'Congress has given voice to UP's farmers'
As Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's Kisan Yatra bus exited the city of Allahabad and headed for Kaushambi, 50 km away, he settled for an exclusive interview with Senior Associate Editor Kaushik Deka. His frontal hairline may have been receding, as his party from Indian political landscape, but his energy and enthusiasm and during this grueling 2,500 km Kisan Yatra was unwavering. In this candid conversation, he explains his strategy to win the assembly elections in India's most politically explosive state.
Q. Are you satisfied with the public response to your Kisan Yatra?
RG: Purpose of this yatra is to bring attention towards farmers' distress across India. This yatra is an expression of that idea. It is designed to make Mr. Narendra Modi aware of what a great injustice he is doing to our country, not just to poor farmers. The response to the yatra has been hugely positive because farmers are in deep pain. The farmers are crying out for help and no one is listening to them. Congress Party and I have only given expression to their voice.
Q. Are you not inspired to promise farm loan waiver because the Congress tasted massive success in 2009 General elections following a Rs 52,000 crore loan waiver in 2008?
RG: Several economists have told me that the 2008 loan waiver, coupled with schemes such as MGNREGA and remunerative MSP, propelled India to a healthy economic growth during the tenure of UPA government. It is not a slogan to gain electorally. It is the demand of the farmers and I speak to draw attention of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to this yearning of farming class. I am making an appeal to the government. Modi government must pay attention to the demands of farmers and waive the loans of distressed farmers. If they will not do so, Congress will continue to provide alternative narrative for farm sector as a responsible opposition.
Q. But many argue that such populist promises threaten to derail the growth process in the country.
RG: If this is true, would offering loan waiver to select industrialists help the country to grow? Modi government has granted loan waiver to 15 big industrialists to the tune of Rs.1,10,000 crore. If Modiji is so generous to the rich, why is he merciless to poor farmers? I am not against development or industrialists. I am not even saying that government must not help industrialists. Let it do so. But it must not be discriminatory or at the cost of farmers and small traders. There should be a balance. Only then, India's growth can be truly inclusive.
Q. It is a State election and Samajwadi Party is in power in the State. Why are you then targeting Prime Minister Modi only holding him accountable for these issues?
RG: For me and the country, farmers' distress is a national issue. Cheap inputs as also remunerative MSP for agriculture produce are national issues. I am trying to attract the Prime Minister's attention to these issues. I am trying to remind him of his promises of giving 'cost + 50% profit' as Minimum Support Price of farmers' produce. I have every right as an Indian to seek accountability from him. As a Leader of Opposition, it is my duty to take the people's problems to the government.
Q. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav has described you as a good boy. Will you like to return the compliment?
RG: At a personal level, I respect Akhilesh. He is a gentleman. As the Chief Minister of the State, he has failed to meet the expectations of the people. It makes me sad that a young leader like him elected by people was unable to deliver and wasted five important years.
Q. As you both like each other, can we expect to see an alliance between Congress and SP?
RG: We want to give a new vision to Uttar Pradesh. We want to build a new path of development and change for people of the State, especially the youth. On the other hand, SP government has failed to fulfill the aspirations of people of U.P. As I said, I am particularly disappointed that Akhilesh Yadav did not take a strong stance against corruption and goondaism. Hence, I believe that Congress Party's vision is the only answer for U.P.'s problems.
Q. Can we see an alliance after the polls?
RG: I have already answered the question. Congress Party is fighting the polls alone, based on its ideology and a new vision of development for Uttar Pradesh.
Q. Can we expect any form of alliance with the BSP? You have avoided attacking Mayawati in your speeches.
RG: Let me say again, Congress Party is fighting an electoral as also ideological battle. If you listen to my speeches carefully, I have pointed out the shortcomings of every political party, including SP, BSP and BJP. I believe that the compromises made by Mayawati ji after she became Chief Minister, have deeply hurt Uttar Pradesh as also the ideology of BSP. Let me also point out that currently, BSP is not in power. It is BJP and SP that are in power in Centre and State respectively.
Q. Why did you choose Sheila Dikshit as CM candidate? Are you trying to woo Brahmin voters?
RG: Caste was not a factor behind her selection. Congress Party stands for inclusive development, not development of any particular caste or religion. Dikshit ji has a proven track record of 15 years in Delhi. Congress and her symbolized development as also transformation for Delhi. She has her roots in Uttar Pradesh. So she was a natural selection.
Q. But she also had an inglorious exit in Delhi.
RG: Any government, which remains in power for 15 years, is bound to face certain amount of anti-incumbency. No government is perfect. But nobody can challenge her and Congress Party's performance in Delhi. In fact, people of Delhi are already comparing the systematically planned development under Congress for 15 years to the paralysis of governance that exists in Delhi today in a tug of war between Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi.
Q. Unlike in the past, this time Congress has remained a united house in the State before the elections. What's the secret behind this unity? How have you kept it united till now?
RG: Perhaps, I have started to understand the Congress better. The Congress believes in accommodating diverse thought processes without compromising on its basic principles. Unlike the RSS or BJP, we don't believe in imposing one uniform thought. We respect the diversity of India. That is the reason Congress has remained the central force in India's social and political landscape for so long.
Q. Maybe this unity the consequence of the professional management of the campaign by election strategist Prashant Kishor.
RG: Kishor is not the strategist for the party. The strategy is devised by the Central and State leaders of the Party. Kishor executes the strategy. He looks after the operational part of it.
Q. You mean to say Kishor is the event manager?
RG: That is the Prime Minister. Kishor helps us in taking the strategy to its logical conclusion. It is a professional help. It is the Congress Party that takes political decisions.