"The alliance between Sena and BJP is a natural one. At the Dussehra rally, Uddhav Thackeray spoke about Hindutva. Which party in India has Hindutva on its agenda-BJP. And after the Hindutva speech, no other party will want to form an alliance with them," said Fadnavis, who completes four years in office on October 31. He will be only the second CM to do so at a stretch after Congress' Vasantrao Naik in 1967-72.
The CM is clearly in poll mode and reeled off statistics to back his claims of how his government has raised the benchmark for governance and delivery. "After 15 years of failure (of the previous government), expectations from my government are high. In some areas we have succeeded and in some, more needs to be done. You cannot change a state in five years, but you can put a state on the path to change and that's what we've done," said Fadnavis, who has completed a review of the performance of his ministers.
Given the quantum of work done by his government, Fadnavis said they would either repeat their performance in the assembly elections or improve on the seat tally. He again promised reservations for Marathas and Dhangars, and said there will be a cabinet expansion before the winter session of the state legislature begins on November 19.
Soon, you will be completing four years in office. Simultaneously, you are preparing for the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls. In view of the stringent criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over key issues of public interest, what will be your poll plank and what will be the outcome of the polls?
A: Our poll plank is very clear. In view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decisive leadership, BJP is sure of a clear victory in the 2019 general elections as well as the subsequent state assembly polls. I am sure we will not only repeat the 2014 performance, but improve it further. The outcome will be a shock and surprise for the opposition parties.
Q: What is the status of the alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena - is it in trouble or on the cards?
A: Ours is not a new alliance, our relations with Shiv Sena are more than three decades old and it is based on the principle of Hindutva. I am confident an alliance will be formed. If arch rivals like Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, Mulayam and Mayawati can join hands, it should not be difficult for BJP and Shiv Sena to contest jointly. As of now, though there are no talks or negotiations in progress, as the elections come closer, the alliance should materialise. In my opinion, alliance between and BJP and Shiv Sena is a political reality.
Q: Are there major differences with Shiv Sena?
A: It's a fact that there are differences with Shiv Sena, but it had no adverse impact on the administration. In the last four years, we worked together and provided a result-oriented administration. In fact, we took several key decisions, which were not taken during the 14-year Congress-NCP rule between 1999 and 2014. There were debates, discussions and differences on major issues, but we resolved them amicably. I am confident that there will be no cracks in the alliance.
Q: NCP president Sharad Pawar and MNS chief Raj Thackeray are coming together...
A: It will have no impact on state politics or the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.
Q: The state is once again facing a drought. How severe is the government's estimate and how are you going to tackle it?
A: In 2013-14, the state received 124% rainfall and food production was 137 lakh metric tonnes. In 16-17, we received 97% rainfall and food production was 223 lakh metric tonnes and in 17-18, rainfall was 84% and the food production was 180 lakh metric tonnes. What this shows is that while the state received less rainfall, our rain dependence has also reduced. The Centre has set very scientific measures to declare a drought and a team will be visiting soon.
Q: In these four years, what has been your government's biggest achievement?
A: The implementation of the Jalyukta Shivar Yojana (water conservation scheme) has been our greatest achievement. We have undertaken construction of five lakh reservoirs and have been able to conserve 24 lakh trillion cubic metre of water, thereby creating irrigation potential for 34 lakh hectares. Productivity has gone up 45%. In Solapur, when the rains were good, 3 lakh hectares were cultivated and when the rainfall was only 37%, the cultivation was still 2.5 lakh hectares. We will now take up well irrigation, which will further increase the irrigation potential.
Q: What is the irrigation capacity in the state today? Also, what is the status of investigation in the irrigation scam which was the BJP's poll plank? Why has no action been taken against former irrigation minister Ajit Pawar?
A: We have brought 40 lakh hectares under irrigation. The Gosikhurd dam, under construction for the longest time, will be completed by December 2019. The Tembu dam in Sangli was completed in 1.5 years.
The irrigation scam is being investigated by the courts and they will give the outcome. As minister (Ajit Pawar), you were either hand-in-glove or incompetent.
Q: Why didn't you attend the bhoomipujan event for the Shivaji memorial? Will the accident have an impact on the project? Was there a need for a bhoomipuja since the PM had already done one?
A: I was told by (Vinayak) Mete (chairman of the steering committee overseeing the memorial) that he wanted to do some puja at the site to mark the start of work. I told him to go ahead, but that I won't be able to attend as I would be in Kolhapur. The boat capsize was an accident as the master of the boat tried to take a shortcut, but this will not hamper the project in anyway and work will go on as planned. There will be no more bhoomipujas.
Q: The government was criticised for the arrest of five activists for their alleged role in the Elgar Parishad before the violence at Koregaon Bhima. Do you think these arrests were justified and what is the evidence against them?
A: These arrests were made on the basis of solid evidence collected over a period of time. We have evidence in the form of letters, electronic evidence, corroborative and even forensic evidence. The people arrested are not saints, these are forces that want to create communal unrest and destablise the country. They will not be part of a riot, but will create a situation for a riot to break out. There are more people on our radar, but there will be no arrests immediately.
Q: What is the government's stand on the demand for a ban on Sanathan Sanstha?
A: There is already a proposal with the Centre regarding the ban on the Sanstha, they (Centre) had asked for additional information which we have furnished. We are assisting the Centre with any information it needs on the proposal. (The proposal favours a ban).
Q: The caste divide is getting deeper. There have been protests by Maratha groups demanding reservation. You have promised to complete all procedure by November 15. Is the plan still on track?
A: The Backward Class Commission has informed the high court which is hearing the Maratha reservation matter that they will submit their report by November 15. We are positive about giving the reservation.
Q: The TISS committee set up to give a report on Dhangar reservation has given a negative report. What is the government doing about it?
A: We have received the report and it is not negative. The report is fairly comprehensive and gives evidence of their backward status and even their different way of life.
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2Jjh6Fs
