Bharatiya Janata Party’s Civil Lines candidate and senior journalist Gopal Sharma talked to The Daily Guardian in an exclusive interview. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: You are contesting elections for the first time. You were preparing from Sanganer and your ticket was from Civil Lines. How do you see this shift to politics from journalism?
A: I have also served the public through journalism. With the power of the pen, I have always raised public issues and resolved their problems in effective ways. Now people’s issues will be raised strongly in the Assembly, in the temple of democracy. Social service is not a new experience for me. The issue is not from where you get the ticket, the issue is how effectively you raise the issues and voice of the people in the Assembly after victory.
Q: In your speech, you are saying that in the last five years, a situation like Mini Pakistan has been created in Civil Lines. Why is it so?
A: In the last five years, Congress has turned the Civil Lines assembly constituency into a mini Pakistan. But we will not allow Civil Lines to become mini Pakistan. I am saying this because people with political protection have created terror. Hindu temples are being occupied, illegal arms and drug trade are flourishing, and atrocities against women are increasing. That is why I am saying again and again that as soon as the BJP wins, it will take every concrete step for the protection of Hindus. With the return of the children of Muslim families in the Hasanpura area who went on the wrong path under the influence of some leaders, we will work to connect them with the mainstream. So that they also follow the ideal path shown by Shri Ram and arrangements can be made for a permanent solution to their education and livelihood.
Q: You are saying that now Modi’s development and Yogi’s bulldozer will go together in the Civil Lines. Are such statements being made to scare people?
A: The way there is an atmosphere of hooliganism, anarchy, fear, terror and insecurity among women in the area, it seems that it is necessary to immediately treat history sheeters and social thorns. Recently, the way a Muslim youth beat up a youth of the Valmiki community under the patronage of Congress leaders is the latest example of this. I want to warn these people that they should reform in the next few hours otherwise Yogi’s bulldozer will run without any fear and pressure and attack the criminals in the Civil Lines. Our aim is not to scare but to create a fear-free environment. Along with Yogi ji’s bulldozer, Modi ji’s Ganga of development will also flow in this area.
Q: Are you contesting elections only on the issues of Sanatan and nationalism, or are you also conveying some development issues to the public?
A: There is no doubt that we are contesting elections on the issues of Sanatan Dharma, security of Hindus, nationalism and development. The development will have importance only when the citizens of the country feel safe. Therefore, there will be no let-up in the all-round development of the area. Any problem related to electricity, water, roads, health, traffic jams etc. will be resolved immediately. As soon as the state government is formed, we will immediately reduce the prices of petrol and diesel. The talk of development guaranteed by Congress is a far cry.
Q: Voting will be held on 25 November and results on 3 December. How do you see this for the next five years in Rajasthan?
A: Voting has great importance in democracy. The public has decided that the BJP has to be victorious under any circumstances. On 3 December, the BJP will win unilaterally, with a full majority. My appeal to the people is that you decide for yourself whether India is the place of Ram Lalla or Babur and Aurangzeb. Congress supports Hamas and Pakistan, because if the BJP had not been there, the Ram temple would not have been built in Ayodhya today, Article 370 would not have been removed from Kashmir, and terrorist attacks in the country could not have been controlled. Modi has taken many concrete steps for the participation and development of women in politics. No country in the world can raise its eyes towards India, rather, everyone wants to be a friend of a superpower like India.
Q: In Civil Lines, you and your rival Khachariyawas are calling themselves Ram devotees. After all, if there is an election of Ram devotees, then who will win?
A: Congress candidate Pratap Singh Khachariyawas is openly tearing apart democracy. People are being intimidated and threatened by their people that if they do not hoist Gopal Sharma’s flags, they’ll have to face gangs of goons. Even though he is claiming himself to be a descendant of Ram, his actions are no less than those of Ravana. Just tell them once that they should find out what the consequences of leaving the ideal path shown by Lord Ram and following the immoral path.