Interview Only aggressive Hindutva can fight terrorism —Yogi Adityanath

Neither the UPA government has will power nor any planning to fight against Islamic terrorism. This government has annulled strict laws like POTA. This government has a soft corner for terrorists due to the vote-bank politics. Otherwise, there is no reason for not hanging the terrorist Afzal Guru, who has been awarded death penalty by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case.

Yogi Adityanath is a role model for Hindu youths in UP. The heir of the famous Gorakh Nath Peeth in Gorakhpur and BJP MP, Yogi is very vigorous and energetic. He has formed Hindu Yuva Vahini at the state level, which is mobilising the youths towards Hinduism. Islamic terrorists and anti-social elements are afraid of his name and fame. Yogi wants no political interference in religious activities. According to him, politics should be guided by Dharma. In an exclusive interview to Organiser representative, Subhash Singh, he spoke about many issues pertaining to the country and Hinduism. Excerpts:

What is the main danger for Hinduism?
Sanatan Dharma is Hindu Dharma. Hinduism is cultural identity of India. You cannot think about India without Hindus. It is the soul of the country. There are two types of dangers for Hindus: First, external, and second, internal. External dangers are mainly terrorism, madrasas and evangelical activities by churches. Except this, communism and Naxalite activities are the main opponents of Hinduism. The whole country specially Kashmir valley, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan are deadly affected from Islamic terrorism. The north-east is affected from terrorism protected by the Church. Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orisa, Telangana of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura, West Bengal are in the grip of bloody Naxal activities. So-called secular parties like Congress, communist parties, nearly all state-level parties including SP, BSP are by and large in the favour of these organisations. The central government and states ruled by pseudo-secular parties are in no mood to fight strictly against terrorism because of the vote-bank politics. In these circumstances, a central government with strong will power can only tackle the issues of terrorism and Naxalism.

The second danger for Hinduism is internal. Casteism, untouchability, the gap between the rich and the poor are a menace for Hinduism. Only social reform can eliminate this danger. We are only Hindu, this type of idea should be floated in the society as well as in the country. This is the only solution.

Islamic terrorism is a big menace for the country. What is the solution for this problem?
Already I told you that only a strict central government and strict rule of law can tackle this problem. Neither the UPA government has will power nor any planning to fight against Islamic terrorism. This government has annulled strict laws like POTA. This government has a soft corner for terrorists due to the vote-bank politics. Otherwise, there is no reason for not hanging the terrorist Afzal Guru, who has been awarded death penalty by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case. I also want to say that Hindus as a whole should take a stand against terror culture. Hindu society collectively can fight Islamic terrorism and they should be aggressive against Islamic terrorism. The united Hindu society can weed out this curse from the country. Except BJP, all the political parties are responsible for the division of society. If the BJP comes to power, terrorism itself will be finished from the country and the country will be on the path of progress.

What is the role of saints like you in this regard?
The maths and mandirs have a big role in the fight against terrorism. We should start a movement of Hindu awakening to fight against terrorism. I have formed Hindu Yuva Vahini, which is working to awaken Hindu youths to stand for the cause of society. Although this organisation has just been started, the result is positive and overwhelming. This organisation has spread itself in a dozen districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. We are organising jagaran rallies against all types of terrorism. This is the reason, Islamic terrorism is under pressure in UP. In Azamgarh, I had organised a rally against Islamic terrorism. Then some anti-social elements had attacked on my motorcade. This is normal and I am not afraid of this type of terror. That attack was only a sign of their cowardice. I repeatedly want to say that Azamgarh is the factory of terrorists in UP. Villages like Saraymeer, Sanjarpur, Mubarakpur, Bilariaganj, Larganj, Vindwal, Anwak, Bishan and Mohammadpur are providing shelter to the anti-social elements. Abu Bashar, the mastermind of the serial blasts of Ahmedabad is the resident of this district. All the thirteen terrorists involved in the Delhi blasts were also responsible for the blasts in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and UP and they were all the residents of Azamgarh. First time in the two decades, this type of terrorists’ racket was unearthed. Thirty-two districts of UP, namely, Allahabad, Lucknow, Aligarh, Meerut, Kanpur, Fatehpur, Bahraich, Varanasi, Sultanpur, Gonda, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Sidharthnagar, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Agra, Hathras, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Mau, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bijnor and Mehrajganj are under the influence of SIMI. In spite of this, neither the police nor the pseudo-secular political parties are ready to eliminate this menace from the state.

Should politics be governed by dharma or dharma be governed by politics?
Political interference in religious activities will be dangerous for the society. I am against any type of political interference in religious activities. The politics should be guided by dharma and culture.

BJD and BJP have complemented each other's popularity— KV Singhdeo

We are well prepared to face the elections and are confident of an outcome in favour of the BJP and with substantial improvement over the past. The basis of my confidence remains the organisational structure that we have been able to build—particularly strong at the grass-root level.

Shri KV Singhdeo, a scion of Bolangir royal family and senior BJP leader, is Urban Development Minister of Orissa. He is confident that this time not only he himself, but the BJP-BJD alliance would sweep the forthcoming elections for the record third time. The BJP-BJD alliance is Orissa’s pride and Opposition’s envy. The senior minister of Naveen Patnaik Cabinet says that the BJP’s stronghold at the grass-root level and the alliance government’s performance and developmental issues will be the focal point of the campaign in the elections. Organiser Correspondent Deepak Kumar Rath spoke to him on wide-ranging issues during his recent visit to Delhi. Excerpts.

You have been a senior minister of the Orissa government for last two tenures, bearing important portfolios. What are the BJP’s preparations to fight the forthcoming Assembly polls and elections to the Parliament?
We are well prepared to face the elections and are confident of an outcome in favour of the BJP and with substantial improvement over the past. The basis of my confidence remains the organisation structure that we have been able to build—particularly strong at the grass-root level and the delivery of results in the BJP portfolios.

Do you think that the BJP-BJD alliance would again form the government? How does the alliance plan to counter the anti-establishment factor that may come?
I do not believe that there is something called anti-incumbency or anti-establishment. The real issue is performance and people, and development thereof. We are confident of forming the government again and let’s discuss this in the month of May.

There are some reports in the media that the alliance is facing a bad time for proper coordination like election management process that includes seat adjustments. Comment.
There is an old story about the media that the truth is on the sports pages, half truths in the weather columns and the rest is all lies. Now you know whether we are facing a good time or a very good time. Let us recognise the fact that the partners in the coalition—Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party—have seamlessly complemented each other’s popularity. This will be vindicated in the results of the forthcoming elections.

You being the Minister for Urban Development, the BJP has lost three local urban body elections in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Baripada. What may be the reasons?
Let us be very clear that the Urban Development Department works for the development of services, infrastructure and facilitates urban dwellers. The issues that are much localised, and often individual personality driven for which ministries and departments has no role at the macro-level. Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Baripada are non-issues as the urbanisation rate in Orissa is less than 20 per cent, which is one of the lowest among states in India. Let us not forget that Orissa is predominantly an agrarian and rural state and the urban pockets are in isolation.

The BJP had strongholds in Western Orissa. What is the party position this time?
The BJP has consolidated its position in Western Orissa in the last four years. Having successfully delivered development at the doorstep of the poor and vulnerable, the party now has made substantial inroads into the tribal populace in Western Orissa, which has been a Congress stronghold over the years.

Can you elaborate your preparations to fight the elections in Bolangir district?
One hundred per cent of our mobilisation for the various booths in Bolangir district is already undertaken and booth committees have been formed. The Bolangir parliamentary constituency is one of the largest in India and somewhat politically agitated by divisive forces. Yet, I can say this with my hand over my chest that it would be one of the best prepared constituencies in the country. Bolangir is an erstwhile princely state where irrigation and infrastructure were developed at a rapid pace in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Yet it is today clearly amongst under-developed regions and marked by poverty and hunger. The populace of Bolangir have reposed their faith in BJP in the last three parliamentary elections, and I am confident they will also wisely choose their representative this time.

What are your major achievements as an Urban Development Minister of Orissa?
Orissa, as I mentioned earlier, has one of the lowest rates of urbanisation in India. This has posed special challenges for the Urban Development Department. We have taken giant strides in the PPP sector and hugely improved on the service delivery mechanisms. In terms of real investments we have national and international players such as Unitech, DLF, Vipul, Mott McDonald, Louis Berger, Nippon Koi etc. interested in our projects. Bhubaneswar, for example, has a new building regulation, which is futuristic, and ask any citizen in Bhubaneswar, it is a much better place—in terms of aesthetics and services, to live in.

The BJP is in power in Orissa for last ten years. Do you feel that the party has spread its network as it should have?
There has never been a measure available to gauge expectations versus achievement. We have been successful in serving the people of Orissa for the last ten years, and that itself is the first milestone of our success. There are miles to go, given the mis-rule and historical backdrop in Orissa. I am sure you will agree that the BJP has grown by leaps and bounds in the years gone by lot and has become a prominent force. It will have a much larger role to play in the years to come.