Hardik Patel Interview: ‘I imagine folks of Gujarat don’t like BJP, however they don’t vote for Congress as a result of it isn’t competitive’

At the sidelines of a kisan mahapanchayat in Ravapar of Morbi district, he spoke to Leena Misra and Parimal Dabhi on his position within the Congress, affiliation with the PAAS, and plans to contest election at some point. Excerpts

What’s the distinction between Hardik Patel of 2015 and 2021?

Again in 2019 I used to be with no maintain someone and competitive, because it used to be one motion, handiest speaking about reservation. Now it isn’t concerning the group however about well being, training, employment and of the folks, of constructing the party win, of strengthening the candidate and the Congress. However there’s no different alternate, I do the similar issues. Again then with no place, designation we introduced good fortune to the motion. Nowadays, I’ve a place, and with a party, my duty is way larger and I’ve to deliver extra good fortune.

What adjustments have come about in you after becoming a member of the Congress?

I’ve totally assimilated ideology of the Congress. Once I went to prison simply prior to the lockdown, I took with me Jawaharlal Nehru’s ebook (Discovery of India), which the previous PM wrote from prison, an autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi and a ebook on Sardar Patel through (VP) Menon and browse them. So, I’ve understood the ideology of the Congress really well and reside with it.

Why can’t you contest elections?

I’m going through a two-year conviction. If you happen to see my political profession over the past 5 years, you’re going to in finding it awkward. For the closing 5 years, I’ve no longer long gone to Mehsana district. Within the sedition case, the Gujarat Prime Court docket despatched me out of Gujarat and, in the similar case, when I didn’t seem within the classes courtroom, they despatched me to prison. Once I were given bail, it used to be with the situation that I may no longer cross out of the state.
Politically, this can be a harassment, as not one of the instances were withdrawn in opposition to me.

When I used to be 24 years outdated and used to be making ready for my sister’s marriage ceremony in 2017, (West Bengal CM) Mamata (Banerjee) didi referred to as me and stated, ‘Hardik, I wish to ship you to the Rajya Sabha’. I instructed her this isn’t my age. From that day on my temptation for a political place went away.

You stated that until 2014 you voted for BJP

Ahead of 1985, the entire Patidars had been with the Congress. Until 2007, Patels had been aggressively with the BJP. In 2007, when Gordhanbhai (Zadafia) refused to soak up ministership, the Patels were given divided. Sixty in line with cent Patidars joined with the Congress and 40 in line with cent stayed with the BJP. As a result of they got rid of Keshubhai Patel as CM, our circle of relatives stayed clear of the BJP.

Is it true that your father used to be related to Anandi Patel?

Sure. When in 1995-96, Anandiben contested from Mandal (constituency), my father had a trade of submersible pumps for fields. He would roam across the villages and everybody knew him. Some villages in Mandal would no longer even permit the BJP to go into those villages. We had a Commando Jeep. Anandiben got here to my father looking for assist to achieve access into those villages. However my father used to be by no means with the BJP nor did he ever combat elections for BJP.

What’s your equation with PAAS?

Ten or 15 days prior to I joined Congress in 2019, I appointed Alpesh Katheriya (of Surat) the PAAS convenor. Ahead of that 10 in line with cent reservation were introduced for the deficient and center magnificence. My andolan used to be restricted to this call for.

Nowadays, I’m a member of PAAS. However PAAS used to be restricted to the motion for quota, which is now not there. So, the organisation naturally must were disbanded however our folks insisted on holding PAAS until the martyred youths were given justice. It’s herbal then that these days when I’m with the organisation it could possibly have calls for of me. PAAS sought a price ticket from me for Dharmik Malaviya, which I were given cleared. However there have been some native problems, and since I’m just a running president (of the state Congress), I don’t have a mandate. I used to be no longer there in one screening (for tickets), no person requested me right through the price ticket distribution. So, I stated not anything.

Do you assume as a running president you’ll have been concerned?

What’s the party guiding principle, what’s the energy I don’t know. Because the running president you’ll have instructed us that your group is robust in Surat, in Saurashtra. We have now come from a motion. I’ve toured 6,000 villages of Gujarat and I do know the placement at the floor. In Surat, the most important mistake is of our Pradesh (state) leaders. Had they requested me what’s to be achieved, I’d have given them the appropriate recommendation.

They didn’t ask you?

No.

Do you give credit score for 2015 leads to Surat to PAAS?

In 2015. all of the leads to Gujarat, be it of the taluka, district or nagarpalika, mahanagarpalika, used to be handiest on account of the agitation and that the party should settle for. I inform the party leaders over and over that you wish to have to grasp the individuals who have come from the agitation as a result of we’re traveling. Even these days, my excursions are repeatedly on. No longer a unmarried of my excursions were determined through the PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) nonetheless I’m on my ft, as a result of I wish to improve the party, whether or not anyone else does or no longer. They (Congress leaders) could be short of to tug me down, push me and produce me down. Allow them to, I can get up once more. As a result of within the agitation, the BJP would deliver me down and I’d get up. Again and again, I inform the party, that after I joined the Congress, I assumed Congress will make the most of me. Even there I think that my Pradesh top command, the state in-charge (prabhari), has failed. Organise my conferences, I’m in a position to do 25 conferences an afternoon. You inform me ‘from these days it’s a must to do a 500 km padyatra’, assign me one thing, I inform the party over and over, give me some paintings. However utilise me a minimum of in spaces the place I’ve a presence, the place I’ve my group, the place I’ve a community.

A rally through party’s state leader Amit Chavda were given cancelled on Feb 19. Do you assume you’ll have long gone as an alternative?

They requested me if I’d cross only a day prior to. However I had already programmes covered up seven days prematurely. Had they instructed me to start with of the election that it’s a must to do 25 rallies in Surat, this should not have been the lead to Surat. It’s not that i am simply speaking about Surat, additionally concerning the different municipal companies. See, the Congress should do atmamanthan (introspection) and overtly talk up the place they failed, or had been vulnerable. We made a theme track (for campaigning), what number of people heard it? You set out the most productive manifesto in closing 25 years however didn’t take it to the folks. Which chief spoke of the manifesto? See, the 6.five crore folks of Gujarat don’t settle for BJP whether or not someone believes or no longer.

You had been announcing persons are looking to deliver you down…

You (Congress leaders) don’t seem to be establishing any of my occasions. Why are you no longer doing it?

You assume that is intentional?

Conceivable. I’m doing such a lot of conferences, such large crowds come to my conferences, then why don’t you organise my conferences? In case you are the party’s (running) president and you’re a sturdy individual, you inform me cross do 10 rallies. Why are you (Congress leaders) no longer doing this for me?

So, not one of the campaigns for the civic polls had been mounted through the party?

No longer a unmarried one within the closing 10 days.

What number of sabhas have you ever held?

27 (in closing 10 days).

What may well be the explanation? Have you ever taken this factor on your nationwide management?

I don’t do that consistent complaining or making representations. I don’t imagine in complaining, I imagine in proving myself and I’m doing it my manner. Nowadays, I’ve toured Morbi, Rajkot and Ahmedabad districts, I’ve to end up to myself whether or not I’m wearing out the duty given to me through Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, regardless of whether or not I’ve the ability to take choices or no longer.

Did you ever call to mind quitting the Congress?

By no means.

Do you remorseful about becoming a member of it?

No longer one bit. I’ve joined the Congress, whose management made out of Sardar, (Mahatma) Gandhi and Pandit Nehru. This is transparent. The party that used to be led through Subhash Chandra (Bose), Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, that’s the party I’ve joined.

What’s the reason why for AAP profitable in Surat and AIMIM in Ahmedabad?

One of the vital largest causes is the low voter turnout within the municipal company… If the vote casting will increase, we will imagine that it has greater in make stronger of the party in energy. It isn’t that the lower in vote casting method (folks) don’t seem to be in make stronger of the opposition. It method folks don’t just like the party in energy… (With) the results of AAP in Surat and Rajkot, I obviously imagine that individuals of Gujarat don’t just like the BJP, however on the similar they don’t vote for Congress as a result of it isn’t competitive.

AAP used to be aggressively doing programmes in Surat for 2-Three months and folks started to imagine that this party can put our problems forth. And the combat over tickets that took place, folks idea that is how the Congress is. In Rajkot, AAP were given 2d very best vote proportion, it is because for the closing 2-Three months, the party used to be running as an competitive opposition in Rajkot.

Additionally, there’s a idea being circulated that Congress is a party of Muslims and Dalits, which is part of the BJP technique, on account of which Muslims have additionally began considering that no matter folks would possibly say, we don’t seem to be getting the rest from the Congress, (Asaduddin) Owaisi says the similar factor. He handiest speaks in opposition to the Congress, doesn’t talk in opposition to BJP.

If you wish to counter some of these, handiest pop out at the streets and make your heads bloodied, combat in opposition to the folks in energy, be bathed in blood. No longer through telling the SP (superintendent of police), ‘we can stroll that a lot then you’ll detain us’. No. Let the SP do no matter he needs, if it’s a must to march to the governor’s position, then march! Be competitive. For whom are we doing this? for the folks. If we do just right paintings for the folks, they’re going to vote for us. If you happen to do seva (carrier) you’re going to get meva (fruit).

Is there a void felt of Ahmed Patel?

He performed an important position within the nation’s political community, he used to be observed as as regards to Madam Sonia, he noticed a number of covert operations via. Something is apparent that the 219 seat that had been gained (through BJP) uncontested had been through mismanagement. There’s no chief within the state who would now name (a distressed candidate) and say – why do you fear? And if the candidate stated he had no cash to combat the elections in opposition to the tough BJP and so he used to be taking flight, Ahmedbhai would say, ‘Don’t fear, I can inform a couple of leaders that can assist you out’. Those he would take on, maintain the disaster.

Will you contest elections after this two-year conviction length is over?

As a running president, if the party needs to utilise me right through the state for campaigning within the 2022 (Meeting) elections, then I don’t wish to combat the elections. We wish to shape the federal government. However if you happen to don’t wish to utilise me, make me sweat, then inform me, I can combat an election. I’ve no longer come right here to do electoral politics. I’ve come right here to shape a central authority. As soon as this is achieved the whole thing else will practice.

You don’t seem to be as lively on social media as 2015. Why?

The ambience from 2015 to 2017 used to be spontaneous. As an example, if I had a gathering in Morbi, I’d ask anyone to prepare for a Fb reside, folks would do it. However this can be a party tournament. The party has a monetary disaster. It prices Rs 7,000 to have one digicam to do a Fb reside. We don’t seem to be in a position to provide cash to our applicants. Our applicants spend on their very own. However our social media remains to be nice. If I’ve the sources and the cooperation, I will be able to power the BJP loopy. I had not anything (in 2015) and but had pushed folks in energy loopy.

That fire Hardik Patel had prior to, turns out lacking…

Party is a special ball sport.

Is that limiting you?

Completely.

Is it the Congress or the instances in opposition to you?

If I had been fearful of the instances why would I sign up for the Congress? I’d have long gone and sat within the BJP.

Where the place I come from, the BJP would no longer be capable of defeat me, they might take me in as minister.

Has there been an be offering?

No.

What’s your equation with the party management?

I am getting in conjunction with everybody — Bharatsinhbhai (Solanki, former union minister), Amitbhai (Chavda, GPCC leader), Pareshbhai (Dhanani, chief of opposition), Siddarthbhai (Patel, former PCC leader), Arjunbhai (Modhwadia, ex-PCC leader), and Shaktibhai (Shaktisinh Gohil, RS MP). Whether or not they get in conjunction with me or no longer that I don’t know.

Do you assume they really feel insecure?

Why really feel insecure? If in 2022 we shape the federal government, will they make me leader minister? You are going to be the manager minister. However first shape the federal government.

What if you happen to had been the Congress president these days?

I’d excursion the entire state. I’d know the issue of each village. My spokesperson, if he is going to a (media) debate on unemployment he must have the knowledge readily available. If as a state party president, I have no idea all of the nature of Gujarat – the problems of each and every area – I must no longer be president. First, I must paintings to turn into a state chief, then turn into the face (of the party).

Why is the adolescence no longer connecting to the Congress?

Gujarat has 3 types of adolescence. If you happen to take a seat within the Ahmedabad airport for an hour you’re going to see the Gujarat adolescence flying to Canada and Australia to review. He would possibly relax there. The opposite is the only within the villages, who’s handiest enthusiastic about a good training and a central authority activity. The 3rd is the person who is doing his father’s trade, who does no longer maintain the sector.

I imagine that (for them) all of the election is just like the election of the President (American machine). They just have a look at two folks when vote casting, Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Gujarat or India’s adolescence does no longer have a look at who’s the native candidate as a result of he has no figuring out of politics. Even our smallest elections are a call between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi.