Interview/ Amrita Roy, BJP candidate, Krishnanagar
AMRITA ROY, THE BJP candidate from Krishnanagar, spends a substantial part of her election campaign doing roadshows, just like her Trinamool opponent, Mahua Moitra. On a hot evening in Krishnanagar North, THE WEEK joined Roy for a short interview on the sidelines of a roadshow. She said she was looking for a platform to serve the people of Krishnanagar and free them from the Trinamool’s corruption. The BJP, she said, provided her that platform. Excerpts:
Q/ How do you see your journey from the royal residence to the doors of the common people?
A/ I was always a queen in the hearts of the people of Krishnanagar. Nothing will change that. In fact, coming from the royal family is an advantage because my ancestors traditionally served people.
Q/ If elected, what do you want to do for the people of Krishnanagar?
A/ I want to get the Beledanga flyover done. Then I want to work on the Krishnanagar-Karimpur railway project. Drinking water is a major issue which needs to be resolved. The roads, mainly in the rural parts, have to be developed.
Q/ Why did you choose the BJP?
A/ Because the BJP has a clean image and the party is not associated with any scam. Importantly, it is an all-India party.
Q/ Don’t you think that the BJP also has several leaders who face allegations of corruption?
A/ I don’t know what you are talking about. But [such] people are there all over. That you cannot avoid. I don’t want to think about it. I will be doing my work so long as I get support from the Centre.
Q/ What do you have to say about the Trinamool?
A/ I am against corruption. I am against the problems that the people of Bengal are facing because of the Trinamool. We live in a democracy but the Trinamool does not allow people to speak their minds. During my campaign, I have heard so many people speaking about their fears. They say, “If I speak, someone will target my son or rape my daughter or someone will bomb my house.” I am fighting these problems.
Q/ How do you view your opponent Mahua Moitra?
A/ I don’t need to say anything about her. She is not my opponent. As I said, I am fighting the Trinamool’s corruption and I am trying to be a reformer. I think people need a change in the system and I couldn’t have brought the change by myself. So, I needed a platform and that is the BJP.
Q/ There are allegations against Moitra that she did not say anything about Krishnanagar in Parliament.
A/ [She didn’t speak about Krishnanagar] because she was not honest with her mindset. One needs to know why they are in Parliament. I won’t go to Parliament for a party. I will go there to serve the people of Krishnanagar. I am already blessed with everything. I don’t need a bag or lipstick. I don’t need any money. God has given me enough.
Q/ What do you have to say about the comment that king Krishnachandra Roy supported the British during the Battle of Plassey?
A/ [Those who are saying this] have not studied history. I don’t go by rumours. If they have to challenge me, let them challenge me. I will provide papers that will very naturally and obviously [prove them wrong].
Q/ The Trinamool says the king sided with Mir Jafar.
A/ Were they alive at that time? [Do they know] the social and political structure at that time? They [can study about it from] books. Why don’t they study those books?