BJP first spread hatred, now appropriating Vande Mataram to further its design: Renuka Chowdhury (IANS Interview)

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government on Wednesday, accusing it of instigating communal sentiments through devious means and said that its tall claims over the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ was nothing but part of the plan to further its divisive politics.

The Former Union Minister, in an exclusive conversation with IANS, spoke on a range of issues including how the pressing public issues were being pushed to the backburner while the government keeps pointing fingers at the Opposition over its own failures. She also reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Dimagi naxal’ remarks, controversy pertaining to Independence Day celebration at Congress headquarters.

Below is the full interview:

IANS: On PM Modi’s “dimagi naxal” remarks during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, what do you have to say?

Renuka Chowdhury: By making such claims, he is admitting that those who are on the opposite side have brains. About him and his party, I can’t say anything, but the fact that such false narrative is being spread is a matter of regret. We are celebrating the 80th anniversary of freedom, and on Independence Day, he is making such remarks from such a big stage. Making such mean comments about countrymen shows his own thinking.

There was a time when former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh spoke on the Independence Day. We used to listen to such big personalities on I-Day, and our mothers used to make us listen to them. But nowadays, mothers have to shut their children’s ears.

IANS: On the Vande Mataram row, it has been alleged that Sonia Gandhi tried to stop the full song at the Congress headquarters. What would you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: This is the politics of allegations. Such remarks are being made to divert attention from the real issues. What about the real issues? What about the future of students? What about the NEET paper leak issues? No BJP leader or the Prime Minister addresses those issues.

They are trying to hide their own failures and trying to show people that the Opposition is bad and they are good. What Sonia Gandhi said, has anybody heard it? I am asking, did anybody hear it? No. We know what she said, but they are just making allegations based on signs. There is no befitting reply to their baseless allegations. It is a waste of time even getting involved with them.

IANS: Kangana Ranaut has said that Congress is worse than Pakistan in terms of patriotism. What do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: Nobody gave a script to Kangana, and nobody told her the history. At the RSS headquarters, the Tricolour was never hoisted. They never mentioned Vande Mataram till date. Suddenly, they are trying to show people that they are true patriots.

They are trying to reverse well-thought-out and well-planned decisions of great people like BR Ambedkar. They are trying to alter those things. To spread hatred, they are stretching the Vande Mataram issue.

IANS: Do you think the Vande Mataram full-song issue will ignite a political or Hindu-Muslim issue?

Renuka Chowdhury: When this decision was made, the reasons were different, but today why they are stretching this, God knows. Even Ram Lalla is disappointed with them; the theft was done with Ram Lalla too. The way they are trying to do “Shuddhikaran” in Haldwani after great leader Kharge ji visited the place shows their small mindset. It is condemnable.

I am a Hindu and proud of my religion, and I believe my religion can move forward together with every religion. But these people have such small thinking. Who is trying to do “shuddhikaran” of a place just after a Dalit leader, who is a Dalit by birth but also a well-educated and great leader, visited there? He is even better educated than them. These people carry false documents to Parliament. Look at their thinking. It is shameful. These people who are enemies of Dalits are ruling today.

IANS: HD Kumaraswamy has said Sonia Gandhi disrespected Vande Mataram because she has Italian blood. What do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: This is what happens with the daughters-in-law. Their blood is questioned in this way. Even if you spend your whole lifetime, brides are treated this way. Kumaraswamy ji, after all the education you have, this is the kind of thinking you hold? Tell me, what is your blood type?

IANS: At a Congress event, when Italian PM Meloni’s name was mentioned, how appropriate was it?

Renuka Chowdhury: We did not respect or disrespect any woman. It was our Prime Minister who did. He reached there with a packet of chocolate and was happy on social media in front of large number of followers. It was started by Prime Minister Modi in front of the whole world.

IANS: On the Ram temple donation embezzlement issue, the SIT report has come and Champat Rai’s name was not there. What do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: We already knew. Small individuals will be punished, and big names will be saved. This work was conducted for a hundred days. Real silver was stolen, and fake silver was put there. I remember there was a TV serial in which a bank was looted, and nobody had any idea. Today, all temples are being built so that we can loot, and they think Ram ji will stay there and nobody will ever know. But they forgot that Maryada Purushottam Ram cannot be played with. They will face the consequences.

IANS: Nishikant Dubey repeatedly attacks Nehru and the Gandhi family in the House. What do you have to say?

Renuka Chowdhury: All these measurements are shown by the Prime Minister. The more they speak about the Gandhi family, the more their marks will increase. The Cabinet is going to be reshuffled, and they are trying to grab a position. They will keep saying this, but it does not make the Gandhi family weak. The more they speak, the more strength it will give us.

IANS: What do you say about the 2029 elections? Will Rahul Gandhi be the Prime Minister?

Renuka Chowdhury: Did Rahul Gandhi ever mention this himself? No. Whatever he does, he does for the country, and the nation will decide.

IANS: Rahul Gandhi has said that when his party comes to power, a few people will not be spared. What is he trying to say?

Renuka Chowdhury: Leaders of my age have till date never seen any leader who walked from Kashmir to Kanyakumari on foot and saw the country. Such a thing happening again will take generations. If Rahul Gandhi is saying anything, he is speaking after thinking. Those people should worry.

IANS: What future do you see for the “Cockroach Janata Party”?

Renuka Chowdhury: In a democracy, we cannot predict anything clearly. Nobody ever thought that one line from a court would form such a party. This is the beauty of democracy. What will happen next, you cannot predict. I see, and I want the youth voice to remain strong.

IANS: Mamata Banerjee’s and Uddhav Thackeray’s parties have broken up, and MPs have joined the BJP. What do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: When one is terrified using the EC, ED and such instruments of democracy, which were supposed to be for the people, just the vote is left; other things are being removed by this BJP government. We will see what is being done in the future.

IANS: There are organisational changes in the BJP, in which Amit Malviya was removed as BJP IT cell chief, what do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: This is their internal matter. Why should I waste my time?

IANS: Smriti Irani has been brought back into the BJP’s newly formed team. What do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: Good thing. A woman has been given a position back; I am happy. She is a talented woman, and she was removed wrongly earlier. She has been brought back, so it is a good thing.

IANS: On the Jharkhand government agreeing to students’ demands, what do you say?

Renuka Chowdhury: Chief Minister Soren is a perfect leader. He will take the required steps. I don’t need to give any suggestions. Rahul Gandhi ji took very helpful steps, and students were raising their voices. As I said, this is the beauty of democracy.

IANS: US President Donald Trump has hailed the Indian electoral system. How do you see this?

Renuka Chowdhury: If we are getting happy just because of one foreigner’s comment, Trump gave us a certificate and we are getting happy? They have put such heavy tariffs on us. What is the reason for happiness? America gave women the right to vote, very late. We have had this right from the initial days of our nation.

If you stop obeying them and straighten your spine, then you will get to see that the West needs to learn a lot from us. What Indira Gandhi already did, Pandit Nehru showed them, Lal Bahadur Shastri stepped into this, and when Narasimha Rao showed them up. These people today know nothing; they have never read history.

–IANS

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