New Delhi: Attacking the Congress for “conspiring towards the individuals of Gujarat” over the Sardar Sarovar Dam venture, Union cupboard minister Parshottam Rupala has mentioned that the occasion has no proper to hunt votes within the state within the title of improvement. He additional asserted that Gujarat had “by no means accepted a 3rd occasion”, dismissing the electoral prospects of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP).
In an interview with ThePrint, Rupala — the minister of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying — mentioned the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s (BJP) ballot prospects, the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy, and the problem from AAP. He additionally spoke about initiatives his ministry has launched, comparable to the availability of veterinary companies on the doorstep for farmers.
Rupala, who comes from Amreli in Gujarat, is a former state BJP president (2006-2010) and a frontrunner of the Patidar neighborhood.
Elections to the 182-member Gujarat meeting will probably be held in two phases on 1 and 5 December. The counting of votes will happen on 8 December.
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‘Congress betrayed Gujaratis on Narmada dam challenge’
Requested why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have been attacking the opposition, particularly the Congress, over the difficulty of ‘Gujarati asmita’ (Gujarati pleasure), Rupala mentioned, “It’s a undeniable fact that the Congress (throughout the United Progressive Alliance authorities) used to deal with Gujarat in a stepmotherly manner when Modi ji was the chief minister. He raised this challenge as CM throughout the 2007 and 2012 meeting elections as effectively.”
“Through the UPA’s 10-year rule (2004 to 2014), they (the Congress) didn’t give permission to lift the peak of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. It was pending with them for a very long time. I’m astonished that after betraying the individuals of Gujarat, they’re asking individuals to vote for them,” he added.
“As quickly as Modi ji grew to become the PM, he accepted elevating the dam’s peak inside 17 days. This is likely one of the points that we’re elevating in these elections. That is the benefit of the ‘double engine authorities’.”
Notably, the BJP and Modi have attacked the Congress after Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar joined Rahul Gandhi on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is in its Maharashtra leg, on 17 November.
‘Kejriwal insulting Gujarati pleasure’
On the query of whether or not Gujarat may settle for AAP in its place occasion, Rupala mentioned, “In a democracy, each occasion has the suitable to battle elections however in Gujarat, individuals have by no means accepted a 3rd occasion (aside from the BJP and the Congress). Earlier as effectively, events tried their hand however nobody was profitable; extremely highly effective leaders fashioned their respective events however none of them may get sufficient votes. This time additionally, I believe, AAP is not going to get pleasure from any success.”
Leaders who tried their hand with third events in Gujarat embody former BJP CMs Shankersinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel, who fashioned the Rashtriya Janata Get together (1996) and the Gujarat Parivartan Get together (2012) respectively — and gained 4 and two seats.
Discussing AAP’s allegations that the BJP is pressuring AAP candidates to withdraw their nominations, Rupala termed them “hole claims”. Final week, AAP accused the BJP of kidnapping its Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala, who later withdrew his nomination citing “inside conflicts with occasion leaders and staff”.
Rupala mentioned, “Kejriwal is free to air his views, however who will hearken to his hole claims and allegations.”
“He ought to keep in mind that sufferers from the world over come for remedy to our civil hospital in Ahmedabad. Gujarat was one of many first few states to start out 108 for emergency ambulance companies. Our healthcare mannequin is likely one of the main fashions on this planet. PM Modi launched Ayushman Bharat which is the world’s largest medical insurance scheme. Even America doesn’t have such a scheme. AAP — which is following our mannequin — is preaching to us and displaying us their healthcare and training fashions.”
“If you wish to win the vote of the Gujarati individuals, you shouldn’t insult their pleasure. It will backfire…Gujaratis are very emotional individuals. When there isn’t any election, you say Gujarat excels in enterprise, however throughout elections, you insult Gujarati individuals; this is not going to work in Gujarat,” mentioned Rupala.
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PM’s marketing campaign, BJP rebels & Morbi tragedy
Requested whether or not the election is about Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel or about Modi, because the PM is main the BJP’s marketing campaign within the state, the Union minister mentioned, “After all the Gujarat election is about CM Bhupendra Patel, nevertheless it’s additionally to cement the prime minister’s place. He has strengthened Gujarat and likewise India’s place on this planet. Jisne (Modi) kiya hai usey shabashi toh deni padegi na (the one that has achieved a lot deserves reward and appreciation).”
“India is amongst the prime 5 economies on this planet when the economies of different nations are dwindling after the Covid pandemic. This isn’t an peculiar achievement. The Gujarati neighborhood is a business-oriented neighborhood, they perceive the significance of India’s financial progress…Elections are going to be held below the management of CM Bhupendra Patel however whereas voting for him, individuals will even vote for Modi’s management on the Centre.”
On the query of the rebellions taking place within the occasion over ticket distribution — an unprecedented scenario for the Gujarat BJP — Rupala mentioned, “It is just pure that when a candidate doesn’t get a ticket, they get upset, however senior occasion leaders communicate to them and make them perceive that all of us must work for the occasion. That is the great thing about the BJP, that everybody works for the occasion. Additionally, there are just one or two individuals who have an issue with ticket distribution, the difficulty will probably be resolved in the end of time.”
Requested if the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy on 30 October, wherein 135 individuals had been killed, would possibly have an effect on the BJP’s prospects — with the Congress accusing the ruling occasion of defending the culprits — Rupala mentioned, “This accident was very tragic and painful. The chief minister has constituted a high-powered committee and the members embody a civil engineer, an professional, an architect and a police officer. The enquiry will probably be accomplished in a time-bound method and culprits is not going to be spared. Our authorities will take strict motion towards those that are responsible, if the proprietor is discovered responsible, he will even be punished. There isn’t any query of favouring anybody.”
Assured of victory within the polls, Rupala referred to the Patidar agitation that started in 2015 and harm the BJP within the 2017 meeting election. Now, he mentioned, there may be “no such agitation towards the state authorities. Individuals are glad with the federal government’s work, PM Modi abrogated Article 370 in J&Okay, the development of the Ram temple has begun in Ayodhya, the Kashi hall is accomplished, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Statue of Unity has been put in on the banks of the Narmada — these points are an important amplifier for the BJP.”
“As CM of Gujarat, Modi ji solved the water disaster challenge within the state, and after turning into PM, he launched the piped water connectivity scheme in Gujarat. I see an enormous mandate on this meeting election for the BJP.”
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Free vaccination for animals, cellular veterinary vans
Itemizing initiatives his ministry has taken, the Union minister mentioned “We vaccinated animals throughout the nation for illnesses like foot and mouth. Different initiatives that we began in animal husbandry and dairy embody the introduction of cellular veterinary vans — expertise will probably be offered on the doorstep, particularly for ailing animals in far-flung areas.”
“We launched a helpline quantity, 1962, for this goal. Now, medical doctors and medication will probably be offered on the doorstep on a name. Six thousand such vans have been launched throughout the nation.”
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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