Months after leaving Congress for the BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia says that she will not stop in the past and that her association with Congress is a closed chapter. Commenting on the comment on Kamal Nath’s “article” against Imarti Devi, Scindia says it shows the former prime minister’s “level of arrogance”.
Edited excerpts:
How does it feel to leave Congress and be with the BJP?
I am a member of the BJP. It is an honor for me to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Party Chairman JP Nadda, as well as Interior Minister Amit Shah. I believe that this government, both in the Center and in the state (Madhya Pradesh), will deliver in terms of development and progress. We have put in place a specific roadmap for the state. Works have been sanctioned … the ultimate goal is development and progress.
Do you consider the secondary elections in Madhya Pradesh a matter of prestige? Are you worried that your deliverability is seen as a justification for the BJP to bring you in?
No way. This will has to be one of delivery and progress. That is the rationale for Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s rule, and we have delivered it in recent months. Juxtapose this with what the Kamal Nath government did. The CM did not even have the decency to visit the districts to receive the blessing of the people. There was a total disconnect with people.
Did you ever try to tell him that?
I don’t want to dwell too much on the past. In life, I feel that it is very easy to be opportunistic. There is dignity in silence. But I have raised these issues of development and corruption in the past.
Did you ever get the feeling that Kamal Nath was not giving you importance and therefore in this sense the bypoll is a personal fight with him?
No way. And I don’t want to allow myself personal attacks. I very easily accepted that someone else be appointed head of the Pradesh Congressional Committee in Madhya Pradesh. I readily accepted when someone else was appointed prime minister. I had a small contribution to the formation of the state government, but I did my job.
On the “article” controversy, we heard clarification from Kamal Nath. He said the BJP is trying to divert attention from key issues …
Certainly, there is a minimum level of decency that politicians must follow. They should be role models. They have the right to go out, campaign and reach the people. There is a lady (Imarti Devi) who has risen from the grassroots. She was part of his cabinet, and to go to that level and call her an ‘article’ … If this is the policy of people who don’t care about women and Dalits, then I have nothing to say. Also when the former party chairman asks the former prime minister to apologize and he says ‘bhaad me jao (get lost) ‘, which shows you the level of arrogance that the lord possesses. I think we all make mistakes and when you apologize, your height doesn’t go down. Goes up.
Rahul Gandhi had asked if Scindia can question people in her group when they attack a woman …
Of course we can. Mr. Gandhi knows that I call things by their name. As for me, there can be no double standards.
Rahul Gandhi had told him when he resigned that he was one of the people who could enter his house and meet him.
Let me tell you that I don’t want to go to the past. I have maintained a studied silence. I know that many in politics believe that when an opportunity presents itself, you use it to strike. I am not one of those people. I have believed that there is dignity in silence. I don’t want to talk about the past. My past in front of Congress is over.
What do you think of Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the prime minister?
I have never believed in personal attacks. I will never do it.
Have you ever been prevented from leaving Congress?
I will not comment. I will believe in the dignity of silence.
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