‘BJP is harassing, attacking Congress workers… Those who are scared are leaving’: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief

You were appointed the state Congress president after the 2023 Assembly polls. What is the roadmap to rejuvenate the party?

Congress workers are present in every lane and village, but there is a need to synchronise them all. But we did lose the elections and we need to improve. I am not denying this.

I have set a roadmap to develop an ideological, cadre-based organisation. After I took over, there were the Rajya Sabha nominations, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Now, we have the Lok Sabha elections. The process to strengthen the organisation is underway. Workers will be given the right direction. Our party is strong.

One of the reasons attributed to the Congress’s loss was the shifting of the tribal votes to the BJP. In the coming Lok Sabha polls, they will prove to be crucial in your traditional strongholds. How do you plan on tackling this issue?

Tribal and SC voters have understood that the BJP is seeking 400 seats (across the country) to change the Constitution. And I am not saying this, the RSS has said this. BJP MP Anant Hegde said this clearly in front of the nation. They (the people) understand that voting for the BJP means changing Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution.

You were recently seen campaigning with a donation box, seeking funds as the Congress’s bank accounts were frozen. The BJP, meanwhile, is sparing no expense.

In the whole country, we are holding agitation programmes and trying to make the people understand that the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seal the bank accounts of Opposition leaders, file cases against them, send them to jail, and win elections under any circumstance. There is a danger to democracy. Our karyakartas, leaders, and candidates will fight this election with full strength.

The BJP claims that over 16,000 Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh have joined the party…

There are 141 people who were raided by the Income Tax department, Enforcement Directorate and other agencies across the country; 121 of them joined the BJP. This means that the BJP will use any means to harass and attack the Opposition. The BJP is using police to scare booth-level workers.

Those who are scared and greedy are leaving. Those who are brave, committed to the party’s ideology and have patriotism in them are all in the Congress. The BJP talks about thousands of leaders leaving… they are lying.

Many Congress leaders who have left cite as reason the fact that the party’s top leadership did not attend the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. Do you think this factor is hurting the party?

These people (who have left the Congress) are trying to hide their sins and corruption. They need an excuse. The Congress was in power under Rajiv (Gandhi) ji when the locks (of the makeshift Ram temple inside the Babri Masjid complex) were opened.

We then went on to welcome the Supreme Court’s judgment on Ayodhya (awarding the site to the Hindu side). There is no question regarding the belief about Ram. No one can stop anyone from offering prayers at the Ram temple. But dictatorship cannot be part of religious activities. We are followers of Lord Ram and will continue to remain so till our last breath.

Do you think there is a disconnect between the youth and veterans of the Congress in the state. Some leaders are believed to be unhappy with your elevation and claim they were sidelined.

There is no distance between us. If you see my campaigning, you will see the presence of Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Ajay Singh, Arun Yadav and others. I am with everyone in the party.

Was there any friction between Kamal Nath and you over your elevation to the top post…

I went for his nomination rally, made speeches in his support. There are many other programmes that have been planned.

Do you think Chhindwara, Kamal Nath and the Congress’s bastion for years, will be a challenge this time? The BJP is courting leaders, going all out…

The BJP has been saying the same things about Chhindwara for the last 40 years. They can try all they can. But the Congress will win.