Bhupinder Singh Hooda talks about what the Congress must do to provide a very good struggle to the BJP, getting ready for the 2024 elections and giving farmers their due. This session was moderated by Manraj Grewal Sharma, Resident Editor (Chandigarh), The Indian Express.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: How is Congress getting ready for the 2024 elections? As a veteran chief, what do you assume the Congress must do to provide BJP a very good struggle?
As far as insurance policies are involved, the Congress is for the poor, farmers and labourers. But the current NDA govern- ment has made a shift in its insurance policies, and the consequence you may see — the wealthy are getting richer and the poor have gotten poorer.
As for me, I’ll speak about farmers and farm employees.What is the necessity of the hour? The farmer will get minimal assist worth (MSP), not most retail worth, however typically he doesn’t get even that.Before these three farm legal guidelines have been handed, there have been three ordinances. At that point, I had mentioned that the federal government ought to come forth with a fourth ordinance. In these ordinances, they have been going for personal mandis. I’ve no downside with personal mandis however in personal mandis, MSP was not obligatory. In APMCs, MSP is obligatory. So I mentioned there needs to be a fourth ordinance in order that if anyone, personal or authorities, purchases lower than MSP, it’s punishable by regulation. So the farmer will get his due. Till now, farmers are usually not getting their due.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: Experts really feel that market forces will assist not solely in diver- sification but in addition in giving the farmer higher remuneration. For occasion, this yr, some farmers managed to promote their wheat for greater than the MSP in Haryana as nicely.
Sometimes it occurs. This time, because of the Russia-Ukraine warfare, even farmers in Punjab acquired Rs 5-10 extra (than the MSP) for wheat, however that’s not a remunerative worth. The NDA authorities promised to double the revenue of farmers. It is 2022 and their revenue has really fallen because of the rising value of inputs reminiscent of diesel and fertilisers. During the ten years of the UPA authorities,the typical enhance in MSP was 12-22 per cent. In the final seven years, MSP has elevated by solely 5.5-7.5%. There is not any downside in privatisation, however anyone buying lower than MSP, whether or not personal or APMC, needs to be pun- ishable by regulation.
Harish Damodaran: Won’t this drive away the personal gamers?
Fifty per cent of the overall employment is given by the agriculture sector. People from rural areas are migrating to cities due to unemployment. If you don’t give them remunerative worth, and permit personal gamers to have their very own means, the farmer will go for misery sale. You can’t strangle farmers like that.You should bal- ance issues so each farmers and personal gamers earn.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: You talked about that the shrinking land holdings are making farming unsustainable. Shouldn’t we predict out of the field as an alternative of simply focussing on MSP?
Unless MSP is there, farming received’t be sustainable. There are different issues additionally that want a rise in revenue, for exam- ple, dairy, fisheries and poultry. There are usually not solely farmers however landless farm work- ers too who don’t get finance from the banking sector. They needs to be given financeforpiggeryandpoultryetc.The farm agitation occurred as a result of farmers thought the federal government was abolishing the MSP.
Manoj CG: You have been one of many signato- ries of the letter that 23 partymen wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020. Recently, you mentioned the social gathering ought to introduce collec- tive and inclusive decision-making in any respect ranges.After that, Uday Bhan, thought of near you, was made Haryana Congress president. Are you continue to miffed with the social gathering?
I used to be by no means miffed with the social gathering. Every Congressman is near me. But, we had some options. And in future additionally, if I believe it’s within the curiosity of the social gathering, I’ll carry on suggesting. That was the idea of the letter. It was not in opposition to or in favour of anyone. Those have been some options on how one can flip the social gathering round, as a result of Sonia Gandhi mentioned that the bottom of the social gathering was weakening.
Manoj CG: What was Kumari Selja not doing that Uday Bhan might be doing?
She did good work too. But it is a course of.I used to be additionally PCC president.What I did or didn’t do isn’t the query, however I used to be modified.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: Uday Bhan reportedly mentioned Congress will put off the quota system in ticket distribution.
Tickets needs to be selected winnability. In a democracy, the variety of seats you may win depends upon the candidate, as now, together with the social gathering, the face additionally issues. So precedence must be given to the particular person’s winnability no matter his affiliation.
Liz Mathew: Everyone feels that this is without doubt one of the worst occasions the Congress is dealing with. What do you assume the Congress ought to do instantly to make itself a formidable various to BJP, at the least in some states?
Any social gathering in a democracy ought to struggle for the aspiration of the individuals; they need to go along with what the individuals aspire for, and what individuals count on from them. So, we should always struggle for his or her causes. Today, in Haryana, whether or not it’s farmer, labourer, dealer or authorities servant, no one is happy with the current authorities.We should take up their trigger.
Liz Mathew: BJP has emerged as the last word ruling social gathering with none main opposing forces. We are additionally seeing the emergence of AAP. What ought to Congress have achieved from 2004 to 2014 to forestall this oblivion?
Democracy includes a ruling social gathering and an Opposition.The Opposition involves energy solely when it is ready to give the promise or energy to individuals. We failed in that.In 2009, LK Advani was a stalwart however he was not in a position to promise the those that he’ll type the federal government. But in 2014, Narendra Modi gave this promise and he received.In politics, even one occasion can change the entire story. Let’s see what occurs.
Liz Mathew: We have seen AAP just lately taking over the nationalism trigger, in keeping with BJP. They took some steps to please the bulk, whereas conserving a distance from sure points hurting a minority neighborhood.We have learn in historical past that Congress leaders, be it Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi, had taken sure steps that have been seen as pleasing a specific neighborhood. What is your view on this sort of politics?
In a democracy, each social gathering has the precise to do this. So AAP can also be doing it. The motive it succeeded in Punjab is clear; it was the primary Opposition social gathering.If the Con- gress would have made some modifications some two years in the past, it will have been bet- ter. But depart that apart. AAP has no pres- ence in Haryana. In Haryana, individuals have a look at solely Congress instead.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: Do you assume the AAP sweep in Punjab will have an effect on Haryana?
Haryana has Delhi on three sides and regardless of being in energy for therefore a few years in Delhi, AAP couldn’t make their presence felt in Haryana. Punjab is completely different. Every state has acquired completely different political conditions.
Harikishan Sharma: You mentioned Haryana is wanting in direction of Congress for an alterna- tive however developments present that your vote share has been steadily falling since 2005 while you have been the CM despite the fact that Congress’s slide nationally started in 2014. Your vote share in Haryana fell from 43% in 2005 to 35% in 2009 to 24-25% within the 2019 meeting polls. How are you able to persuade individuals to view your social gathering as an alterna- tive when your base is steadily eroding?
What was the lead to 1996? The Con- gress had solely six -seven seats out of 90. In Lok Sabha,we acquired solely two seats — one was mine, the opposite was of Kumari Selja. But slowly, in 2000, we acquired 24 seats. These issues occur and can proceed to hap- pen. The current authorities in Haryana has failed fully. It has proved to be a non-performing authorities, simply an event-management authorities. People have realised this and that’s why, they’re wanting in direction of Congress.
Shyamlal Yadav: We have seen how BJP made parivarvaad (nepotism) a giant subject in UP and succeeded. In Haryana, your third era is in politics. You turned the CM with 81 seats and now you’re at 31 seats. To safeguard your self from this BJP assault, don’t you assume Congress ought to give a possibility to new individuals?
It’s not the third however fourth era; my grandfather contested in 1923, he was a towering chief. My father was a member of seven completely different Houses. Nobody on this planet is a member of seven completely different Houses, besides my father. I’ve been to the Lok Sabha 4 occasions and 5 occasions to VidHhan Sabha. Deepender has additionally been within the Lok Sabha thrice, and is now within the Rajya Sabha. The query is the way you behave with individuals — whether or not they settle for you or not.There is not any such factor that’s you’re a politician your son can’t go into politics. Or if you’re a journalist, your son can’t turn into a journalist. If he’s a very good journal- ist, he’ll carve his personal place.
Manoj CG: You’re a grassroots chief. What is the political counter to this aggressive Hindutva run by the BJP and RSS?
Follow Mahatma Gandhi’s coverage and his ideas. He was a staunch Hindu however had respect for each faith.The Congress has at all times adopted Gandhi’s insurance policies.
Liz Mathew: During his trial on Babri Masjid, LK Advani mentioned he had learnt to make use of faith in politics from Mahatma Gandhi.
This is what I’m saying.We will at all times observe Mahatma Gandhi. What is unhealthy about it,when he was in a position to take everybody together with him. Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, all people took half within the freedom battle below his management.The concept needs to be how one can use it to construct our nation. If you make a street, are you able to make a roadforaparticularreligionoracaste?It must be for all.
Shyamlal Yadav: Your authorities was in energy for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. Since then, it appears Congress has achieved little for the social gathering despite the fact that Rahul and Sonia Gandhi have been free.You too have to be questioning why Congress is shrinking.
This is why we’ve organised the Chin- tan Shivir. We are holding social gathering elections. We will begin from the block degree. In Haryana, there have been no ground-level block Congress committees or district Congress committees for the final seven years. For any organisation to be sturdy, the subordinate organisations are a should. So, this time we’re having elections for block, district and state Congress committees.We will construct a robust organisation.
Shubhajit Roy: Gandhi was in favour of prohibition (of alcohol). Haryana has one of the vital liberal insurance policies.
Gandhi’s disciple Nitish Kumar is implementing prohibition, proper? What’s the consequence? You have to grasp what social modifications are taking place. Bansi Lal had tried prohibition, however what’s its consequence at the moment? There have been a number of shortcomings in that. In Nitish Kumar’s Bihar, so many individuals are locked up in jails.
Shubhajit Roy: There’s a debate on the nationwide degree that UPA allies ought to take the lead and Congress ought to take the backseat.What is your take?
Everybody has issued statements that there can’t be any alliance with out Con- gress. Which social gathering leads depends upon the character of the alliance — if it’s a state or Central alliance. For 2024, we are going to resolve accordingly. In the state elections, the most important social gathering that ought to take the lead must be accommodated by everybody.
Congress must be within the mainstream within the nationwide alliance.In 1977,when the Janata Party was fashioned,who was main? Even Morarji Desai’s title was not declared for the Prime Minister’s publish. So, that relies upon upon the political scenario. If all people within the alliance thinks concerning the curiosity of the nation, they may resolve accordingly.
Manoj CG: What has modified since 2014 within the relationship between Hindus and Muslims? What needs to be the political response to communal stress?
In Haryana,the federal government,to cover its failures, distracts the individuals. These are usually not actual points.We have been dwelling collectively for therefore a few years. Everybody is aware of that everyone has to dwell collectively. We have respect for each faith. We carry everybody together with us.We don’t get entangled in hate politics.The Congress is highlighting the true points. People will realise slowly. It takes time in a democracy.
Manraj Grewal Sharma: Recently, each the Akali Dal and the Congress celebrated their centenaries. Both events are on the decline. And one grouse in opposition to each is nepotism; there, they ask to vary Badal, right here, they speak of changing Rahul.
If somebody says in a democracy that their social gathering won’t ever decline, that’s not true. I’ve seen when there have been solely two members of Parliament from BJP I’ve seen greater than two-thirds majority of Congress. It occurs. And it’s good for democracy. Nobody ought to monopolise energy. Nobody ought to assume they’re immune. People see every little thing, they’re very intelli- gent.They resolve on the proper time.
Manoj CG: Congress president elections will occur in August-September and Lok Sabha elections in two years. Do you assume Sonia Gandhi ought to proceed until the LS elections are over?
The social gathering is holding elections, and whoever is elected needs to be the president. The social gathering holds democratic elections. If Sonia Gandhi is accepted by all, she’ll be there.
Varinder Bhatia: In the present state of affairs when your social gathering is sliding, do you assume a change of face can revive it?
Nowadays, together with the social gathering, the face additionally issues — whether or not it’s the Congress or the BJP. Can you ask any BJP particular person, what might be your place minus Narendra Modi? In 2004, we assisted Sonia Gandhi (to turn into the Prime Minister), I used to be in Parliament, however she refused. In our social gathering, we take into consideration the individuals. The solely means out is to struggle for the reason for the individuals, for his or her issues. A pacesetter then emerges robotically.
Sourav Roy Barman: Over the following few months,Arvind Kejriwal goes to journey to Haryana and hammer house the purpose thatallpartiesaretriedandtested,give us an opportunity. With Haryana sandwiched between two AAP-ruled states, are you able to afford to dismiss AAP? Also, why do you assume the talks fell by way of with Prashant Kishor?
I can’t say something about him (Kishor), however so far as AAP is anxious, each social gathering has acquired to come back and persuade the individuals.But in Haryana individuals see an alternate solely within the Congress. And I’m saying this as a result of I do know the bottom realities.
Varinder Bhatia: You’ve been holding Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh programmes however we by no means noticed the state Congress President take part. But the newly appointed president was there with you on the latest programme. Is it an try to current a united face?
There’s no query of factionalism. Our subsequent programme is in Fatehabad and the Congress state president might be there too. These programmes are organised by the legislature social gathering. Because the MLAs should know (the issues), they should be on the bottom in order that they’ll increase these points within the Assembly. That was the concept of that programme.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”