Leader of opposition and Congress senior Vijay Wadettiwar
Leader of opposition and Congress senior
Vijay Wadettiwar
said the assembly polls are a fight to save the honour of Maharashtra, even as he dubbed the dissent from senior Mahayuti leaders against BJP brass’ divisive slogans as drama to save their votebase. He told Subodh Ghildiyal that
farm distress and inflation
are big issues that will singe the BJP-led combine.
Q) Senior leaders of Mahayuti alliance like Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, Pankaja Munde have come out against the polarizing slogans given by the BJP leadership. You think there is dissent in Mahayuti?
A) It is their compulsion. Had they not spoken out against these crass slogans, they would have suffered badly. If you go to a “mandap” and then say that “dulha-dulhan” pair is not compatible, the question is why did you go to the “mandap”. It is pure drama to save their votebase. They have gone with divisive forces, and are now questioning these forces. The issue is why did you go with them, why don’t you leave them?
Q) But the attempt at polarization can dent the MVA?
A) It will have no impact in Maharashtra. BJP only talks about religion and polarization when it is losing. Congress and MVA have said it’s a fight between two ideologies. We have called it “Samvidhan Parivar vs Sangh Parivar”. Our contention is that all the people are part of the Constitution and entitled to the same justice. We talk about the rights of all. But RSS only talks about the rights of a select few, like Manu Smriti, and are all about inequality, division like rich over poor, and lack of respect for women. We are fighting for “Samvidhan” against Sangh Parivar. They want to make it “Hindu vs Muslim” but in Maharashtra, the Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar thought has deep roots.
Q) Maharashtra is mired in so many caste reservation issues. How will it be managed in future?
A) The villain of “Maratha vs OBC” politics is Devendra Fadnavis. He introduced venom in society for political gains. He spoke about Marathas, also provoked Dhangars by claiming they would get the ST status in his first cabinet meeting. The responsibility for this chaos rests solely on Fadnavis.
Q) The Mayahuti is betting big on Ladki Behan Yojana, Rs 1500 for women?
A) The scheme is not working because inflation is so high. Farm distress is a major issue as there is no purchase on MSP. The PM is lying about MSP. The women folk are fighting against price rise even as electricity bills have been hiked by 33%. Their household budgets have been badly disturbed. It is also a fight to save the honour of Maharashtra since this govt has prostrated at the feet of Gujarat and runs on the orders from Gujarat. Employment opportunities in the state have gone out and joblessness is acute. There has been 35% corruption in govt works worth Rs 6 lakh crore. The people of Maharashtra know it. And, women’s security is a major concern too.
Q) By the looks of it, there is a keen fight in the assembly polls even though MVA swept the Lok Sabha.
A) In fact, I see MVA performing better than Lok Sabha polls. There is such enthusiasm among people in Rahul Gandhi’s rallies, and women were in big numbers in the large gatherings of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The enthusiasm among people remains the same.
Q) Who will benefit from Maratha quota agitationist Manoj Jarange Patil’s decision to not fight the election?
A) We welcome his decision to not enter politics. I think he felt that one community does not win the election, or it is not the way to do it. But I think Rahul Gandhi’s announcement to remove the 50% cap on reservations played a role. He must have understood that the MVA govt will remove the cap and Maratha community will get justice. But I cannot say who will gain from his decision.
