Sunday Interview: ‘Inviting Saarc leaders shows keenness to improve relations’

Ravi Shankar Prasad, deputy leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and BJP chief media coordinator, has emerged as one of the leading spin doctors and the face of the saffron parivar. Here he is in conversation with Yojna Gusai.

The BJP achieved its target of 272-plus parliamentary seats. After a decade your party has come to power. The BJP on its own got 282 seats.

It is definitely an election result of hope. People were surely fed up with the way the Congress-led UPA governed India. But it was very much a positive vote and the leadership of Narendra Modi was a very important factor as it generated hope in the country. Therefore, it was an election not of emotions but of hope, not of anger but of assurance for a better India. This assurance Indians saw in Mr Modi.

In UP the BJP got 71 seats. UP had always been dominated by caste politics. How did you manage to break the jinx?

This election result should not be analysed keeping conventional standards in mind, namely religion, region and caste. Many of those players have been almost decimated, if I can use this word, by the people. For instance, Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD chief), Nitish Kumar (former Bihar chief minister), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP supremo), Mayawati (BSP chief), Farooq Abdullah (National Conference leader) and to an extent Sharad Pawar (NCP chief). Yes, Uttar Pradesh result is truly extraordinary and voters deserve a salute. The same is the case with Bihar. Wherever the main fight was between the BJP and the Congress, people rejected Congress with impunity.

So in a way people voted against the anti-incumbency of the state governments also?

This is how the people of India arise. When Indians arise and awake, they can surpass all expectations. I had been saying this for the last four-five months, that in case of Bihar we will cross 25 and look what we achieved on our own. Undoubtedly, the leadership of Mr Modi was truly outstanding and inspiring, but the organisational acumen of Amit Shah (the BJP’s UP in-charge) deserves special praise for this extraordinary result in Uttar Pradesh.

How would you describe this coming together of Janata Dal (United) and RJD in Bihar?

Well, it is nothing but an alliance of opportunism of two leaders — Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar — who have been so conclusively defeated by Mr Modi-led BJP. This desperate alliance will very shortly pave the way for the BJP coming to power on its own in Bihar.

It was said that by projecting Mr Modi as the prime ministerial candidate would lead to massive polarisation of votes. And that is what seems to have happened.

All the conventional arguments to oppose Mr Modi have failed. It was said that the BJP will not get allies, but we are 29 now. It was also said that this would lead to isolation of the BJP, but Mr Modi achieved absolute majority for the BJP on its own for the first time. One must understand the real meaning of this verdict. People wanted to conclusively defeat the Congress-led UPA, they wanted a better alternative under a strong and effective leader who has an impeccable record of governance and integrity.

Despite this stunning victory, your party did not get sizeable minority votes. Your opponents claim your party is anti-minorities. What do you have to say about this?

Again this question represents the conventional idiom of analysis. India has travelled beyond the secular-communal divide, the backward-forward divide. This is what the result has shown and this is what the strength of the result shows. In spite of great support, Mr Modi has himself stated that he will take the entire country along. His government will be for all and the growth of minorities in Gujarat is an indication of that. This criticism indicates the reluctance to accept the victory.

The BJP on its own has crossed the magic figure, but Mr Modi has been reaching out to non-NDA parties in his messages. Your party’s election manifesto had stressed on a federal structure — PM and CMs working together.

Even in the (last) national council meeting, Modiji had clearly outlined that respecting the sentiments of each state government and the federal nature is essential for India’s growth. Our manifesto states that the Centre must partner with states. This commitment is regardless of electoral results.

And inviting SAARC leaders for Mr Modi’s oath-taking ceremony. What’s the signal you are trying to send?

Honestly, it’s a very positive message of the new government’s keenness to improve relations in the region. It has great symbolism... of profound intentions.

What was the RSS’ role in the entire campaign? The Opposition accused the RSS of interfering in the BJP’s functioning.

The RSS workers participated like any other Indian worker participated in this campaign. It is absolutely wrong to say that it interfered. The RSS never interferes in political issues and in the BJP’s functioning.