Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has just returned from his 111th public rally in Uttar Pradesh. He is tanned and exhausted, but does not refuse an invasion into his late hour of relaxation. Over a cup of tea and snacks, Singh dwells on the BJP’s promise of ‘ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas ’, especially in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shamshan-kabristan remarks — insinuations of Muslim appeasement by the ruling Samajwadi Party. In an interview with BusinessLine , the Minister elaborated on the social engineering being attempted by the BJP in UP, on how demonetisation has won the people’s support and of his confidence a complete majority in the UP Assembly. Excerpts:

The BJP is clearly attempting some very clever social engineering here: attracting OBCs other than the SP’s traditional Yadav voter, and Dalit communities other than Mayawati’s Jatav followers of the BSP. This seems to be a revival of Kalyan Singh’s and Govindacharya’s strategy of the 1990s.

The effort of the BJP has always been to work for every section of society. When I was Chief Minister in 2001, our government constituted a social justice committee to carry out a caste-based census, which then became the basis to formulate the quantum of reservation for the most backwards among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits. We even passed an Act in the Assembly to this effect. But then the government changed and Mayawati reversed our efforts. It is a fact that these two parties (SP and BSP) have played favourites and engaged in blatant and discriminatory casteism over the years.

So, is it your formula that is being re-adopted? Will the BJP change the quantum of reservation towards non-Jatav Dalits and non-Yadav OBCs?

I am not saying that. We are not supportive of [a policy] favouring certain communities and indulging in the kind of casteism that has prevailed in UP for decades. We want ‘ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas ’ as the PM has said. The party is now following a certain strategy and whoever comes to power, becomes Chief Minister, will decide on what policy measure is to be adopted for the upliftment of all.

But is there a possibility that you will become the CM if the BJP wins?

Who has said that? I have a responsibility at the Centre and there is no such discussion. I did what I had to when I was Chief Minister and it is almost two decades since then. Times have changed. We have all moved forward.

You say the BJP is neither casteist nor communal. But caste is clearly a factor while disbursing tickets. Why else have you given eight tickets to Om Prakash Rajbhar’s party in eastern UP if it is not to attract a certain community. You have not given a single ticket to Muslims in a State with close to 18-20 per cent Muslims.

You see, when tickets are decided, winnability is the only criteria. Political parties base their calculations on the social condition that prevails. The BJP wants to win this election and we choose the best among all caste and communities. We have no allergy to anyone.

But you don’t think Muslims can make winnable candidates?

That is not true. The BJP has given tickets to Muslims in other states.

Why is the BJP making comments about shamshan - kabristan and Kasab, and communalising the discourse?

It was Akhilesh who spoke of building kabristan s (graveyards) everywhere. The PM only said we should build both. You have the wrong end of the stick here. The BJP has not polarised voters on communal lines. It is the other parties that are doing it. Their strain to attract the Muslim votes…What does it say about our political discourse when two mainstream parties like the SP and the BSP are fighting over a candidate with criminal charges(reference to local strongman Mukhtar Ansari, accused of murder, who is fighting on the BSP ticket after an alliance with SP failed)?

The PM has spoken about a hung Assembly. Is that what is weighing on your mind? There’s talk that the BJP will tie up with Mayawati.

That question does not arise. The BJP is headed towards a complete majority. I don’t know what the PM said but I will certainly not trust the media’s interpretation of it. You should come to a public meeting with me. You will get a sense of how the people are responding to the BJP. The PM has a hope factor with him. Although people suffered hardships in the weeks following demonetisation, they never believed that the PM’s intentions were wrong. They believe that he is working towards their betterment, for eradicating corruption. It is important at a time when they have lost faith in these other parties.

Tell me, how can a party support someone like [SP candidate] Gayatri Prajapati (who faces charges of rape and corruption) after what he has done? I think it is demeaning for me as a politician and as a citizen to accept it. That is why I say, people are looking for a credible alternative and the BJP is in a position to provide it.

The BJP seems to be under some strain. Why else is the PM himself addressing so many rallies? The party President and so many ministers of the Union Cabinet are camping here.

(Smiles) Don’t worry about us. We fight all elections to win. Why are you talking about UP alone? In Manipur too, we are giving it our best.

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