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Journalism of Courage
In a conversation with VALLABH OZARKAR, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Industries Narayan Rane, contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, is confident he will win by over 2.5 lakh votes. Targeting opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), he said the “old Shiv Sena” of Balasaheb Thackeray doesn’t exist now in the state and Uddhav was responsible for the current status of the Shiv Sena led by him.
Speaking about the Sena UBT’s opposition to the multi-billion dollar Ratnagiri Petrochemical refinery project proposed in Konkan’s Ratnagiri district, and the party calling it destructive, the senior minister alleged that the party’s chief and its sitting Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut were spreading false information about the project for personal gain.
Q. When you were in Shiv Sena, you helped the party grow in the Konkan region. It has now split. What are your views on the condition of the Shiv Sena in the state?
Whatever condition the Sena is in right now is because of Uddhav Thackeray and he is solely responsible for it.He is now completely depressed and will say anything. He doesn’t understand anything and has no vision for development. He speaks ill of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Who is he to speak in this manner? Uddhav has nothing with him right now. Only five MPs are with him, who are also going to go. He and his party will be completely wiped out in the polls. He only has Matoshree left with him now.
Q. The opposition has been alleging that the BJP is misusing agencies to split parties like Shiv Sena and NCP or taking opposition leaders into their fold. What is your view?
Nobody has forced anyone to join the BJP. They thought they should join, so they have joined. All rivers ultimately merge into the sea. BJP is a sea of development and hence everyone who wishes to work in that direction has joined the party.
Q. You earlier represented the assembly constituency in Sindhudurg district, but now you are contesting the LS polls. What is your focus in this election?
I have been representing the Sindhudurg district for the past six terms now. I was a minister in the state as well as at the Centre. I have developed Sindhudurg in a bigger way and have done a lot of work in the district, from providing basic infrastructure to bringing industries, hospitals, schools and colleges as well as providing jobs.
There are many issues in Ratnagiri district which need to be addressed, such as infrastructure, industries, tourism and industries based on farm products. Issues pertaining to health, education and employment for youths need to be solved. Creating a good atmosphere for traders and small businesses could provide jobs to youths.
Q. What would be your vision and plan for the development of the Konkan region in your next term? The major issue in the region is unemployment. Youths struggle for jobs and have to migrate to bigger cities, leaving their elders at home. How would you address this issue?
First of all I would make a development plan for the region that would underline the aspects that need development and in which sectors. For example, in a particular area, we need to determine if engineering factories would work or other factories like garment or food processing units. An in depth study would be conducted to ascertain what kinds of industries are suitable for a region.
Local traders and businessmen can increase their income which will enable the local youths to get jobs here. We are focusing on development, unlike the opposition who are only abuse and criticise the good work. So we are sure that we will win the polls.
Q. The Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat had become a bone of contention between the BJP and Shinde Sena. While you have been nominated, do you see any impact because of the discontent among them?
After my candidature was announced, we held a meeting and the issue has been sorted out. They were demanding the seat earlier but now there is no discontent as such and they are also campaigning for me. So I don’t find any issue here.
Q. The Ratnagiri refinery project has been a major issue in the region. Uddhav Thackeray had said in his party’s manifesto that his party would not let ‘destructive’ projects like this refinery come to the state. What is your response?
No project is destructive in nature. Such projects have helped develop several nations. He (Uddhav Thackeray) is calling it destructive because his mind is destructive so he might be seeing everything as such. If he were to gain monetary benefits out of that project, then it would be a good project for him.
He (Uddhav) proposed the new site as Barsu but he didn’t get anything (from the refinery) so he got upset and has started provoking people to against the project. He is now doing that by misleading the people. The current MP (Vinayak Raut) is doing the same thing right now. When they do not get some “cuts”, they stall the work and when they get something, they restart it.
Q. You have been in politics for over 50 years. For most of these years you were in Shiv Sena and helped it grow in the Konkan region. You are one of the old timers of Shiv Sena. Now with the current situation, what do you think about the Shiv Sena? Do you think it is the same old Sena now? Do you think that Eknath Shinde is the heir to Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena?
I won’t go into all of these. Shiv Sena was of Balasaheb. Now what Uddhav Thackeray calls Shiv Sena (UBT) is not the Shiv Sena of Balasaheb. I think Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena doesn’t exist today.
Balasaheb’s ideology was of Hindutva and Marathi manus. Uddhav Thackeray became chief minister by betraying the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb and joined hands with the NCP and Congress, against whom Balasaheb always fought. This is a betrayal of Hindutva. He has forgotten Maratha people as well. He only cares about what he gains and which position he gets. He is doing everything for personal gain. Today Balasaheb’s Sena doesn’t exist. It is unfortunate.
Q. Are you confident about winning ? How much of a lead do you expect?.
Of course. I will win by a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes.
