BJP will win UP with full majority, Home Minister Amit Shah tells Network18

In a no holds barred interview with Network18’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about a wide spectrum of issues ranging from ongoing five state polls, his prediction for BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the Hijab controversy, CAA among others. The full interview will telecast at 8 pm tonight across all News18 group channels.

Speaking about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chances in the upcoming polls, the Minister said that, “If you look at surveys, the BJP is getting 230- 260 seats in this election. In 2017, the prediction was 238 seats, we won 325 seats. Perception is an important aspect in a survey, because people link their credibility with the surveys. Also, what the public tells the person who is doing the survey may not even be true. There are many contradictions.”

“There are four big issues over which the people of UP have supported and strengthened us more than in the previous three elections. First is law and order. Second, gareeb kalyan. Third has been development, including access to drinking water and electricity. The fourth issue is the way we have improved the administration of Uttar Pradesh.”

“Three phases have gone by, others remain. I have carried out Jan Vishwas Yatras and Vijay Sankalp Yatras in every district of UP. I have done rallies in every district of the state. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will win with full majority. Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, the BJP has been successful in winning the hearts of the people. Support and love for the Prime Minister is much higher today than it was in December 2013. This is the feeling on the ground. I know that the BJP will win with a majority in these elections. We will seal the election by hitting a boundary.”

While speaking on the Hijab controversy, The Minister said that the matter was in court, but his personal opinion was that a dress code in school should be followed by all. “It is my personal belief that people of all religions should accept the school’s dress code. And the issue is now in court, and the court is conducting its hearings on the matter. Whatever it decides should be followed by all.”

“Ultimately, it has to be decided whether the country will function on the Constitution or whims. My personal belief only remains until the court makes a decision. And once the court makes a decision, then I should accept it, and everyone should accept it. But, I still personally believe that every student should function according to the dress code and uniform mandated by the school.”

When asked about the involvement of Campus Front of India on the issue, the minister replied, “These people may have their active involvement, but I’ll just say that their intentions will not come to fruition. The people of India will accept the court’s judgement once it comes.”

When asked about the CAA would be implemented, Amit Shah said, “As long as we are not free from Covid-19, this can’t be a priority. We have seen three waves. Thankfully, things are getting better, the third wave is receding. The decision is linked to the Covid situation. But there is no question of going back on it. The question does not arise.”

During the interview the Home Minister also launched an attack against the opposition parties and line of politics. He said, “The SP and BSP governments that worked on caste lines and dynasty never listened to the voice of the people. One government came and worked for one caste, another government worked for another caste. People had lost hope of ever getting justice. People had resigned themselves to this. But after change came with Modi ji in 2014, people started seeing hope in us and we have lived up to it.”

Drawing a contrast between Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government and the previous government led by Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, the Home Minister said, even getting FIRs registered was a “big deal” in Uttar Pradesh at one point and people had to move out of cities like Meerut to Delhi for a better future.

“I have travelled by road to every district and block in UP from May 2013 to date. I can tell you that getting an FIR registered in UP was a big deal at one time. When the SP came to power, people of one community thought they had been given the power to do as they pleased. In west UP, buffaloes were taken from people’s homes and the farmers couldn’t do anything. I have actually seen that situation. Many people shifted from Meerut to Delhi so that their children could study. People were migrating from Meerut. Gangsters used to capture lands of residents worth crores.”

Shah added, “This is the only time that Azam Khan, Atiq Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari are in jail. The people of Uttar Pradesh couldn’t imagine at one time that people who used to harass them would be in jail. Today, people live in peace. There is no ‘bahubali’ and mafia in any district, something that was a permanent feature earlier. Property worth Rs 200 crore that had been grabbed by gangsters has now been confiscated from them. This is a huge achievement and people are acknowledging our work.”

Amit Shah added during the interview that under the BJP, women’s safety has also improved in Uttar Pradesh. “In Kanpur, I have seen girls out on the roads on Scooties in the middle of the night, and I’m so happy for them. I saw this for myself from my hotel window. This is a huge achievement and people are acknowledging our work. And it is translating into votes.”

The Home Minister also hit out at the Samajwadi Party and the BSP for withdrawing UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) cases during their respective tenures. “The law and order issue is important. And now PM Modi has also spoken on terrorism. He spoke in Hardoi on the Ahmedabad blast case in which 38 accused have been sentenced to death. He said these terrorists were freed from jail during SP regime. Eleven such instances took place during the SP and BSP eras when UAPA and POTA cases were withdrawn. What do SP and BSP have to say about security in the country? They will have to answer the public.”