Recently, after the Supreme Court adjourned hearing in Ayodhya Ram Mandir title suit case till January, the demand for the construction of the Ram temple has gained a tremendous momentum.
A congregation of Hindu seers, on Sunday, demanded that the government must bring an ordinance for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Also, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rakesh Sinha has hinted that he may introduce a private bill in Parliament for the construction of the temple.
However, the Congress party has termed this sudden surge in the demand for the construction of Ram temple as merely an election gimmick by the saffron party.
To talk about these and many more issues journalist Anurag Sason has an in-depth conversation with former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari.
Here are important excerpts from the interview: (Scroll down to watch the complete interview)
Q1) After the recent Supreme Court order, political activities related to the construction of Ram temple have increased. Different quarters are pressuring the government to pass an ordinance. What you have to say about this?
Pramod Tiwari: See, this is not the first time it is happening. Every time during elections, BJP brings this Ram temple issue. It also raises this issue with the help of its associate organisations like RSS, VHP to excite the emotions of the masses. It is the party’s game plan.
I have termed this entire phenomenon, Mandiritis (temple disease).
Q2) If the BJP comes with an ordinance, will the Congress party going to support it?
Pramod Tiwari: Let them first bring it. And whether the Congress party will support it or not it is a secondary matter. What is more important is that will those who are part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) going to support it?
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Q3) Congress party is working hard to form a grand alliance before the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Shed some more light on this.
Pramod Tiwari: First of all, I’m not ok with this nomenclature “grand alliance”. Grand means big. So, already, NDA has 35 members. The grand word is apt for them not for us…we have four, five, seven…or at the most 10 parties.
So grand alliance is of the BJP. We are just trying to bring all those at one platform who have an anti-BJP ideology so that the votes do not get divided.
Q4) Which parties will be part of the grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh?
Pramod Tiwari: When polls will come, we will hold a discussion with everyone. All those who are against the BJP, we will contact them all.
Q5) Recently, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati made it clear that her party will go all alone in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Do you think it will be a setback for the grand alliance plans?
Pramod Tiwari: See, an alliance for state and an alliance for Centre are two different things. When the alliance will take place in UP, it will be according to the political scenarios of the state.
Q6) Government is continuously giving clarification on Rafale deal. Despite that, the Congress party is repeatedly attacking the Modi government. Why?
Pramod Tiwari: Our entire attack is on the documentary. Our PM is ready to talk on every issue but not on the price of Rafale jets.
Q7) How will the Congress party perform in the upcoming five assembly elections?
Pramod Tiwari: We will win in all the five states.
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Q8) Keeping in mind the upcoming Ardh Kumbh, the government is undertaking huge development works in the Allahabad district. Is the Congress party satisfied with the work of the government?
Pramod Tiwari: The pace and the quality are raising eyebrows. Even BJP’s own MP from Allahabad, Shyama Charan Gupta is raising questions on the quality of work!
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW: Monday Talk: BJP suffers from ‘Mandiritis’, says Pramod Tiwari to Anurag Sason
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 