Kota, the Parliamentary seat of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, is the hub for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and The Nationwide Eligibility cum Entrance Take a look at (NEET) aspirants throughout India. However additionally it is referred to as the scholars’ suicide capital of India the place 26 teaching college students dedicated suicide in 2023, the highest-ever. With Lok Sabha elections not far away, native Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) candidate Birla mentioned that he feels ‘pained’ and has promised to ‘attempt higher’ to curb this lethal phenomenon.
Calling all college students his ‘members of the family’, Birla has requested, “If there’s any rigidity, they need to pause and suppose for 10 minutes. The longer term forward is lengthy.” Kota has been making headlines 12 months after 12 months for a similar mistaken causes.
In the meantime, in a candid chat with News18, the high-profile candidate truthfully admitted what most candidates acknowledged however stopped in need of saying in as clear phrases — BJP candidates are much less related as a result of the citizens is voting within the identify of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alone. “All of us are combating the election in Modi’s identify,” was his unambiguous admission. He added that the one issue throughout India on this Lok Sabha election is ‘Modi’.
He additionally closely criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s name for caste census calling the grand outdated celebration ‘divisive’ whereas alleging the celebration employs caste and faith as twin methods to divide the folks. He additionally referred to as Congress leaders ‘egoistic’. Listed below are excerpts from his interview with News18 forward of Lok Sabha polls:
Q: Within the morning you have been in Delhi because the Lok Sabha Speaker and within the night, you might be again in Kota as a BJP candidate. Has it been a protracted day?
Om Birla: Daily is a protracted day throughout elections. That is the time if you meet folks, sit with them, hearken to them and make your pitch.
Q: The day began at Parliament and then you definitely went to Bundi for a rally and now in Kota. Was election in your thoughts whilst you have been briefly in Parliament?
Om Birla: In every single place in India, occasions have been being organised on Ambedkar Jayanti. Baba Saheb’s lengthy battle and his function in making India’s Structure is revered by all. Right now, all over the place, he’s being remembered (From Parliament to the place I’m in Kota proper now).
Q: How has the response been in Kota up to now? As an MP, you might have been a winner since 2014. Are you aiming at a hat trick?
Om Birla: I’ve been profitable in Kota since 2003 (first as MLA after which as MP) continuous. Folks right here have blessed me and showered their love. I’ve at all times revered the belief of the folks. My endeavour has at all times been to maintain getting their blessings and to face by them — be it catastrophe or disaster — and assist change the lives of the downtrodden on the authorities and societal stage. Within the final 10 years, each sector has seen transformation underneath Narendra Modi’s management — financial and societal. The poor of the poor are getting advantages of presidency schemes no matter their caste or faith. There’s a broad acceptance of PM Modi. In my political life, I’ve seen many political leaders. However the acceptance of PM Modi is totally different. Everybody is raring to make him the Prime Minister for the third time.
Q: The Sankalp Patra of BJP is known as ‘Modi ki Assure’ throughout India. So what’s ‘Om Birla’s assure’ for Kota?
Om Birla: Modi’s assure is now everybody’s assure. All of us are combating the election in Modi’s identify. Modi Ji’s schemes are our schemes. However for the folks of Kota, all elementary points — railways station, freeway, and IIT, which have been caught on the Centre’s stage, have been cleared. One of many key calls for of Kota was an airport. Prime Minister mentioned final time in a rally that it’s going to choose tempo once we come within the state. The Congress authorities didn’t pay dues for eight months which created a delay. However the second the BJP authorities got here to energy, dues have been cleared. As quickly because the DPR is cleared, the airport development will begin.
Q: Each constituency has its personal electoral points. What do you suppose are the problems right here in Kota?
Om Birla: Water connection is a matter right here. Folks on this area have been dealing with troubles for the final 75 years. Now with ‘har ghar jal’, each home is linked to the water line. Underneath Central schemes, they have housing, gasoline, bogs — all fundamental requirements are being taken care of. Final month, we made preparations to supply water to even non-irrigated lands for irrigation. So far as the city areas are involved, there’s no particular challenge that’s unfulfilled. However I’ll deliver extra schemes in response to their aspirations. Modi ji has mentioned growth within the final 10 years is only a trailer. Equally, we are going to deliver extra growth right here and put it up for sale as a tourism, training and medical hub.
Congress has no standing to make guarantees as it’s not in authorities — state or centre. Congress solely is aware of to divide, incite, unfold faux information and make unparliamentary remarks. Congress speaks the language of ego. Ego doesn’t work in politics.
Q: Whenever you speak about ego, who’re you hinting at? Are you referring to Rahul Gandhi?
Om Birla: Ego will be of the candidate and their leaders alike. Congress at all times performed divisive caste and spiritual politics. This isn’t an election of caste, that is an election of the nation.
Q: However Rahul Gandhi says we want a caste census. He has additionally mentioned it aloud on his social media bio.
Om Birla: This isn’t an election the place caste ought to play any function. This can be a nationwide election. This election ought to determine the way you wish to remodel the nation and what schemes you wish to usher in. This isn’t a state ballot or municipality election. This election must be on who you need as your Prime Minister, and which celebration you wish to rule.
Q: It’s very high quality to say it’s a nationwide election, however additionally it is Kota’s election. As an MP, how do you plan to cease rising pupil suicides in Kota?
Om Birla: These little kids (who’ve come to Kota to review) are my members of the family. It’s at all times my earnest effort that there’s not a single suicide. State authorities, administration, NGO — all are working in the direction of it. I really feel pained even at a single suicide incident. We’ll attempt higher. We’ll attempt to make them really feel at residence right here. Kota’s ambiance may be very peaceable which is why so many come right here to review. Each household in Kota works as a guardian. I want they research, go ahead in life. If there’s any rigidity, they need to pause and suppose for 10 minutes. The longer term forward is lengthy.
Q: Your opponent Prahlad Gunjal has alleged you might have created an environment of concern, you might have deployed a drone over his home to maintain monitor of individuals’s motion there. How do you wish to reply?
Om Birla: He has a knack for untruth and falsehood from the very starting. Everybody is aware of who’s monitoring whom. The celebration (BJP) gave him sufficient time and possibilities (whereas he was in BJP earlier than making a change to the Congress). Folks gave their verdicts (to you). I say, battle the election on points. When you’ve got switched to a brand new celebration…You have been in a single celebration three months in the past and now in one other, speak concerning the schemes of that celebration. The folks of Kota know who creates this ambiance of concern and terror.
Q: So please be clear, who’s creating this ambiance of concern?
Om Birla: The folks of Kota know.
Q: However I’m not from Kota.
Om Birla: I by no means make commentary on others. The society is aware of every thing and is watching every thing.
Q: 2014, 2019 and 2024 — every time Congress needed to change its candidate and every time your vote share went up. Will this occur this time as nicely?
Om Birla: In 2014 or 2019, we fought to make Modi Sarkar. This time isn’t any totally different.
Q: So Modi is the actual issue?
Om Birla: Completely, all over the place.
Q: But when one would ask, who’s reverse PM Modi?
Om Birla: There is no such thing as a one. The INDIA bloc has been damaged. There is no such thing as a one reverse PM Modi, go and ask the citizens.
