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Journalism of Courage
Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, an influential leader from Rajasthan’s Vagad region, who moved to BJP from the Congress earlier this year, is preparing to take on Bharatiya Adivasi Party’s Rajukmar Roat in the Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts from an interview:
Q. What made you leave the Congress and join the BJP?
We are tribal people, who do not wield power in the country. Wasting five years in a party (that is not in power) will not be beneficial for the tribals of Banswara. When I was minister (in the Ashok Gehlot government), I spent around Rs 10,000 crore on the Banswara Mahi Dam, around Rs 2,500 crore on two canals, and around Rs 1,000 crore on an anicut. If I had not joined the BJP, my hard work would have no value. We have a lot of infrastructure problems in Banswara that can only be resolved by being in power.
Q. What will be different in this election as compared to fighting from a Congress ticket?
The BJP has good manpower to support you at every step. Congress lacks this. With this support, we can work more efficiently this election.
Q. The Congress is in alliance with the Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP), whose candidate Rajukmar Roat’s public meetings are attracting a lot of people…
Most of those are people brought in from Madhya Pradesh and other parts just to sit at meetings… In reality, this is all a sham. When the results are announced, we will see how many of them voted for him.
Q. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Banswara on Sunday that Congress wants to distribute the nation’s wealth among Muslims. Your response?
He is the Prime Minister. He won’t speak without proof. You go and check the Congress manifesto. It is written in the manifesto that property will be re-distributed. So, we agree with the statement.
Q. BAP and Congress are both alleging that if the BJP gets majority, it will end reservations by amending the Constitution.
PM Modi and (Home Minister) Amit Shah have both made it clear that the Constitution will not be amended to remove reservation… (We) have said that reservation is our right.
Q. Arvind Damor was the Congress candidate from Banswara before the party aligned with BAP and gave it the seat. Congress has now suspended Damor for not withdrawing his nomination. Both Congress and BAP allege that you pressured Damor not to withdraw the nomination…
Why did the Congress give a ticket to Damor if he is my supporter? I have no interest in this and I don’t take it seriously.
Q. What will be your focus if elected?
Infrastructure and economy. Railway connectivity to Banswara is also important and so are good roads. We have plans to connect all areas in Dungarpur and Banswara with the Mahi Dam. Once our area is fully connected with water, it will impact the life of our people.
