The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : Q & A: Uma Bharti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 21, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

Q & A: Uma Bharti

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, exudes confidence while claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party will improve its performance and increase its tally of seats in Parliament from the State. In the dissolved House, 21 of the 29 seats from the State were with the BJP. In an interview to Lalit Shastri, she asserts that development remains the BJP's top priority. Excerpts:

Your party had focussed on development during the campaign for the 2003 Assembly elections. What are the main issues in the parliamentary elections?

Development remains our top priority, both at the national and the State level. We are going to the people on the basis of the Central Government's performance on the economic and development fronts. Apart from infrastructure, which includes the development of roads, from the golden quadrilateral to the Prime Minister's Rural Roads Scheme, power projects in the thermal, hydel and gas-based sectors and water management, we have also focussed on the social sector, particularly education and child nutrition, through the "Sarvashiksha Abhiyan" and mid-day meal schemes.

What do you think is the most positive method of approaching the electorate during an election?

We believe in a positive campaign, hence the focus on development. But that does not mean we will ignore the weaknesses of our opponents. That would be a bad strategy. Actually, exposing the failures of the Congress is our compulsion as well. We have been in power for only a few months in the State and that is not enough time to bring about dramatic changes and rectify the mess created by the previous administration. We have to explain that to the people. In my experience, voters understand that you cannot just wave a magic wand and turn the State's economy around.

The BJP is described as an "ultra-right" outfit representing communal forces.

The Left has progressed, or regressed, from anti-Congressism to anti-BJPism in the last 15 years. Let's not forget that in 1989, the Left and the BJP had supported the V.P. Singh Government. In any case, the communal tag is now outdated and hurts our detractors rather than us. Look at the line-up in the NDA and its allies. Even the Congress doesn't characterise the Telugu Desam Party, the Nationalist Trinamool Congress or the Janata Dal (United) as communal.

Do you support the BJP leaders who are trying to build the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin as an election issue?

There are no two ways about it. Sonia Gandhi is acceptable as a bahu (daughter-in-law) but not as Prime Minister. The key posts must be held only by persons of Indian origin.

You have been in the forefront of the Ayodhya movement. Now even the NDA has included the Ayodhya temple issue in its manifesto. How do you visualise the scenario if the BJP-led NDA alliance comes back to power at the Centre?

Our commitment to building the Ram temple at Ayodhya has never wavered. There should be no doubt on this count. We have always held that consensus and persuasion are the best ways to facilitate [construction of the] Ram temple. The fact that it is now on the NDA agenda reflects the sentiments of the people across the board.

You have been at the helm of affairs in Madhya Pradesh for over four months now. What will you tell the State's voters when you go to seek votes?

I think I have already answered that question. We are going to the people on the basis of our performance at the national level. The fact that we have delivered on our promises will help us improve our performance in the parliamentary elections in Madhya Pradesh.

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