Congress party in an endeavour to abuse Narendra Modi has started abusing its past policies, says Gourav Vallabh.
Gourav Vallabh, who left the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party recently, spoke to The Sunday Guardian’s sister organisation, NewsX. Edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: You have quit the Congress and joined the BJP. What were your reasons for doing so?
A: I don’t have the courage to abuse Sanatan Dharma morning and evening. Congress is giving silent approval to people who do that. From the day Congress party decided not to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, I gave them an ultimatum that I won’t defend you in front of TV cameras. Congress party in an endeavour to abuse Narendra Modi has started abusing its past policies. They did privatisation, liberalism under the Narasimha Rao government and is now abusing the same. Congress has abused Ambani, Adani and all the wealth-makers. I respect wealth-makers for creating jobs and wealth for the country.
Q: You’ve stated that there is a discord between your personal values and the values of the Congress. What direction, according to you, is Congress going in, which you are not comfortable with?
A: Congress party is directionless, one morning they talk about EVM hacking, next day they speak about caste census, third day they talk about Adani, fourth day they speak about unemployment, fifth day they speak about unemployment, sixth day they pick up Agniveer, seventh day they speak about GST.
Q: Apart from the contrast in core-values, has anything else prompted you to leave the Congress and join the BJP? What according to you is the BJP—and Prime Minister Modi in particular—doing right for the people of the country?
A: PM Modi has a capacity to have big dreams and vision. When he talks about making India developed in 2047, he is dreaming big. By 2025 we are becoming the third largest economy in the world.
Q: Now BJP has set an ambitious goal of “400 paar”. Back in 2014, BJP secured a clear majority of 282 seats after decades. The tally increased to 303 seats in 2019. Considering this, how practical is the BJP’s goal to cross 400 seats this election? Where will the additional seats come from? And how will the BJP achieve this?
A: In the North, BJP has won 95% of the total seats. Additional seats will come from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana. In the entire country people are talking about a developed nation in 2047.
Q: Last question, do you hope to fight elections on a BJP ticket in the future?
A: I am an ideologically committed person and will be that forever. I am not here to become an MP or MLA or for the lust of power.