EU diplomats ask BJP in UP: Will demonetisation hurt you

LUCKNOW: While amused over being served tea in mugs featuring a picture of Narendra Modi, diplomats of the European Union (EU) ask local BJP leaders here if demonetisation will hurt the party's chances in the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh. The media feedback, they point out, does not seem that good from UP.

"The Delhi media is saying so. But on the ground, the farmers and the traders, both, are happy with us. Thodi difficulty hai, par log prasan hai. (There is some difficulty but people are elated). If they were distressed, they would be out on streets," BJP's State vice-president Ram Naresh Rawat tells the group of 10 EU diplomats visiting the party office in Lucknow. A local leader quickly adds: "Some people who owe alligeance to the opposition are saying adverse things to tarnish our image. But real patriots are with us."

The EU delegation led by Friederike Tschampa, First Counsellor and Head of Political Affairs, EU is here as "they are very interested in UP and election priorities of various parties", she says to local BJP leaders ahead of an hour-long discussion. The group with diplomats from Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Luxembourg and Ireland among others met the UP Congress leaders and UP government officials on Wednesday and are set to meet UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav next. At the BJP office, the diplomats have a volley of questions: on Triple Talaq, UP's law and order situation, Dalit atrocities and even why the BJP has not projected any Chief Ministerial face in UP.

Local BJP leaders seem excited to answer the queries on crime and Ganga river. "BJP in UP is known for law and order. Our former CM Kalyan Singh had said criminals must reform themselves, go out of the state...or encounter and go 2 feet below the ground," Rawat tells the diplomats, who exchange curious glances on the 'encounter' mention. He does not fail to add how Mulayam Singh Yadav once defended rapists saying 'boys will be boys'. BJP's pradesh mantri, Govind Narayan Shukal explains miraculous qualities of ganga to the diplomats. "It is scientifically proven that Ganga water has 7 ingredients not found anywhere else in the world and is the purest," he says. On abolishing Triple Talaq, BJP leaders say Muslim women are supporting them in UP. They reason that no UP CM face needs to be projected as the party "believes in only one leadership - of Narendra Modi."

The delegation sounds concerned over dalit atrocities. Rawat points to pictures of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in the room and point how a picture of Bhimrao Ambedkar has also been put there and is revered by BJP. "When one of our own vice-presidents made a objectionable comment on a lady and a Dalit (Mayawati), we sacked him," says Rawat. "This is just a familiarisation trip. We are not here to pass any judgement," Tschampa told ET after the long meeting with the BJP. She however adds that the delegation was impressed with the state government's efforts about women rights.