress is currently at the fourth spot and ambitiously talks of forming government next year. How will you convince the people? What are the major issues that you will raise— your party has strong corruption baggage.
In the last 27 years, parties have spread hate, and used caste and religion to come to power in UP. Our priority is to free the people from that grip and bring them into a discussion through love and harmony, and walk on the path of development. We will try to mobilize secular voters. The BJP talks of corruption but what has it done? Don’t all its CM’s today face corruption charges? Hasn’t it only benefited Adani and Ambani? It is a party of jumlabaazi . They have not delivered on their promises.
