By Rajashekara S and Hemanth Kumar - BANGALORE
Published: 28th February 2014 08:39 AM
Last Updated: 28th February 2014 11:32 AM
Handpicked by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to halt the winning run of BJP’s national general secretary Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency, UIDAI chief Nandan Nilekani is already raising the poll dust. But the BJP think tank is making quiet preparations to turn the tables on Nilekani by picking holes in his pet project. Former Union minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha dropped enough hints about the strategy during his conversation with Rajashekara S and Hemanth Kumar from Express. Excerpts.
Congress is hoping to humble Ananth Kumar this time with Nandan Nilekani in Bangalore South. How do you see Aadhaar having its impact on the fortunes of BJP here?
Aadhaar will be a big baggage for Nilekani. He (Nilekani) will have a lot to explain. We will not support Aadhaar in its present form if the BJP is voted to power. Nilekani is the only person who has benefited from Aadhaar, as he has been rewarded with a Congress ticket. The Parliamentary Committee on Finance had rejected Aadhaar with many adverse comments in 2011. It has not benefited the common man.
BJP is talking about UPA scams. But what about scams during the BJP regime?
There has been a very strenuous attempt to equate the BJP with the Congress on corruption.
The magnitude of the Congress scams is unimaginable with a single scam of the size `2 lakh crore. It is a totally irrelevant comparison. Law will take its own course in case of BJP scams. But the Congress has prevented law from taking its course. The Congress has criticised agencies like CAG and used every rule to conceal corruption.
BJP’s aggressive posturing of winning a comfortable majority on its own seems to be very unrealistic.
It is the strong who will attract the allies, not the weak. It is not overconfidence. It is hard work and confidence. Our mission of 272+ is very realistic. We will produce unlikely results in unlikely spots. BJP will score huge gains in UP and Bihar. We will do exceedingly well in our traditional areas of strength like Gujarat, MP and Rajasthan.
We may spring a big surprise in West Bengal too. North Eastern region too is showing encouraging signs. So it is not an impossible dream.
By projecting Modi as the PM candidate, are you not eliminating the chances of getting new allies if BJP falls well short of the magic figure?
Modi is not an individual. He is an idea. He symbolises strong leadership, success and development against the weak and inefficient leadership in other parties. Modi is an idea in contrast with UPA’s failures.
Once BJP attains the critical mass in next Lok Sabha elections, even those who have kept away from the party in the past will come back.
It has happened in the past too during the Janata, VP Singh and Vajpayee governments. Getting new allies post-polls is not difficult.
In its quest for power has BJP given up on its core ideological issues like Ram Temple, uniform civil code etc.?
After the 2003 Assembly elections, the BJP has made development its main focus. Ram Temple is an issue of faith.
The most important lesson that we have learnt from Vajpayee is the importance of consensus. Ram Temple and uniform civil code will be addressed through the process of evolving a consensus or judicial verdict.
What is your take on Third Front?
I do not want to waste my time talking about it.
BJP and Modi’s campaign so far has been limited to Congress and Rahul bashing. But Modi is yet to come out with a convincing alternative vision for the country’s development, foreign policy and strategic challenges.
Drafting of our manifesto is in progress. It will spell out our vision for all the sectors. First we will undo the mistakes of UPA government in economic and foreign policy. Already you can see the change in attitude of the US towards Modi.
The US Ambassador recently met Modi over the visa issue. Modi has sent a strong message against the expansionist mindset of China. There are lot of grey areas that will automatically vanish once Modi comes to power