MoS on Mohan Bhagwat’s comments: ‘RSS guides us from a place of authority … we will certainly listen to them’

There is a lot of work to be done in the aviation sector too. For instance, in my own constituency, the issue of Purandar (Pune’s second airport) is pending. We must expedite work on the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The old Pune airport’s expansion is on the table, and there are demands for airports from other states as well. We will address all of that.

As for cooperatives, they are the soul of Maharashtra and the country’s rural economy. Cooperatives play a big role in enhancing the economic conditions of farmers, dairy farmers and those working in sugar mills. I am glad I will be able to contribute to these two sectors.

Your constituency is ring-fenced by Opposition leaders, who also control many important cooperative institutions. Some of them are now your allies. How will you balance and reconcile these equations?

Politics should be kept separate from governance issues. Once you are in power, everyone should be equal. The government is for all. Irrespective of which leader or party controls cooperatives, district banks or sugar mills, it will be our duty to work for everyone’s prosperity.

We cannot be and will not be partisan and take decisions with the mindset that this institution belongs to the Congress or the NCP (Sharad Pawar) or the Shiv Sena (UBT)… We will not work with that mindset.

A few co-operative institutions are not in the pink of health. Will you push to bring out a white paper on this issue?

It is too early to make a definitive statement on such an important issue. We will help any institution that needs our support. Sahkar se samriddhi (prosperity through cooperation) is our motto.

Maharashtra goes to the polls soon. How do you assess BJP’s poor performance in the general elections?

Indeed, we fell short in the general elections. We must respect and accept the people’s mandate. Our party’s seniors and leadership have already begun their review of the results and held two meetings on this issue in Mumbai. We have to accept realities. We will introspect on our shortcomings and face the next elections with full strength. I have no doubt that there will be a Mahayuti government in the state after the Assembly elections.

Earlier this week, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat made some sharp remarks on lack of decorum and the language used in the recent elections. You have been a part of the RSS. What do you have to say about the RSS chief’s statements?

The RSS is our mother organisation. If we have fallen short in our work, if there have been mistakes, they guide us from a place of authority and we will certainly listen to them. We believe their guidance benefits the society, our country for keeping nationalism alive in the country.

Do you think the BJP chief’s statement — that the party has grown from the time it needed the RSS — hurt you in the elections?

It is not appropriate for a party worker of my level to speak on this issue.

The Pune hit-and-run case has sparked a major controversy. What do you have to say on the incident?

I feel what happened was 100 per cent wrong. Some elements in the government machinery misused and abused their power. The state’s Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, personally intervened in the matter and ensured strict action against officials of Sassoon Hospital, police officers and the family, who dared to switch blood samples.

Those who used money power to rig the system will not be let off and the accused will not be let off. He will be tried as an adult; the procedure is on. Punekars unified and because they came together, nobody will escape.

You were a wrestler and are adept at strategising grappling moves. Now, you are in New Delhi’s political arena. How will you put wrestling lessons to use in this arena?

I feel more fondly for the red soil akhada (arena) than Delhi’s akhada. But irrespective of which arena you are in, you must work hard, strategise and follow a plan. If you follow these tenets, you will be successful. I feel everyone should be involved in some sporting activity.

I have certainly benefited in my life from values and lessons I learnt while wrestling. You imbibe the ethics of teamwork. It taught me how to digest victory and defeat. Similarly, in politics, you are on top today and pinned down the next day.