BJP using love Jihad & land Jihad to hide its government’s failures in U’khand: Mahara

 Monday, 26 June 2023 | DEHRADUN

The Congress party has intensified its attack on the Uttarakhand government in recent days and the energetic Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara is leading the charge. In an interaction with Gajendra Singh Negi of The Pioneer he expressed his opinion on a variety of issues.

In recent times the cases of what is being termed love Jihad are increasing in Uttarakhand and it has affected the communal harmony in the State as well. How do you view the situation?

There appears to be a conspiracy behind these cases. I suspect that there is some organisation of minorities affiliated to RSS which is behind these cases and its objective is to benefit the BJP electorally. In the Purola case the girl had an affair with a man who was Hindu but a false narrative of involvement of Muslim was created. 

 The word land Jihad is also prevalent in the State these days. The government claims that a drive is underway against land encroachment by illegal structures including both Mazars and temples. 

The word Land Jihad was mischievously created. The chief minister and the BJP State president are consistently mentioning Mazars which is a deliberate attempt to create communal divide. The government should come out with a document mentioning the number of religious structures (including Mazars and temples) which are on the forest land or on municipal land. 

You mean that the BJP is deliberately raking up the issue of land Jihad and love jihad? 

Yes it is being done to shift the public attention from the failures of the government. A hype around Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is another example of this plan. Everyone knows that only the Centre can enact such a law.

How would you rate the performance of the State government?

The performance is pathetic to say the least. The use of bulldozer to raze the a building in Ankita Bhandari murder case, changing statements of investigating officer, failure of the government to bring to fore the name of VIP involved in the case and the inept handling of recruitment scam, use of brutal force on students and murder of a Jyestha Pramukh in Udham Singh Nagar district clearly point out immaturity of those in power. The law and order situation is pathetic, crimes against women and the number of rape cases are increasing. The performance of ministers is dismal. Persons like Premchand Agarwal are continuing to hold office even though his role in back door appointments in Vidhan Sabha is apparent. He was seen thrashing a local on a road like a ruffian in a video. Senior minister Satpal Maharaj is happy in making comments such as to make all the schools of the State soundproof. He along with minister Dhan Singh Rawat was not in the state when Char Dham Yatra commenced and was at its peak. 

Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) is embroiled in controversies such as QR code scam and now gold plating issue in Kedarnath. What is your stand? 

The BKTC should be immediately dissolved and an inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the High Court should be ordered as it is connected with the faith of crores of Hindus. The president of BKTC is on record quoting that 230 kg of gold was used in covering walls of Kedarnath temple now the committee is claiming that only 23 kg of gold was used. Where has the gold gone? How was this calculation made and who certified it? BJP does the politics of religion and damages religion the most. 

 Congress seems to be a divided house in Uttarakhand. How is this affecting the party’s prospects?

All the senior leaders of the party are raising the failures of the State government and the issues of public concern. Differences occur in political parties and ours is a democratic party. I had apprised the central leadership about the internal differences and statements of some leaders and after it all this has stopped. Yes, I accept that our party leaders should have been more vocal on the Premchand Agarwal case and some other issues. 

There are leaders senior to you in the Congress. How far have you succeeded in taking them along? 

I took the initiative after which Harish Rawat went to meet Pritam Singh. I am in regular touch with all the senior leaders and the opinion of all senior leaders is taken and respected.

The CBI court has sent notices to Harish Rawat, Harak Singh Rawat and others in the sting CD case. How do you view the development? 

Some journalists had predicted that with the Lok Sabha elections drawing near senior leaders of opposition would be targeted in all the States of the country and their concern has proven correct. Opening of an eight year old case suggests that vendetta politics is being played.

 How do you view the prospects of your party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls?

The Congress is in a strong position in all the seats of Uttarakhand. The BJP is trying to create communal divide but the people have understood its designs. We are raising local issues and mobilising our cadre. There is anger in the people due to increasing prices, unemployment, handling of Ankita Bhandari murder case and lathi-charge on students.

The opposition parties are forming a united forum against the BJP for the next year’s general elections. What is the scenario of opposition unity in Uttarakhand?

The opposition is united in Uttarakhand as well and will take on the BJP in the State in a united manner. Here I want to make it clear that the Congress will contest all the five Lok Sabha seats in the State.