Just eight months are left when the country will witness it biggest democratic festival-the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Whereas on the one hand, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be trying to retain the power, on the other hand, the opposition parties will also not let any stone unturned in order to regain the power.
As the general elections are drawing near the debates over issues like Electronic voting machines (EVMs) vs ballot paper and One Nation One Poll are also gaining momentum.
To talk about all these issues journalist Anurag K Sason has an exclusive, in-depth conversation with veteran politician and nine-time Member of Parliament Sharad Yadav. During the interview former JD(U) president not only expressed his views on the above two topics but also talked openly on other matters concerning the nation as well.
Here are important excerpts from Sharad Yadav’s interview: (Scroll down to watch the complete interview)
Q1) Like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress party, you are also demanding the use of ballot paper in the upcoming elections. Why?
Sharad Yadav: See, there is confusion among the people. In the democracy, people are supreme. So it is the duty of the Election Commission to remove this state of confusion.
Even countries which are more advanced than us are using the ballot paper.
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Q2) Recently, you said that the government is trying to intrude in people’s lives. What makes you think in this way?
Sharad Yadav: I have only been saying that this government has not fulfilled any of its promises. Government had said it will clean river Ganga, provide employment to two crore people but nothing happened.
They are saying that Taj Mahal was a temple. They are also behind Tipu Sultan.
Government is doing everything else than working on its promises.
Q3) There is a debate going on in the country on One Nation One Election. What are your views on that?
Sharad Yadav: It’s useless topic and has no meaning. It will only happen when all political parties will sit and agree to it. They (NDA) are saying this because they now have the means. They have all corporates under them. When simultaneous elections will be held people will be handicapped and opposition parties will have no means.
Q4) If grand alliance becomes a reality the who will be its PM candidate?
Sharad Yadav: There is no need for it (for declaring the name of PM Candidate).
In 1977, in 1989 and 1996 have we declared the name of PM candidate? It is not a new thing. It is the BJP who wants to know the name of the opposition’s PM face.
This government has ruined the country. Petrol prices are skyrocketing, in the name of cow, lynching is going.
Q5) What you have to say on NRC issue?
Sharad Yadav: It is an unimportant matter. Government is trying to give it communal colour.
Q6) Recently there has been a sharp increase in crime against women in Bihar. What is the reason behind it?
Sharad Yadav: The reason is that the state government’s credibility has gone down after Nitish Kumar joined hands with the BJP government which was supposed to sit in the opposition. Government rules on its credibility.
WATCH complete video of the interview:
About the author: Author is Deputy Editor in India TV and tweets at@AnuragSason
The interview is taken in the personal capacity and is exclusively for this website.
Anurag Sason 