‘In Congress, around four people have destroyed the party from within.’
Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a religious leader, who heads the Kalki ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, owes allegiance to the Congress, and was once politically close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He suddenly finds himself in the middle of rumours swirling about his future in the Congress. He has been vocal in his criticism of the Congress’ refusal to attend the 22 January Ram Mandir consecration ceremony and recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is now a buzz that he is joining the BJP and is getting a ticket to fight the Lok Sabha elections from the Sambhal seat. The Sunday Guardian reached out to Krishnam where he denied receiving any letter from the Congress high command sacking him from the party, and called the letter circulating on social media fake.
Excerpts:
Q: How do you find the current ecosystem of Congress?
A: There is nothing in the Congress ecosystem. The grand old party’s system has collapsed.
Q: You once had been politically close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. How do you see her faring within the Congress?
A: A hundred per cent that she has been sidelined within the Congress, which is very unfortunate. Because she is the most popular (Congress) face in the country. She should have been given the leadership of the party. And if Congress fails to give her the leadership, the grand old party could see itself living in its last phase.
Q: There has been interaction between you and PM Modi recently. Are you planning to join BJP?
A: There is a foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham to be held on 19 February. I had the privilege of inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I am thankful that the PM was sensitive about the sentiments of crores of Sanatani people and accepted the invitation to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Kalki Dham.
Q: Do you think such an act could threaten your existence within the Congress party as you are constantly seen as someone who does not follow the party line?
A: Till this moment, I have not received any notice from the Congress and moreover meeting the PM of the country is no sin. Moreover, there is an inner democracy within Congress. If they have any problem they should clearly say it that there is no democracy in Congress. But since there is one, every person in the party has the right to express himself and put forward his opinion.
Q: You have also criticised Congress leadership recently for not attending Ram Mandir event.
A: I am not criticising. I am only telling the truth and this is the hundred percent truth. In Congress there are some people, rather there are around four people who have destroyed the Congress from within. And these leaders are primarily Jairam Ramesh (AICC Media General Secretary), Randeep Singh Surjewala (AICC General Secretary), and more politicians like them who don’t want to see Priyanka Gandhi prosper within the party. And not only them, there are others as well who have been responsible for the sidelining of Priyanka Gandhi.
Q: Do you think the absence of Congress leadership in the Ram Mandir consecration would hurt them electorally?
A: Congress is the party of Mahatma Gandhi and its gatherings would start with the hymn, “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”. Moreover, Mahatma Gandhi had seen the dream of Ram Rajya. The party which was following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi is now trying to be leftist and is living on the lines of atheism. The opposition of Ram by the Congress party is going to be a very crucial issue as people are annoyed with their refusal to accept the invitation to Ram Mandir.
Q: Congress leaders say by opposing the Congress you are playing into the hands of the BJP. How would you respond to that?
A: Was Mahatma Gandhi from BJP that he was talking about Ram? Somnath temple was built by Sardar Patel, was he from BJP? Does Ram belong only to the BJP? Is it that Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram are slogans from BJP only? These slogans were from Congress. This is not secularism, this is called pseudo secularism.