Sunday Interview: ‘We are accountable. People will judge our work’

The Modi government has completed one year in office. What do you think are its biggest achievements?
It is a neat and clean government, which has not only performed well, but also reformed the way the government was being run earlier. It is one government that keeps a common man in mind while formulating its policies. It is, perhaps, for the first time in the history of this democratic nation that the impact of government schemes — economic or social — has been felt till the ground level.

But the Opposition doesn’t feel this way.
There are some people who have this feudal mindset. They cannot digest the fact that Modi government can take decisions which are being appreciated by the people. The Congress and other Opposition parties are trying their best to disturb our agenda of growth and development by spreading rumours and lies. I have just one message for them — do whatever you can. You will never be successful.

You said your government’s schemes have made an impact on the people, then why do your party leaders and ministers hold press conferences to inform them about these schemes?
This is also the first time that a government is going to the people proudly and confidently with its report card. We could have waited for the next Lok Sabha elections and then made promises to do things like the previous governments. But we want the people to know that their government is working with honesty and transparency. Also, you cannot leave everything to the bureaucracy and advertisements. You need to tell the people directly, remain connected. This is the reason why all our ministers, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and party workers are spreading the government’s message of “Varsh Ek, Shuruaat Anek” and presenting the government’s report card to the people. Yes, the Opposition has been coming out with all sorts of allegations against our government, but we are getting our feedback directly from the people, who are happy with our work and initiatives.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has given your government a zero.
It seems Mr Gandhi and his party are yet to emerge from the depression of their Lok Sabha defeat. I don’t know who writes his script but it expires even before it is finished.

And he also attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh...
It has become a fashion to attack the RSS, to argue that the RSS is communal and we are secular. It is a futile exercise. Some people feel that by attacking the RSS a certain section of society will be drawn towards them. But this formula of secular vs communal has been exposed. The Opposition really needs to rework its strategy. They need to feel the pulse on the ground rather than fly high.

But your government is still attacked over the issue of minorities, that they do not feel safe under the National Democratic Alliance rule.
When our government says “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, we mean it. The socio-economic and religious rights of minorities are well protected. We do not need any certificate from the Congress or the secular syndicate. Our work speaks for itself. The Opposition is feeling restless as it has not found any genuine issue to attack us, therefore, it creates this secular vs communal debate. There are some forces which were earlier protecting power brokers and middlemen, who used to run the government, but have now been rendered insignificant. These forces also join this Opposition chorus. But then they forget that you cannot fool people.

Your recent statement that beef-eaters should go to Pakistan has created a major controversy.
My entire conversation on the issue is on YouTube. I never said it the way it was presented.

Your party claims that the Opposition is unnecessarily creating controversies and attacking some of the ministers in the Modi government, including the human resources development minister (Smriti Irani).
It seems the Opposition has devised a strategy to attack ministers who are working effectively and actively. Our government is in power because the people wanted us not because of the meharbaani of the Opposition. We are accountable to the people. They will judge our work. The Opposition can do whatever it wants. Earlier it was “one man party” now it’s “one man government”. Why do you think the Opposition continues to attack Mr Modi personally ?

It’s a feudal mindset where you think that all big posts including the Prime Minister’s should either be with you or with people whom you can remote-control. Some people find it hard to digest that a person from such a humble background could become the country’s Prime Minister. They know that they cannot attack Narendra Modi on account of non-performance, corruption or policy paralysis. So they go for personal attacks and create non-issues and get exposed. But the more you attack
Mr Modi, his position becomes more stronger .

Assembly elections in Bihar are due later this year. What is your party’s strategy? There is speculation that the BJP will join hands with former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.  And will you project your chief ministerial candidate before the election?
There is a very positive atmosphere for the BJP in Bihar. We will do very well. However, it is for our leadership to decide on the Manjhi issue and it is for the parliamentary board to take a decision on the name of the chief ministerial candidate issue. I can only say one thing that people are fed up of Nitish Kumar’s rule and will not welcome any other alliance than the NDA.