Terror has nothing to do with religion: Rajnath Singh

In the annals of Indian politics, Rajnath Singh is a towering figure. Born to a simple farmer, Ram Badan and mother Gujrati Devi, Rajnath was a brilliant student who was associated with the RSS from a young age. Right from his youth, Rajnath Singh adorned various political roles such as the district president of Jan Sangh, MLA from Mirzapur constituency, party’s national general secretary and national president of BJP’s youth wing. On December 24, 2005, Rajnath Singh was unanimously elected as the BJP president. A firebrand saffron leader and an orator par excellence, Rajnath Singh has an electrifying personality. He views BJP as a great force in the upcoming elections.BJP has always been in the eye of the storm for its pro-Hindu hardline politics; it has even been branded by some as sponsoring ‘Hindu Terror’. In an exclusive interview with Zee News’ Swati Chaturvedi on ‘Kahiye Janab’, Rajnath Singh spoke at length on the burning issues of ‘Hindu Terror’ and the upcoming general elections… Swati: Today, the media is talking about ‘Hindu Terror’, what’s your take on this issue? Rajnath: I think that whosoever believes in nationalism cannot be a terrorist. Swati: Some people feel pained with BJP being referred to as sponsoring ‘Hindu Terror’? Rajnath: It is unfortunate that terrorism is not only rampant in India but throughout the world. BJP has never associated terrorism with Muslims. In fact, BJP has never adjudged terror as having anything to do with Islam. If we have ever associated it with anything, we have associated it with ‘jihad’, and not with any religion or faith. Swati: When you talk about jihad, it is a politically loaded term often used as a code language? Rajnath: BJP is well known for its straight talk. It is unfortunate that BJP is being portrayed as sponsoring ‘Hindu Terror’. But no party or spokesman has so far directly linked the BJP with ‘Hindu Terror.’ Swati: Sadhvi Pragya Singh who was an ABVP member was a follower of your ideology; you said that this case is similar to Aarushi-murder case. RSS called a meeting of BJP workers whereas LK Advani distanced the party from Malegaon blast by putting up a technical defence. If you state that Sadhvi Pragya follows your ideology, why are you not supporting her? Rajnath: Let me clearly state that RSS never called us upon this issue; whatever news has been published in newspapers is completely groundless. As a party president, whatever I am saying is on the lines of BJP’s ideology. Swati: You always say that LK Advani is the PM-in waiting. He himself said that ‘let the law take its course, we are not defending them’. What do you have to say? Rajnath: Where is the possibility of defending? If there is a suspicion, there should be an investigation. If I am under suspicion, I should be investigated. The meaning of my statement was – I will not accept Sadhvi Pragya as a terrorist until there are substantial proofs to prove her guilty. I reiterate that whosoever believes in Hinduism cannot be branded as a terrorist. BJP never endorses violence. I want to add that a few newspapers alleged that Rajnath Singh felt guilty about his pictures alongside Sadhvi Pragya. I want to be clear that I did not feel guilty. As a politician, we are common men who are easily accessible to anyone, why should I be guilty? Swati: As a national party, the USP of BJP lies in its tough stand against terrorism whereas the Congress led-UPA government has failed to restrain terror. When we say terror has no religion, why is BJP hesitant in accepting Malegaon blast as a terror incident? Rajnath: Arrests have been made in Malegaon blast case previously also. I want to ask why didn’t the previous accused go through brain mapping and narco analysis tests? Secondly, regarding Sadhvi Pragya, we never said that she should not be questioned. If there would have been enough proofs against Sadhvi Pragya, there was no need to conduct brain mapping and narco analysis tests. In Aarushi murder case, investigations were made public. In case there are any proofs against Pragya, they should be made public. Swati: In the Batla House encounter case, where Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was shot by terrorists, your party immortalised him as a martyr and justified the act of police. On the other hand, in the Malegaon case, the police probe is being labelled as faulty? Rajnath: Batla House was a terrorist hideout. Mohan Chand Sharma would not have been shot if there were no terrorists. Do not equate Batla House with Sadhvi Pragya. Do not forget that Maharashtra is led by the Cong-NCP government which has completely failed in countering terror. Congress is simply playing a political gimmick to divert the attention of the nation. Swati: As a national president of the BJP, you say that it’s a concoction? Rajnath: No, but this possibility cannot be denied. I reiterate that if there are any proofs against Sadhvi Pragya, they should be made public. In Aarushi murder case, whatever facts were collected, they were made public through press conference on the same day. Why not the same in Sadhvi Pragya’s case? Swati: As the BJP party president, you say that Congress is planning a conspiracy to target Hindus? Rajnath: I am saying that Congress is doing so to counter its own inability to restrain terrorism and the party is very much aware of this fact. Swati: Many feel that the BJP is a two-faced party. Whenever the need arises, it becomes a responsible party. If LK Advani sports a soft image by putting forth a technical defence, you say that I am not guilty of sharing the same photo frame with Pragya. BJP appears to be a big Hindu-divide family where Bajrang Dal and VHP lament that they have been used for the Ram Mandir movement and then thrown away. Rajnath: BJP is not a two-faced party. BJP has never been a part of multifaceted party politics. If there is any single Indian political party that shares a bigger stature than Congress, it is BJP. Swati: Right from the age of 13, you have been associated with RSS. Sadhvi Pragya left everything to be associated with RSS. Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambara, Praveen Togadia and Ashok Singhal say that they have been associated with RSS and BJP has used them. Rajnath: (Smiles) Sadhvi Ritambara is a revered figure for me. Ashok Singhal is a well known person; do take his interview along mine. Swati: Ashok Singhal said that whether it is a matter of Ram Janambhumi or the issue of Kashmiri Hindus, BJP espoused the use and throw politics as Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambara, Praveen Togadia and Ashok Singhal were once BJP’s pillar of strength. Does BJP use its members only to dispose them off? Rajnath: BJP is a people’s party. It works for the welfare of the people. BJP works towards building national integrity and is determined to fight for the country’s cause. Swati: Off the record, do you feel that the Malegaon blast case is an insider’s handiwork? Rajnath: These allegations are totally baseless. Swati: Earlier, the BJP took pride in equality and party democracy. Off late, it is seen that the BJP is following Congress with a constant referral of ‘High Command’? Rajnath: Well, the leader of a group is referred to as High Command. Personally, I have never used this term. Swati: Outside the BJP party office during filing of nominations, there are fights and briefings from the High Command? Rajnath: See, people on a large scale wish to become BJP candidates. People know that victory can be achieved only through the BJP. Swati: As the national president of BJP, what do you have to say on lack of discipline? Rajnath: Look, in a party, there are not only party workers but supporters too. There has been no untoward or violent incident in the BJP office. BJP is different from other political parties. I am confident that BJP is the most disciplined political party. However, the scope for improvement cannot be denied. Swati: How much scope of improvement you think is there? Rajnath: We are trying to increase the responsibility of party workers towards BJP ideology. For the past one and a half years, I have been saying that BJP party workers should observe election process. I am happy to state that in almost 70% polling centres, BJP party workers have organized themselves for the coming elections. BJP is one of the biggest political parties of India and our next step is to train the party workers on BJP ideology and make them more responsible. Swati: In the upcoming general elections, you are the defender. In Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, do you think the way BJP has performed you stand a chance to win? Rajnath: In all these states, the BJP will definitely be victorious as it enjoys a good track record in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In addition, BJP is also a strong contender in Delhi. Swati: You are saying that Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are BJP strongholds? Rajnath: Yes, BJP will be a great force. Moreover, BJP will be a balancing force in Jammu and Kashmir. Swati: According to Rajnath Singh, what is a good election and what will be bad election? Rajnath: BJP will perform well in all six states as we believe the party will win Mizoram too. In four states, namely Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, we will definitely win and will surely try to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir too. Swati: In case things do not materialize as planned, whom will you blame? How will you mark yourself?Rajnath: If God has granted us the belief to win, we will be victorious. Swati: You have been the BJP party president for a long time; there is a grapevine that you will be contesting in the upcoming general elections. Do you accept it or deny it? Rajnath: Look, nominations are decided by the party’s election committee. I chair the committee but the final decision lies in the hands of the party. Swati: A straight answer - Yes or No? Rajnath: I cannot breach the line of party discipline. Adaptation by: Aman Kanth