BJP will form govt in Telangana this time: Tarun Chugh

New Delhi You were overlooking the BJP’s recent Jan Sampark (mass contact) programme. What is the status of the programme?

On the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, its report card is presented by contacting the public. Under this programme, so far more than 500 Lok Sabha public meetings, 51 big public rallies, 4,000 businessmen's conferences in every Lok Sabha constituency, and 4,100 tiffin meetings have been organized across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other top ministers and leaders of the country are holding meetings under this programme. It is historic in the country's politics.

On June 27, the address by PM Modi was heard at 10 lakh places and booths across the country under the Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot programme. More than 2,600 Alpkalik Vistarak from all Lok Sabha constituencies across the country were present in this programme. It is clear from this that the BJP communicates with the last person and cares for their empowerment.

You were in-charge of the party’s recent mass contact programme. How did you find people’s response?

In the last nine years, Prime Minister Modi has shown that a decisive leadership can bring transformative changes in the country. The people are highly enthused with the performance of the Modi government. There is a higher degree of satisfaction and even more hope that PM Modi will make India a developed nation.

The people have been effusive in their praise for PM Modi for giving corruption-free governance. The benefits of corruption-free governance have been seen by the people, as the money saved has been used in building houses for the poor, irrigation facilities for farmers, hospitals and schools, and world-class infrastructure.

Among other responsibilities, you are also the BJP’s in-charge of Telangana. Apart from Karnataka, it is another state in the south where your party hopes to do well in the Assembly election and the general polls in 2024. How do you regard the party’s prospects in Telangana?

The BJP will form the government in Telangana. The people in Telangana are extremely angry with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and his government for the long list of tall but unfulfilled promises. People know that the BJP is the only alternative to the BRS government.

The BJP’S mass contact programme in the state has seen massive support. There is panic in the BRS camp. Several leaders of the BRS and the Congress want to join the BJP. BJP workers are highly motivated and mobilized in the state. The programmes of the top leadership of the BJP have received popular support.

There have been rumblings of infighting in the Telangana unit of BJP, including rumors of defections. How serious is the problem?

This is an old trick of the BRS and the Congress to spread rumors when faced with certain defeat in the upcoming Assembly elections. The BJP leaders in Telangana are working hard on the ground as a family unit. There is certainly no scope for any dissension.

The BJP is the only genuine democratic party where a party worker can aspire to become even president. This is not possible in other, dynasty-oriented parties. Therefore, they are spreading misinformation.

Non-BJP parties seem determined to go for excessive populist measures in the oncoming state and general elections. The Congress already did that successfully in Karnataka. Will your party stick to the path of prudence and propriety? Or are you also planning a dose of populism?

There are parties which take short-cuts to grab power. They don’t mind ruining the resources of the state to win elections. They will make tall promises but fulfill none. The Congress is showing desperation by promising freebies in elections. The BJP believes in politics as a means to serve society. For us, politics is not a means to grab power. PM Modi has said on several occasions that politics for us is a way to serve people. We always care for the wellbeing and future of the society. With a positive agenda and good governance, the Modi government has brought transformative change in the lives of people. Can any other government measure up to the achievements of the Modi government?

For Telangana specifically, what does your party intend to offer in terms of economic policy?

The BJP will work to make all-round development of Telangana. We will address the issue of extreme backwardness in Telangana. The state needs development to reach each block and village. Hyderabad alone is not Telangana. When a corruption-free government will be formed, development will touch life of all the people in the state. We will share details of the vision for Telangana in the vision document before the Assembly election.

What are your views on PM Modi’s highly successful state visit to the US?

PM Modi’s visit to the US has truly given the AI (America-India) mantra for the global good. The two largest democracies have now signed transformative pacts in several spheres. Technology transfer from the US to India will help in taking India forward. India has gained immensely from the US visit of PM Modi. Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector will get a major boost. There will also be fast-paced developments in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The space partnership through Artemis Accords will be a game changer.

How will it help India?

The India-US partnership is for the global good. The rules-based international order needs democracies to work with a common agenda. The collaboration between the two countries will bring transformative changes for better humanity. The partnership will give a positive push to the agendas of peace, hunger, climate change, etc.