Madhya Pradesh CM interview: ‘Mera naam Shivraj Singh Chouhan hai … small things don’t affect me’

Can the BJP win this election?

Jeetegi hi (We shall win). There is no doubt about it. I am using these words. We shall win.

Which scheme of yours do you think will accomplish this?

Sisters have come together to support their brother. Be it the Ladli Behna Yojana or Ladli Lakshmi scheme, 50% reservation in local body polls, 30% recruitment of daughters in police, or 35% overall reservation in direct recruitment to government jobs, we have taken not one but several such steps. So maatrishakti (women power) is with the BJP and nephews and nieces will also support their mama (maternal uncle).

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been speaking against revdi (freebies). How are your schemes not that?

This isn’t revdi culture. This is full justice to half the population. Women also have full rights to our land and resources. Yet, none can deny that we are still a patriarchal society. So, we decided that we would give them enough to fulfil their necessities. I started putting money in the bank accounts of my sisters in 2017. That led to better nutrition levels. This isn’t revdi. When money goes to the mother, sister or daughter of a family, she utilises it well. She first spends it on children and then on the needs of the family. So, give money to the mother. She will utilise it better than the administrative system.

Will you be the chief minister if the BJP wins?

See, I don’t bother about this. My goal in politics is the construction of a glorious, strong and prosperous Bharat. To fulfil that mission, I am a worker of the BJP. The mission will determine who will do which work and where.

Did you not feel bad that you aren’t the face of the BJP after these many years in power?

Mera naam Shivraj Singh Chouhan hai (my name is Shivraj Singh Chouhan). These small things can never affect my personality or work. What you are isn’t important, how you are working is.

Did the entry of Jyotiraditya Scindia benefit the BJP?

Yes, definitely. He is an energetic young leader. Faayda hua hai (there has been gain).

* Congress leader Kamal Nath told us that Rajiv Gandhi got the gates of Babri Masjid opened and the BJP cannot claim credit for the Ram temple, which belongs to everyone.

Religion is not a matter of politics for us. It is a matter of faith. Ram temple is also that. Ram is our existence, our devotion, our life, our God and a symbol of the country. We see Him like this. This is not a matter of claiming credit, but Congress should answer why even in courts their leaders opposed the temple and filed affidavits. They said there were 10,000 rooms in the palace. First, tell us where Ram was born. Earlier, they considered Ram to be imaginary and opposed Him; now, when they see that the people can’t exist without Ram, they are chanting Bhagwan Ram’s name. They are now trying to jump on the bandwagon but people know the truth.

Kamal Nath has accused your government of corruption …

What about ED (Enforcement Directorate) and Income-Tax raids on people around him? I don’t make personal charges on anyone, but with what face does he say such things?

He says he is a man of vision and you are a man of television …

He stays a prisoner in his own house while I stay with the public 24×7.

Kamal Nath also says there must be some reason why the BJP has not projected Shivraj Singh Chouhan as its CM candidate.

There must be some reason that be it Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Randeep Surjewala or Rahul Gandhi, when they come to Bhopal only Mama comes to their mind in the morning, evening and night. When they sleep, when they rise, on Twitter – everywhere they think only about Mama. Kuchh toh hoon main (so, I must be something).