People of the country will choose ‘nyay’ over ‘bhay’: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is one of the key Congress leaders who charted the party's comeback in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. Apart from being given charge of western Uttar Pradesh in the current Lok Sabha polls, the young leader has also been, once again, made candidate from family stronghold Guna constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Jyotiraditya has now represented Guna four times in Parliament since 2002, a year after his father Madhavrao Scindia was killed in a plane crash.

One of the most influential leaders in MP, especially in the Gwalior-Chambal belt, Scindia speaks about the elections, BJP's policies and the Congress's obligation to bring forward the BJP's shortcomings in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.

How many seats do you expect Congress to win in Madhya Pradesh? Why?

We have recently formed the Government in Madhya Pradesh and have already started delivering on our electoral promises―we have provided loan waivers to farmers worth Rs 50,000 crore; we have increased the old age and social protection pension from Rs 300 per month to Rs 600 per month; ASHA workers will also get an allowance of Rs 2,000 per month; urban youth from economically weaker sections of society will get guaranteed employment of 100 days, unemployment allowance of Rs 4,000 per month and skill development training. We are committed to implementing people-centric policies for everyone.

This is what people will keep in mind when they go to vote and I am hopeful that we will win the maximum seats possible.

Similarly how many seats do you give to Congress/UPA countrywide? Why?

Congress is on the path to resurgence, as is evident from the way Congress managed to wrest control of three states from the BJP in assembly elections last year. The reason for that is simple―people have seen through the façade of BJP, which thrusts majoritarian ideas on people in the name of empty promises of economic progress and good governance. I am relying on the wisdom of the people to take a decisive vote against the atmosphere of intolerance, against policies that have resulted in rampant unemployment and against agrarian distress.

Given the neck and neck contest between BJP and Congress in Vidhan Sabha polls and the strong Modi factor, why should Congress expect to do better in Lok Sabha election?

I disagree with you that there is a strong Modi factor or that there were neck and neck electoral contests. Lok Sabha elections this time are about something much bigger than any political party―it is about the idea of India and what needs to be done to keep that idea alive and thriving. Congress party’s clarion call for ‘Nyay’ is also an acknowledgement of this fact. Several attempts have been made in the last five years to stifle the voices of people of this country and in these elections, they will come out to express themselves and choose ‘nyay’ over ‘bhay’ (fear).

Madhya Pradesh is considered one of the laboratories of RSS and Hindutva plays a big electoral card here. How does Congress counter that factor? Is the Congress pedalling soft Hindutva as a counter?

In every election, BJP tries to play the communal card because that is what their ideology is based on. But, I, along with my party, believe in keeping religion and politics separate. My religion, and how I practice it, is personal to me. Just like I wouldn’t want the state to measure my worth on the basis of my religion, my party also wouldn’t discriminate on the basis of religion. The only counter to communalism is an appeal to humanity and that is what the Congress party stands for.

Do you think it will be difficult for the Congress to face the challenge of nationalism and national security card played by PM Modi?

Every citizen is patriotic and no one needs a certificate of patriotism from the BJP. The BJP rakes up these sentiments only to hide their failures. If national security is the top most concern for BJP, why have the number of soldiers getting martyred at the border increased manifold, why are the ceasefire violations and the number of youth joining militancy in Kashmir at an all-time high? BJP is a self-proclaimed nationalist (party) when most of their policy decisions can be deemed anti-national, to borrow from their vocabulary. Congress has taken up the mantel to bring before the people the many shortcomings and failures of the BJP Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The challenge is on them to prove that in the past five years, all their actions indeed have been in national-interest and not in self-interest.

Will BSP-SP alliance harm Congress prospects, especially in Gwalior-Chambal and Vindhya region?

Congress is fighting on its own strengths and is capable of taking head on any political challenge in every region.

Digivijaya Singh was a surprise choice for Bhopal, but it seems to have really put BJP on the backfoot. Is Raja going to win Bhopal comfortably?

Since the party has given Digvijaya Singhji the ticket from Bhopal, it means that the party has posed its faith and trust in him. The BJP has been jittery ever since their loss in the assembly elections. Rest, winning or losing, is in the hands of the voters and my best wishes are with Digvijay Singhji. I am sure he will emerge victorious.

Will the Congress strategy of fielding strong candidates in BJP strongholds work?

Of course, the strategy always is to put your best foot forward. Every party does that.

Given your stature, why did you not opt for a seat considered a BJP stronghold and keep with the Congress strategy?

Guna is not just a constituency I represent, it is my home, and the people of Guna are like my extended family, who have been placing their trust in me and sending me to Parliament to be their voice. Guna’s development is not just a professional duty, but a personal commitment. And that commitment requires me to stand firm with the people of Guna and continue to work for their welfare. Political calculations are secondary.

There were strong rumours of your wife being considered as a candidate in Gwalior. Do you see that becoming a reality in future?

She is first a strong independent woman and then my wife. She is free to take decisions regarding her life. If at any point of time, she wishes to contest elections and get into active politics, I will wholeheartedly support her.

Do you see yourself as Madhya Pradesh CM sometimes in future?

My priority is to serve the people.