As UP Polls 2022 is drawing near, political temperature in the most populous state of India has started moving upwards. Famous retired IPS officer Amitabh Thakur has announced that he will contest election against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. To talk about it and burning topics related to it, journalist Anurag Sason has an exclusive, in-depth conversation with the former bureaucrat.
Here are important excerpts from the interview. Scroll down to watch the complete interview in Hindi (पूरा इंटरव्यू हिंदी में देखने के लिए नीचे स्क्रॉल करें).
Q1) Why have you decided to contest election against CM Yogi Adityanath?
Amitabh Thakur: Yogi Adityanath was handed over the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh so that he can take corrective measures. However, he only fulfilled his personal agenda. He even sidelined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and worked as a one-man rule.
He established police raj and misused administrative machinery. Even on matters related to corruption, he took cosmetic actions. That is why I decided to fight against him.
Q2) Problems in your career as an IPS officer started during the period of the Samajwadi Party (SP). So why you have not decided to fight an election against Akhilesh Yadav, national president of SP?
Amitabh Thakur: I accept that during the time of Mulayam Singh as CM of Uttar Pradesh (from Samajwadi Party), I faced problems. However, during the time of Akhilesh Yadav as the elected head of the state, on a personal level, nothing harm was done to me. He never showed vengeance against me.
He also followed democratic values.
Q3) Will you fight the election as an independent candidate or from a political party?
Amitabh Thakur: I will fight election for sure whether as an independent candidate or from a political party.
I’m ok if a big political party wants to support me as far as it does not upset my basic principles related to my love towards transparency and accountability.
Q4) Are you ok with fighting the election on the ticket of the Samajwadi Party?
Amitabh Thakur: Yes. I am. See, I have no problem with ideology of any political party as far as it is not anti-human. SP has a good political ideology.
Q5) You have witnessed the reign of all political parties in Uttar Pradesh. Which party worked best for the state?
Amitabh Thakur: If I have to choose a chief minister, I will like to name Kalyan Singh. He did good work on a personal level. After him, I will choose Akhilesh Yadav. His tenure was development-oriented.
Even Rajnath Singh worked as a gentleman chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Q6) Which party has a upper hand in UP Polls 2022?
Amitabh Thakur: I believe that there is anger among the people against the ruling BJP. As far as I can see, this poll will be mainly fought between BJP and SP.
Q7) What is more important-construction of Central Vista, Ram Temple or strengthening of Indian economy and providing employment to the youths of this country?
Amitabh Thakur: If you are not committed to BJP or Modi ji, you will not say that the construction of Central Vista, Ram Temple is important.
The Modi government does not want to see the poor and their needs.
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WATCH COMPLETE INTERVIEW IN HINDI
About the author: Anurag Sason is journalist with more than 7 years of experience in mainstream journalism. He has worked in newspaper, news agency, TV and digital media. Presently, he is working as Senior Editor-News in Likee app. He tweets at @AnuragSason
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Disclaimer: Interview is taken in personal capacity
Anurag Sason 