In view of the party’s recent win in Himachal, don’t you think the public is more interested in good governance rather than non-issues like cow slaughter? Why should you be apprehensive about confronting the BJP on real issues?VenkatI agree with you that people are more interested in governance rather than non-issues like cow slaughter. I have never hesitated to confront the BJP on real issues. That is why we have to take up the issue of a ban on cow slaughter in the right perspective.In the Bhojshala case, both the central and the state government seem biased in favour of the Hindus. I don’t agree that the State Government is biased in favour of the Hindus or the Muslims. The State Government has by and large tried to build up a consensus among all sections of society. We have recommended to the Centre what the local leadership of all political parties had decided in 1995.According to the Human Development Report, Madhya Pradesh has the highest infant mortality rate amount the BIMARU states. Moreover, 50 per cent of the children are reported to be suffering from malnourishment. Why don’t you concentrate on improving their condition instead?Shailendra KumarMadhya Pradesh has improved its social indicators in the last few years. On the issue of malnourishment, we had a detailed survey done and in the last few years the number of most severely malnourished children has reduced. I have been concentrating all my energies on better governance rather than countering the so-called Hindutva. NEXT WEEK: AMAR SINGH When it comes to Uttar Pradesh politics, there’s never a dull moment. And this time the charges are flying thick and fast as Chief Minister Mayawati, trying to minimise the damage caused by the Samajwadi Party tape-bombshell, is accusing SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav of grave misdeeds, even ordering an official probe. The Lucknow din has reached Delhi, the Opposition mending fences within and stalling Parliament. The SP is calling for Central rule in UP. So if you have a query for SP general secretary Amar Singh,shoot through firingline@expressindia.com. How is the Hindutva line that you are peddling different from that of the Sangh Parivar?P.P. SinghThe Hindutva with which the Sangh Parivar is identifying is not the real Hindutva of Hindustan. Their brand is sheer communalism. A really religious person cannot be communal because real Hindutva is a way of life and it has in-built love, compassion, tolerance, while the Sangh Parivar preaches in-tolerance, violence and hatred.The Congress lost the Gujarat polls because of its soft Hindutva stand, a diversion from its path of secularism. Aren’t you repeating the mistake?Rohan NaikI don’t agree that we lost the Gujarat elections because of soft Hindutva. We lost because we could not counter or match the rumour mongering and the whispering campaign of the RSS. There is no question of repeating the mistake.In trying to take on the BJP with its own agenda, you are on a sticky wicket. Today it is cows, tomorrow censorship of the Ekalavya programme, then a temple. Soon, ‘‘secularists’’ may campaign for Advani on the grounds that he is less rabid than Modi. Isn’t it time you sacrificed your short-term party gains for the long-term interest of the country ?Shereen RatnagarYou are absolutely wrong. I am not taking on BJP on their own agenda. I have always sought the mandate on the strength of my performance like I did in the last elections of 1998. Why is religion being made an issue? Do you want our country to be like Pakistan or Afghanistan?Abraham JohnReligion has never been made an issue by the Congress party. On the contrary, the Congress has always had a liberal identity which gives an opportunity to people from all religions and all castes.With Gujarat going to the BJP and Himachal to the Congress, who do you think has an edge in the coming Lok Sabha elections?Shailendra KumarI am certain the Congress will do much better because people have seen the non-performance and non-fulfillment of the promises made by BJP to the people.
