Politics should have good
intentions: Rajnath Singh

Since his landing in Delhi from Mumbai on January 1, 2006 and assuming the onerous office of the National President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Shri Rajnath Singh was treated to an unprecedentedly tumultuous welcome by BJP workers and well-wishers. People have made a beeline before him to present bouquets and shower flowers and good wishes for success of his mission. With his hands full of challenges and responsibilities ahead of him, Shri Rajnath Singh did spare some time to speak to BJP TODAY and BHAJAPA SAMACHAR team on a variety of subjects. He is firm on making no compromise with ideology, corruption and indiscipline. Even as President he continues to feel proud to be a worker of BJP and Swayamsevak of RSS. Here is full text of the interview with Shri Rajnath Singh:

You have stated that you consider the office of President not a post but a responsibility, not an honour but a test. What challenges do you visualise because of this?

For me problems are no challenges. There will be a sense of collectivism in the conduct of party affairs. I will work hard relentlessly with the dedication and spirit of a sadhak (missionary). If I encounter any problem, I will work out a solution with the cooperation of my friends and blessings of my seniors.

What are your short-term and long-term priorities?

The Party should spread fast in all directions and reach every section of society in every nook and corner of the country. Commitment to ideology needs to be strengthened and there should be greater dynamism in the organisation. No problem in the party should be allowed to linger on. The process of finding solution to short-term and long-term problems should always be a continuous one and never stagnant.

It is said that for the first time son of a farmer has come to occupy the post of BJP President. What impact is it going to make on the Indian politics?

India is a land of villages, land of farmers. As long as the problems of the villages and farmers are not attended to and solved; the village and farmer is not developed, our dream of development of the country will always remain unrealised.

Farmer is the greatest producer as also the greatest consumer in the country. He is the very wheel of progress. We can make this wheel move only by strengthening the farmer and rural economy. We have to push up his purchasing power and this can be done only when he gets remunerative prices for his produce. In it lies the key to the prosperity of our Motherland. The day the villager and the farmer is prosperous and has plenty to spend, poverty will be a thing of the past and India will be one among the developed nations.

Some people accuse BJP of having digressed from its ideology. What would you like to say?

No, it's not true. There is no question. We are and we have always been steady and steadfast in our stand on ideology and will continue to be so in future too. Hindutva is the very spirit of India, very integral to the integrity of the country. Not only does it define relationship between human beings but also with all living beings. It has universal meaning and application the world over. India will continue to be one and united as long as the cultural integrity and identity of the nation is intact, remains strong and well-protected.

There is a great significance attached to cultural identity of a nation. In Israel the Wailing Wall stands as the cultural icon of Israel and it continued to inspire the cultural and national feelings of Jews. One day they realised their national identity with the formation of Israel. USSR was one country but had no national identity and unity. That is why after a few decades it fell apart into many independent nations. Man and nation are interlinked and inter-dependant like a tree linked to its roots.

This year State assembly elections are scheduled in the States of West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. What would be your election strategy?

We will fight elections with full vigour and determination. Our performance will be much better than earlier. We will leave our mark and impact.

Trinamool Congress is an important constituent of NDA and Sushri Mamta Bannerjee is working on a Mahajot in which she also wishes Congress to be part of it so that the anti-Left vote does not get divided. What is your opinion?

For the time being I would only say that our alliance is with Trinamool Congress.

You have been a leader in ABVP and BJYM. What are your plans towards greater participation of youth in BJP?

We will inspire the youth of India to dedicate themselves to the uplift of the nation. We will launch programmes which instill in them a spirit of nationalism, dedication towards the country and the society and commitment to the nation. We will work out plans as to how best the youth could be made to play a greater role in the country's future and in national welfare.

We will definitely give special attention to problems facing the youth and do everything to solve them by taking them along. We will generate greater awareness among the youth and channelise their energies to the realisation of our goal to take India to greater heights.

BJP is in favour of 33 percent reservation for women. During Atalji's regime NDA had introduced a Bill to this effect. Don't you think more and more women should be involved in BJP?

Their representation at all levels needs to be increased. They have to be made to play a greater role in the affairs of the party and the nation. I wish that the Women's Reservation Bill should be passed in Parliament at the earliest. At the organizational level, my effort will be to give them more and more representation.

What would you like to say about the sting operation on MPs?

There will be no compromise with corruption and indiscipline.

Do you find any difference between Rajnath Singh as a party worker and Party President?

I am a party worker and even as President I continue to consider myself as a worker in the service of the Party. Whatever duty and responsibility has been put on my shoulders I will discharge it to the best of my ability and commitment. All I pray is that greater responsibility should never generate a sense of ego at any time in my life.

Can you elucidate on BJP's relations with RSS?

I am myself a swayamsevak of RSS. There have never been any differences between BJP and RSS and there will never be. We are one family. Whenever there are any problems or difficulties, just as we discuss or consult each other in the family, we will continue to do so with RSS. RSS has never interfered in the functioning of BJP as a political party.

What is your comment on the 20 month rule of UPA at the Centre?

It is a saga of utter failures and unkempt promises on which it won the election. Prices are rising. Inflation is shooting up. UPA is losing its grip over the economy. The Left parties are pulling its legs every time it takes a decision. They are playing their own politics, more so electoral politics. They have let down the farmers completely. That is why farmer suicides are on the rise since UPA took over. The internal security of the nation is in danger. Terrorist violence has reached alarming proportions. UPA Government has failed to put a check on cross border terrorism inspired and indulged in by Pakistan. In spite of that, Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh continues to harp on continuing the talks with Pakistan. Our relations with our neighbors are at the lowest ebb. There is no unity of thought between the alliance partners on matters of policy. UPA hardly has anything to feel proud of.

As Party President what message would you like to convey to the workers?

My message to the Party workers is that they should remain committed to the Party ideology, maintain discipline and serve the nation and party with devotion. The organization can be strengthened only by first understanding what reunite (politics) means. Raja denotes order and nit denotes neat (intention). Unfortunately, the true meaning of reunite has been lost to our politicians and the people. I, therefore, stress on the intentions in politics. If the intentions are pure and selfless, nothing but welfare of the people will be promoted. A genuine politics in the true spirit of service can play a very positive role in the progress and uplift of the nation and humanity. And by having good intentions, every worker can do a lot to strengthen the organisation.