BJP will come to power with more than 300 seats: Nitin Gadkari

The Nagpur constituency is an urban constituency. It is not related to agriculture problems. For the past 12 years, I have given my life for changing the agriculture in Vidarbha and particularly, my inspiration is how to stop farmer suicides. With my initiative, we have 60,000 acres of sugarcane... We are exporting fruits and vegetables. I am working on water conservation. There is the Pradhan Mantri irrigation scheme where we have sanctioned 26 projects in Maharashtra.

After the launch of GST, Nagpur is one of the ideal logistics hubs. We are developing logistic industry , logistic parks and developing good roads here. In Mihan, we will create 50,000 jobs, out of which 25,000 people are already appointed. Within a year, I am going to complete my promise and in the next five years, again we will create another 50,000 more jobs. Whatever I have promised in the 2014 elections, at least four times more work we have done in Nagpur.

We will definitely support that and we will do it. Actually it is the appropriate time, we need support from all the political parties. In the case of Telengana, there was support from the Opposition party and the ruling party. If Congress is ready to give us support in Parliament, we will think about it.

It is an alliance of opportunism. It is only because of their political interests as they now understand that individually, it is difficult for them to defeat the BJP. Those who don’t have any ideological similarity and collaboration, and were even preferring to not meet or talk to each other are forming an alliance now.

I am confident the situation has changed. We will definitely get more than 300 seats.

It was all in the past. Today, we share a good relationship and coordination. In my constituency and other constituencies, the Shiv Sainiks are working with all of us. Presently, we don’t have any problem.

Age is a factor everywhere, be it politics, journalism, business. Advani’s age is 91. He’s an inspiration and motivation for all of us. But now, on the age factor, BJP has taken a decision.

Patole (Congress candidate from Nagpur) belongs to the OBC Kunbi community, the largest in terms of numbers in the constituency. Do you think this can sway votes in his favour?

I am going to win this election by a 5 lakh margin. I am confident that people are going to vote for me. I never play political business of caste, creed, sex. Muslims, Dalits and all people are helping and supporting me. This is a propaganda that some people are doing...I don’t believe in caste politics.

What will the party do if and once it is elected to power to address issues like unemployment?

Our highest priority will be how we can make the welfare of gaav, garib, mazdoor and kisan. How we are going to create more jobs. In my ministry, we have awarded work more than Rs 17 lakh crores. 11 lakh crores in the road sector, 5 lakh crores in port and shipping, 1 lakh crores in Ganga rejuvenation and water resources. These are the important things. On the basis of that, we are going to create jobs. By giving acceleration to infrastructure, we are ultimately creating more jobs. We are trying...This is a problem from 70 years-we are definitely going to resolve this issue. But it will take some time.

You have a secular image, but BJP is accused of leaning towards Hindutva...

It is a baseless argument...We have already cleared it a hundred times that we don't want to discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, sex and religion. We are very clear about it. And our party, as far as the present meaning of secularism is concerned, is a secular party. We never take any decision which is going to discriminate on the basis of any religion. Our every scheme is accessible to all the people. It’s not like there is a guideline from the government about only giving it to Hindus. We are making all of our schemes for all the people. How can we be named as communal and anti-secular?

But, under the BJP govt, the number of cow lynching cases have seen a mass increase...

In the time of Congress too, hundreds of cases were there and we never support cow lynching. We are also taking stern action against them. This is the habit of  some people who blame everything in the name of BJP and RSS, and start propaganda. We don’t discriminate anybody on the basis of caste, creed, sex, religion and language.

Can you explain the meaning of Hindutva if it is being misinterpreted? What according to you is Hindutva?

There is a section of people who have an agenda and they want to propagate it. They fail to convince the people, that is the reason they want to confuse the people. That’s why they write the things. I don’t need to give the answer for all this because this is the very clear indication and presentation of our ideology and party: we are not discriminating anybody on the basis of caste, creed, sex and religion. We are very clear about it.

What about cow protection?

We have faith in it. We are making laws for that. We are making medicine from cow urine. There are a lot of plus things, from the health point of view, available in cow milk. This is our faith and now we have the best technology (related to cows)...doing research and we are doing a lot of welfare things.

Is the construction of the temple at Ram Mandir a part of the election

Our party is committed for that.

Do you think that will affect votes from Muslims?

Even Muslims are ready now, by mutual consent. There is a possibility that we may resolve the issue. The Supreme Court has taken the initiative. Let us hope for that.

What do you have to say about the talks of you being the next Prime Minister? Do you have any aspiration to be the Prime Minister?

We will get the majority and Modi will be our Prime Minister. I have no aspiration to be the Prime Minister at all.

What is your response to the allegations about Yeddyurappa paying BJP ministers like you huge sums of money?

It’s totally a 100 per cent bluff story. I don’t need to give any comments on it. It was a xerox sign of Yeddyurappa, written by somebody, and on the basis of this, they start the story. Some of the anti-BJP people want to raise this. It is totally baseless and useless. The income tax department is making the enquiry of it and it is to be understood that a xerox paper sign was used, even they haven’t submitted original signs.

People are of the opinion that the BJP is politicising the Pulwama Balakot attack.

I don’t want to answer this question because this answer is going to be used for politicising this subject. I feel that we should not challenge national security matters. It is not a political agenda for BJP. I would not use it.

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