Are K Chandrasekhar Rao, Mamata Banerjee better than PM Modi, asks Yogendra Yadav
In the past, elections have been fought on issues like Emergency, Mandir, Masjid, Mr Yadav said.
Hyderabad: Politician-psephologist Yogendra Yadav on Monday called Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s claim of being an alternative at the Centre laughable. “When people like KCR say they are the alternative, I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry, because in terms of his record on democracy, is it better than the BJP’s,” Mr Yadav asked. “Is Mamata Banerjee’s record better than that of anyone else? Modi, KCR, Mamata are all made of the same material and that is the real problem.”
He emphasised that there was a need for an alternative at the Centre but said that those who seek to oppose the regime in terms of policy and programme are no different.
The only difference, he said, was that while the BJP thinks it can get votes by inciting hatred against the Muslims, the other parties think they can get Muslim votes.
He was speaking on “Agenda and Action in Lok Sabha Elections, 2019: A proposal for Citizens” where he spoke about reforms document “Reclaiming the Republic” and Indian citizens action for nation-19, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
The reforms document was drafted by experts, including lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan and economist Prabhat Patnaik, under the chairmanship of former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah.
The event was held along with Telangana Jana Samiti and Prof Kodandaram said TJS would take the reforms document forward to the people of Telangana.
“In the past, elections have been fought on issues like Emergency, Mandir, Masjid,” Mr Yadav said.
“This is the first election being fought on real issues like unemployment and agrarian distress. Every day, something or the other happens to derail it by bringing about Mandir or reservation issues. There are vested interests working to ensure that real issues do not come out. They don’t think before writing a manifesto.”
“Lynching was unknown to the public. It was used in the US. The great achievement of this government is that the word ‘lynch’ has now become part of everyday vocabulary,” he said.