There’s momentum for the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) on the bottom in Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned on Saturday, exuding confidence that her get together would do effectively within the southern state within the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In an interview with CNN-News18, she additionally touched upon a variety of speaking factors — from electoral bonds to the perceived north-south divide and the opposition’s allegations of misuse of probe businesses.
Launching a scathing assault on Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, she accused it of making “myths” for its personal features. She additionally mentioned the Congress was decreased to taking part in second fiddle to the DMK within the state. Edited excerpts:
Q. The notion that the DMK and the Congress get together have tried to construct is that Tamil Nadu is a territory that can’t be breached by the BJP. But, Mission South could be very integral to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ideology — and yours as effectively. Do you suppose this can be a bastion that may be breached?
A: Undoubtedly, it may be breached. You’ll be able to see the momentum on the bottom. You’ll be able to see how individuals are responding. It’s largely due to the eye the Prime Minister pays to Tamil Nadu and its growth. Girls in villages are speaking about how they have bathrooms. Additionally they obtained cooking fuel. They’re very clear that their homes are being constructed by means of the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana. And so forth.
So not solely the Prime Minister at his degree is giving consideration to Tamil Nadu, however the execution of initiatives on the degree of households can also be seen. The Congress get together has completely forfeited its rights in Tamil Nadu. And it’s taking part in solely second fiddle to one of many Dravidian events [the DMK].
So, as a nationwide get together, the Congress get together will not be in a position to get up by itself and say what’s within the curiosity of Tamil Nadu and what’s within the curiosity of the nation. Whereas the BJP says if all the nation has to develop and we’ve to succeed in the extent of the third-largest world economic system, we’d like each state of India to develop. Even with out an MP [of the BJP] from right here, the PM’s message is he needs each state to develop. So ought to Tamil Nadu.
Q: The criticism which comes from the Dravidian events is that the BJP is a north get together attempting to impose its language, and its tradition. Would you, as somebody who belongs from right here, need to challenge a clarification?
A: Hundred per cent. And that’s a part of the Dravidian myth-creating effort. They at all times have a look at North Indians and Hindi. All of us are a part of this nation. And on this nation’s historical past, Tamil Nadu’s contribution will not be the property of anybody get together. The DMK can not say it’s “us who stored up the Tamil”.
Completely discriminatory, differentiating — and a separatist ideology is the Dravidian ideology. Consequently, you discover them at all times talking of north versus south, Hindi versus Tamil or, , outsiders versus locals. They prefer to maintain it inside themselves.
So, they’re the arbiters of who’s a local Tamil versus who has come from exterior. These are very clear wedges which they drove into the Tamil society. Persons are clearly rejecting it. And so they’re not even democratic. They’re extremely dynastic. It’s solely their household that’s seen in politics; widespread Tamil individuals are not seen.
Q: The Katchatheevu challenge is being dismissed by the Chief Minister and the Congress get together as a diversionary tactic by the BJP. They are saying nationwide curiosity will not be the thekedari of the BJP.
A: Nationwide curiosity might not be the thekedari [read ownership] of the BJP, simply as I’m attempting to say that Tamil Nadu will not be the thekedari of the DMK. What’s their contribution to nationwide cultural heritage or the spirit of nationalism? It isn’t for nothing that we’ve raised this challenge.
When Katchatheevu was given [to Sri Lanka in 1974], then Tamil Nadu chief minister [late DMK doyen] Karunanidhi knew absolutely about it, however he didn’t inform the folks of the state. He stored it to himself. And never even a symbolic protest was held. That was the reality then. However why did we elevate it now? The very fact must be introduced out. They gave it away knowingly.
Tamil fishermen had been fishing in that space primarily based on their conventional proper to fish. What has occurred is after the Katchatheevu handover, the normal fishing rights have additionally been diluted significantly. Since you muddied the water then by freely giving or diluting the normal fishing rights, you aren’t in a position to resolve the fishermen’s challenge with Sri Lanka even in the present day.
When the DMK was an ally and accomplice of the UPA authorities, a minister went forward with banning [bull-taming sport] Jallikattu within the title of cruelty to animals. Jallikattu is an inherent a part of Tamil Nadu. You had been a celebration to that UPA. Your authorities got here up with banning Jallikattu.
You had been an alliance accomplice, DMK. You didn’t protest. So what are you speaking about? Tamil curiosity or nationwide curiosity? Neither are you a thekedar of Tamil curiosity nor are you a thekedar of nationwide curiosity. Jallikattu was restored because of the honourable Prime Minister. As a result of he fought within the Supreme Court docket and restored it as a cultural image of Tamil Nadu.
Q: It’s essential to have had a have a look at the Congress manifesto. It talks about the proper to work. It talks concerning the rights of minorities. The PM has mentioned it speaks the language of division and that of the Muslim League. This has in fact outraged Rahul Gandhi in addition to the Congress get together.
A: I want he was outraged a lot earlier than these issues had been put into his manifesto. He ought to have seen the draft and mentioned, “No, I shall not approve this”. Identical to an ordinance, he tore when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was exterior the nation. He mentioned, “No, I don’t need this.” Ought to he not tear the manifesto?
Q: Do you suppose the INDIA entrance might be another or perhaps a risk or a problem to the NDA?
A: I don’t suppose they’re a problem. Nonetheless, each election is a severe matter for the BJP. We must take each problem on the state degree and on the nationwide degree severely and tackle them. And that’s the reason we would like our marketing campaign to be much more sturdy — attain out to each part of our society and speak to them concerning the difficulties.
Q: What do you’re feeling concerning the caste census? That’s clearly the fulcrum of Rahul Gandhi’s pondering.
A: In different phrases, their goal is to not attain out to folks regardless of their caste. The [Opposition’s] goal is to go on perpetrating this narrative, saying, “Oh, there may be this backwardness which must be addressed — solely which comes out of a caste census.”
However Prime Minister Narendra Modi is saying, “Look, if I tackle ladies, each caste will get included.” Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Different Backward Courses. If I tackle youth and provides them options, each part can be lined. The identical goes for farmers. Whereas he’s attempting to construct an India the place all people will get advantages, some are speaking about caste as a result of they need to maintain the distinction alive. That’s a really damaging mind-set about making a distinction in Indian society.
Q: You’ve got Okay Kavitha behind the bars. You’ve got Arvind Kejriwal behind the bars. And all the INDIA entrance is saying that your authorities misuses ED/CBI to focus on political opponents.
A. The place was CBI throughout the UPA rule? It was described as a caged parrot. CBI, Enforcement Directorate and different investigative authorities had been all curtailed fully.
They had been clearly instructed to not transfer ahead in any respect. And I might very clearly, with the advantage of hindsight, inform you they had been stored like that as a result of had they been given their due freedom to function independently with out political interference, the primary folks to be focused would have been these in energy.
Since you had a rip-off per day, a big-ticket rip-off popping out day-after-day. So that they knew if solely the businesses got independence, the primary of the lot could be their very own ministers. Now, the caged parrot underneath Prime Minister Modi is given its independence, the due independence that an enforcement company ought to have.
So, clearly, they’re going the place they scent wrongdoing. And that’s the reason I say when ED or CBI go and do a survey or a search, they don’t go empty-handed. They go along with sufficient proof to say that they had credible data to behave.
Q. You suppose it’s okay for the Delhi CM to work from behind bars? He says the legal guidelines don’t cease him from doing so.
A: After all, legal guidelines don’t cease him from doing so. Legal guidelines additionally didn’t anticipate a chief minister to be behind bars after eight summonses had been rejected by him. Our Structure-makers had been so good that that they had religion in individuals who would come to public service; they didn’t suppose that folks reaching these excessive workplaces could be put in jail, and there could be a constitutional query of whether or not you can be a chief minister performing from behind the bars. We’re most likely betraying the religion.
Q. Electoral bonds. A lot politics has been finished over it. however your authorities and your get together are being attacked. There have been allegations of quid professional quo.
A: Electoral bonds had been a regulation made by means of Parliament. It was accepted that this might be higher than what was prevailing earlier. What was prevailing earlier was a free-for-all.
Anybody might carry a bag full of money, or a suitcase full of money and never say the place he earned it from, however give it to the political get together — and the political get together may very well be fortunately spending all of it.
The intent of [late BJP leader] Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Modi at the moment was to at the very least usher in some form of financial institution account-driven system, whereby solely white cash would come into politics. So the bond issuer and the bond beneficiary each had recorded transactions. Immediately, the Supreme Court docket in its knowledge says effectively this isn’t proper. We’ll observe it.
Q: Final query: Robert Vadra or Rahul Gandhi from Amethi?
A: It’s essential to inform me one factor. I’m advised — and that is simply the excitement within the city — that he [Rahul] wouldn’t announce his candidature in Amethi earlier than polling is accomplished in Wayanad [Rahul’s seat in Kerala].
As a result of he doesn’t need the folks of Wayanad to suppose, “Oh effectively, he’s not going to be right here. We could as effectively give it [the seat] to someone else.” And after that, he’s going to well announce that he’s going to Amethi. So affirm that for me.
