Dear friends,
It is great to interact with you in this form. As we are moving towards the last phase of elections, the work is getting more hectic. But your love and support that is expressed in your comments makes me stronger and motivates me, and I feel your constant support is my strength.
There are various questions that I gather by reading your comments in your mind on various election issues, and I wish that the following interview, which appeared on May 10, 2009, in New Indian Express, Tamil Nadu, will throw light upon them and will give you some answers.
Friends, now I need to go back to my schedule, but I promise to stay in touch,
this is all for now.
Yours,
ବନ୍ଧୁଗଣ,
ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ଜାରି ରହିଥିବା ନିର୍ବାଚନର ଏହି ବ୍ଯସ୍ତବହୁଳ କାର୍ଯ୍ଯସୂଚୀରୁ ସମୟ କାଢି ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଛି, ତଥାପି ମୁଁ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତବ୍ଯ ପଢୁଛି କି ନାହିଁ ଏହାକୁ ନେଇ କେତେକ ବନ୍ଧୁଙ୍କ ମନରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ରହିଛି |
ବନ୍ଧୁଗଣ, ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ବାରା ବ୍ଯକ୍ତ ଭାବନାଗୁଡିକ ମୋ ମଧ୍ଯରେ ନୂଆ ବିଶ୍ବାସ ଜନ୍ମାଇଥାଏ, ବେଳେବେଳେ ଶକ୍ତି ଓ ପ୍ରେରଣା ମଧ୍ଯ ମିଳିଥାଏ | ଏହା ବ୍ଯତୀତ, କେତେକ ବନ୍ଧୁଙ୍କ ଦ୍ବାରା ବ୍ଯକ୍ତ ସରସ ମନ୍ତବ୍ଯଗୁଡିକ ନିର୍ବାଚନ ବେଳର ଏହି ଉତ୍ତେଜନାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରିବେଶରେ ମନକୁ ହାଲୁକା କରିବାରେ ସହାୟକ ହୋଇଥାଏ |
ପ୍ରିୟ ବନ୍ଧୁଗଣ, ମୁଁ ଏହା ସ୍ବୀକାର କରିବାରେ କୁଣ୍ଠିତ ନୁହେଁ ଯେ ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ମାତ୍ରାରେ ଉପଭୋଗ କରୁଛି, ତେଣୁ କେବଳ ""ଧନ୍ଯବାଦ” ଶବ୍ଦ ପର୍ଯ୍ଯାପ୍ତ ହେବ ବୋଲି ମୁଁ ଭାବୁନାହିଁ |
ବନ୍ଧୁଗଣ, ଗତ ସପ୍ତାହରେ ଆମର ଉଭୟ ଉଡାଜାହାଜ ଏବଂ ହେଲିକପ୍ଟରରେ ଏକା ସମୟରେ ବୈଷୟିକ ତ୍ରୁଟି ଦେଖାଦେଇଥିଲା ଏବଂ ଖରାପ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା | ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ, ବିଚରା ମେଶିନଗୁଡିକ ମଧ୍ଯ ଥକିପଡିଲେଣି !
ଦୁର୍ଭାଗ୍ଯବଶତଃ, ଏହି କାରଣରୁ ମୁଁ ମହାରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରର ଅହମ୍ମଦନଗର ଓ ଗୋଆରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ନିର୍ବାଚନୀ ସାଧାରଣ ସଭାରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିପାରି ନ ଥିଲି | ଅସହ୍ଯ ଗରମରେ ମଧ୍ଯ ସହସ୍ରାଧିକ ଲୋକେ ଅପେକ୍ଷାରତ ଥିଲେ, ମୋ କାରଣରୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି ଅସୁବିଧା ଯୋଗୁଁ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ଯନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ | ମୁଁ ଏତଦ୍ଦ୍ବାରା ମୋ ପ୍ରତି ରହିଥିବା ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା ପାଇଁ କୃତଜ୍ଞତା ଜଣାଉଛି ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ କ୍ଷମା ଆଶା କରୁଛି |
ଆପଣଙ୍କର,
ప్రియ మిత్రులారా,
మిమ్మల్ని ఈ విధంగా కలుసుకోవడం చాలా సంతోషంగా ఉంది. మనం చివరి దశ ఎన్నికలకు వెళుతున్నందున, పని మరింత ఎక్కువగా ఉంటోంది. మీ వ్యాఖ్యల్లో మీరు వ్యక్తపరిచిన ప్రేమ మరియు మద్దతు నన్ను మరింతగా బలోపేతం చేస్తోంది మరియు నాలో ప్రేరణ కలిగిస్తోంది, మరియు మీరు నిరంతరం అందిస్తున్న మద్దతే నాకు కొండంత బలమని నేను భావిస్తున్నాను.
మీ వ్యాఖ్యలను చదవడం ద్వారా వివిధ ఎన్నికల విషయాలపై మీ మనసులో ఉన్న వివిధ ప్రశ్నలను నేను సేకరించాను, మరియు మే 10, 2009న న్యూ ఇండియన్ ఎక్స్ప్రెస్, తమిళనాడులో, ప్రచురితమైన ఈ కింది ఇంటర్వ్యూ వాటి గురించి ప్రస్తావిస్తోంది మరియు మీకు కొన్ని సమాధానాలు ఇచ్చిందని నేను భావిస్తున్నాను.
మిత్రులారా, నేను నా షెడ్యూలు ప్రకారం తిరిగి వెళ్ళవలసిన అవసరం ఉంది, అయితే మీతో సంబంధాలు కలిగివుంటానని హామీ ఇస్తున్నాను, ప్రస్తుతానికి నేను చెప్పదలచుకుంది ఇదే.
ఇట్లు,
அன்புள்ள நண்பர்களே,
உங்களுடன் இந்த வடிவத்தில் தொடர்பு கொள்ளுவது பெருமைமிக்கதாகும். நாம் தேர்தலின் இறுதிக் கட்டத்தை நோக்கி சென்று கொண்டிருப்பதால் பணி மிகவும் தீவிரமடைந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது. ஆனால் உங்கள் கருத்துக்களில் வெளிப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ள உங்களுடைய அன்பும் ஆதரவும் என்னை வலுவுடையதாக்குகிறது, உற்சாகமளிக்கிறது மற்றும் உங்களுடைய மாறாத ஆதரவுதான் என்னுடைய பலம் என்பதை நான் உணர்கிறேன்.
பற்பல தேர்தல் பிரச்னைகள் குறித்து உங்கள் உள்ளத்தில் எழும் உங்கள் கருத்துக்களை படித்துப்பார்க்கையில் என்னுள் பற்பல வினாக்கள் எழுகின்றன. தமிழ் நாட்டு நியூ இந்தியன் எக்ஸ்பிரஸில் 10 மே 2009 அன்று வெளியான நேர்காணல் அவை பற்றி விளக்கம் அளிக்கும் மற்றும் உங்களுக்கு சில பதில்களையும் அளிக்கும்.
நண்பர்களே, இப்போது நான் என்னுடைய பணித்திட்டத்திற்கு திரும்ப வேண்டும். ஆனாலும் உங்களுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்வேன் என்பதற்கு நான் உறுதி அளிக்கிறேன். இப்போது இத்துடன் விடைபெறுகிறேன்.
உங்கள்
প্রিয় বন্ধুগণ,
এই মাধ্যমের দ্বারা আপনাদের সঙ্গে মিলতে পেরে খুব আনন্দ লাগছে৷ যেরকম যেরকম আমরা নির্বাচনের অন্তিম পর্যায়ের দিকে এগোচ্ছি এবং কাজ খুব দ্রুতগতিতে চলছে৷ পরন্তু আপনাদের ভাবনায় ভালবাসা প্রতিফলিত হচ্ছে এবং সমর্থন থেকে আমি অনেক শক্তি ও প্রেরণা পাচ্ছি৷
আপনাদের চিন্তাধারাগুলি পড়ে বিভিন্ন নির্বাচনী সমস্যার ব্যাপারে আপনাদের মনে অনেক প্রশ্ন উঠছে এটা আমি জানতে পেরেছি৷ আমি আশা করব নিম্নলিখিত সাক্ষাত্কারগুলি যেটা 10ই মে, 2001 তারিখে নিউ ইন্ডিয়ান এক্সপ্রেস, তামিলনাড়ুতে প্রকাশিত হয়েছে, সেটা আপনাদের প্রশ্নের সমাধান করতে পারবে ও আপনাদের কিছু জবাব অবশ্য পাবেন৷
বন্ধু, এখন আমি আমার নিজের কার্যে ফের লেগে পড়ব, তবে আপনাদের সঙ্গে সম্পর্ক অবশ্যই বানিয়ে রাখব৷
আপনাদের
ਪਿਆਰੇ ਮਿੱਤਰੋ
ਇਸ ਸਾਧਨ ਦੇ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ. ਜਿਵੇਂ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਚੋਣ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਪੜਾਅ ਵੱਲ ਵੱਧ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਤੇਜ਼ ਗਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ. ਪਰੰਤੂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਵਿਚਾਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਰੱਥਨ ਨਾਲ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਜਿਆਦਾ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਣਾ ਮਿਲਦੀ ਹੈ. ਮੇਰੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਿਰੰਤਰ ਸਮਰੱਥਨ ਦਾ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਅਨੁਭਵ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ.
ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਵਿਚਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੜ੍ਹਕੇ ਵੱਖ ਵੱਖ ਚੋਣ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਈ ਸੁਆਲ ਉੱਠ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਅਜਿਹਾ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਨਿਮਨ ਇੰਟਰਵਿਊ, ਜੋ 10 ਮਈ 2009 ਨੂੰ ਨਿਊ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਐਕਸਪ੍ਰੈਸ, ਤਮਿਲਨਾਡੂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਿਤ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ, ਉਹ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਸੁਆਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੁਆਬ ਦੇ ਸਕੇਗੀ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕੁੱਝ ਜੁਆਬ ਜਰੂਰ ਮਿਲਣਗੇ.
ਮਿੱਤਰੋ, ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿਯਤ ਕੰਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਜੁੱਟ ਜਾਣਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਜਰੂਰ ਬਣਾਏ ਰੱਖਾਂਗਾ. ਹੁਣ ਆਗਿਆ ਦਿਓ.
ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਆਪਣਾ
પ્રિય મિત્રો,
આ પ્રકારે આપ સહુ સાથે સંપર્કમાં રહેવાની મજા કંઇક ઓર છે. ચૂંટણીઓનો છેલ્લો તબક્કો પૂર્ણતાને આરે છે, સાથોસાથ વ્યસ્તતા પણ વધતી જાય છે. પરંતુ આપ સહુના પ્રતિભાવમાં વ્યક્ત થતો મારા પ્રત્યેનો પ્રેમ અને સમર્થન મને વધુ બળ આપતા રહે છે અને મને પ્રેરણા પણ આપે છે.હું માનું છું કે આપ સહુનું સતત સમર્થન જ મારી શક્તિ છે.
મિત્રો, આપ સહુના પ્રતિભાવો વાંચ્યા પછી મને લાગે છે કે ચૂંટણીના મુદ્દાઓ વિશે આપના મનમાં વિવિધ પ્રશ્નો ઉઠતાં રહે છે, અને મને લાગે છે કે મારી આ અખબારી મુલાકાત જે તામિલનાડુના ન્યુ ઈન્ડિયન એક્સપ્રેસમાં તા.૧૦મી મે ૨૦૦૯ ના અંકમાં પ્રસિધ્ધ થઈ છે (તેની લીંક અને તે મુલાકાત આ બ્લોગમાં નીચે સંલગ્ન છે.) તે તેના પર જરૂરી પ્રકાશ પાડશે અને આપના થોડા ઘણાં પ્રશ્નોના જવાબો મળી રહેશે.
મિત્રો, ચાલો, હવે મારે મારૂં કામ આગળ ધપાવવું જોઈએ. પણ આપને ખાત્રી આપું છું કે આપની સાથે સતત
સંપર્કમાં રહેતો રહીશ.બસ,આજે આટલું જ...
સૌનો,
प्रिय मित्रो,
इस माध्यम के द्वारा आप से संवाद करना अत्यंत सुख्द लग रहा है.जैसे जैसे हम चुनाव के अंतिम चरण की ओर बढ रहे है और काम तेज गति से चल रहा है. परंतु आप के प्रतिभावों में व्यक्त हो रहे प्यार एवं समर्थन से मुजे अधिक शक्ति और प्रेरणा मिलती है. मेरी शक्ति में आप के निरंतर समर्थन का मुझे अनुभव हो रहा है.
आप के प्रतिभावों को पढकर विभिन्न चुनावी मुद्दो के बारे में आप के मन में कई सवाल उठ रहे है ऍसा में जान पाया हुं.मुझे आशा है कि निम्न इन्टव्यु,जो १० मई,२००९ को न्यु इन्डियन एक्सप्रेस, तमिलनाड में प्रकाशित हुआ था, वह आप के सवालों का हल दे सकेगा और आप को कुछ जवाब अवश्य मिंलेंगे.
मित्रो, अब मुझे अपने नियत कार्य में फिर से जुट जाना है,पर में आप से संपर्क अवश्य बनाए रखूंगा.
अनुमति दीजिए,
आप का
प्रिय मित्रांनो,
या माध्यमातून आपल्याशी संवाद साधणे अत्यंत सुखद वाटतेय. आपण निवडणुकीच्या अंतिम टप्प्याकडे वाटचाल करतो आहे आणि प्रचारानेही वेग पकडला आहे. पण, आपण व्यक्त करत असलेल्या प्रेम व पाठिंब्यामुळे मला अधिक शक्ती व प्रेरणा मिळते आहे. मला प्राप्त झालेल्या शक्तीमध्ये आपल्या निरंतर पाठिंब्याचा अनुभव मला येतो आहे.
आपले प्रतिसाद वाचून, निवडणुकीतील मुद्यांसंदर्भात आपल्याही मनात अनेक प्रश्न आले आहेत, हे मला माहिती आहे. म्हणूनच, १० मे २००९ ला न्यू इंडियन एक्सप्रेसच्या तमिळनाडूतील अंकात प्रसिद्ध झालेली माझी मुलाखत मी इथे देतो आहे. ही मुलाखत वाचून नक्कीच आपल्या मनातील प्रश्नांची उत्तरे मिळतील, अशी मला आशा आहे.
मित्रांनो, नेमून दिलेल्या कामात आता मला पुन्हा एकदा सक्रीय व्हायचे आहे. पण मी तुमच्याशी अवश्य संपर्क साधत राहीन.
आता मला रजा द्या.
आपला
‘After the polls, no party should be your rival’
Narendra Modi is one leader who has risen through the BJP ranks to become the chief minister of Gujarat in October 2001. And to be re-elected in 2003 and ’07. His hardcore Hindutva image curiously contrasts his profile as a development-professing CM. The administrative capabilities apart, Modi has been an fiery orator. The press, with whom his relations have not been too cordial, can’t afford to miss the punch in his speeches. It is one thing that has made Modi one of the most sought-after leaders in his party during the polls this time around. TNSE caught up with Modi in a special aircraft that was taking him to Rajasthan to address a string of rallies.
Modi, for the first time, doesn’t rule out becoming the prime ministerial candidate in 2014. He also explains why the BJP projects Manmohan Singh as a weak PM and how the Congress fears it would not emerge as the single-largest party.
Excerpts:
You recently came up with a curious statement that you have no ambition but only mission. What exactly do you mean by your mission?
‘Indian First’ has been my foremost thought in whatever I do. This is the most important of values the RSS has inculcated in me since childhood. “Work is worship”, “Service to Man is service to God”. Summarise all these, and it becomes my mission.
But then, why should your service be limited only to Gujarat?
If a farmer tills in Kutch, does it mean the produce is meant only for that area? After all, one works only in a particular geographical region. When I work for Gujarat, I am also working for the nation.
Still, why don’t you widen your horizon beyond Gujarat?
See, it’s from the people of Gujarat that I got a mandate and my responsibility is to first work for their well-being. It is against my nature to run around for pelf and position, which I feel is the bane of politics.
Had you been in the Centre, couldn’t the benefits have been better dispersed across the country?
Any chief minister is a part of the Indian Union. Any state’s novel schemes will impact the whole country.
What you mean is a laudable mission will move you up the ladder? And your aim will naturally be fulfilled?
What aim? I have never dreamt or aspired for power. I have a burning desire to do good. And for that, you don’t have to be necessarily in a position of power.
You never aspired to become a CM?
Never.
But when you were offered, you welcomed it.
You will be surprised to know how I became the CM. I used to be in Delhi and had not visited Gujarat for the last six years. One day, I receive a phone call from (Prime Minister) Atal Behari Vajpayee. I meet Atalji, and he tells me I should devote some time in the government not just for the organisation and exhorts me to take up the job of Gujarat chief minister. I first turned down the offer. For one, I had no experience of working in the government. I had never contested polls. Also, I wasn’t conversant with the issues of Gujarat. And state elections were coming. I told him that I’d spend 10 days in a month in Gujarat, revive the cadres and help (then CM) Keshubhai Patel. Atalji pressed his point…it took five days for him to convince me.
So, you finally agreed. Today, the entire party wants to see you as the PM - including Arun Shourie, Arun Jaitley...
No one has said so. In fact, every one of us is sweating it out to make (L K) Advaniji the prime minister…
No, not for 2009, but for 2014.
(Laughs) Who has seen 2014? I only know where I will be this evening. Beyond that I don’t think.
Are you ruling yourself out as PM candidate in 2014?
I will work for whomsoever my party projects as the prime ministerial candidate with all my heart, mind and soul. In 2014 too, my only ambition will be to see my party’s nominee becoming the PM.
Ok, for now, who will form the government this time?
The (BJP-led) NDA will form the government. We will get an absolute majority.
Do you also plan to have an alliance with (AIADMK leader J) Jayalalithaa and Mayawati’s BSP? Are you in touch with them?
We are coming to power with absolute majority. But the BJP’s philosophy is that even if we get a two-third majority, we will take along all parties. In a country of India’s size and magnitude, regional aspirations must be respected. Post elections, one should forget your pre-poll opponents. Else, it’ll be tough to run the government.
What have been the important issues in these elections?
Earlier, polls were confined to the statements of parties but now there is the emergence of a strong section of opinion-builders…even the media. For the people, we have three important poll issues. First is development, second is faith and the third is security. Today, security is no longer a general issue. It touches the life of an individual. The Centre has failed on all these. This is why the people want change.
Aren’t personal allegations vitiating the political atmosphere?
When the BJP talks about a weak PM, it is not about the fitness of Manmohan Singh. What concerns people is whether the PM should be elected or nominated; whether he should come through a democratic process or through the whims and fancies of a dynasty. This is why we are targeting the PM. If he is elected, his confidence level will be high, even people will have faith in him. But if he is nominated, his loyalty will be to the family that did it.
Coming to the 2002 Gujarat riots, what do you have to say about the Supreme Court order?
I don’t want to comment on the judgement…even if it’s in my favour.
Well, will the Centre’s decision to withdraw the Red Corner Notice against Ottavio Quattrocchi help the Opposition in the polls? Do you see Sonia Gandhi’s hand behind this move?
Why do we think always in partisan terms? What we have to see is whether or not it is in the interest of the nation. Currently, there is a debate on the misuse of the CBI. Many contemptuously call it the Congress Bureau of Investigation.
Is Sonia’s foreign origins issue over or will it re-emerge?
The very fact that Sonia is keeping away from the seat of power shows the relevance of the issue.
Is it to keep the chair warm for (party general secretary) Rahul Gandhi that the Congress has named Manmohan as its prime ministerial candidate?
The Congress has realised that its dreams about Rahul haven’t materialised. They thought he’d revive the party in UP. He failed to get the support of the youth too. Hence his party’s change of mind, and the nomination of Manmohan as the PM.
What about (JDU’s) Nitish Kumar? A lot is being said that he could switchover to the UPA after the polls.
What did Nitish say? He merely stated the obvious that the Left is known for certain policies and they always adhere to it. I can say the same thing about other parties, including the Congress. It means nothing. Actually, the Congress is nervous about the poll results and is trying to spread confusion. In our manifesto, we promised ‘one rank, one pension’ for the armed forces. A nervous Congress immediately set up a panel on the matter — in violation of the poll code. Similarly, denial was their first reaction on the black money issue. But, now, people’s anger has forced them to consider the issue, more so after being pulled up by the Supreme Court. In the midst of these, (Delhi CM) Sheila Dikshit floats a test balloon of a possible tie-up with Nitish. All these reflect the Congress frustration.