Bengal BJP MP interview: ‘Party may be very susceptible … didn’t struggle sufficient all through post-poll violence, employees felt deserted’

Of the seven Meeting seats for your constituency, the BJP misplaced six within the elections ultimate 12 months. Are you insecure in regards to the BJP’s efficiency and converting methods ahead of the overall elections?

The BJP misplaced as a result of deficient candidate variety. Those that were given tickets weren’t even in lively politics. Bengal is a state the place everyone seems to be politically well-informed and has their perspective … If I didn’t have mass strengthen, I wouldn’t have gained. I’ve 165 circumstances in opposition to me. Part of my members of the family have left the state. I’m really not beneath any more or less force however lots of my supporters can not manage to pay for to be in prison. If the party doesn’t struggle, is it imaginable for Arjun Singh to struggle with the federal government right here? The party didn’t struggle sufficient. Many employees felt they have been deserted, 26,000 other folks misplaced their houses in post-poll violence. We now have now not been ready to lend a hand them. So, many misplaced their jobs, you additionally want cash to struggle court docket circumstances.

Will the 2024 Lok Sabha elections be difficult for the BJP in West Bengal?

Organisationally, the party may be very susceptible. It’s obtrusive from what we not too long ago noticed in Asansol, the place the BJP had no agent in 900 polling cubicles. In Bengal, if you happen to don’t have an agent in a polling sales space, then this can be a misplaced struggle as you can not forestall rigging. This is how balloting occurs right here whether or not you deploy paramilitary forces or the army. So far as I’m involved, I will be able to win in 2024, the party does now not topic. I gained the election inside of 15 days of becoming a member of the party (BJP) ultimate time and defeated Dinesh Trivedi, who used to be as soon as the railway minister.

There’s hypothesis that you simply intend to go back to Trinamool.

If I need to sign up for the TMC, no person can forestall me. If I don’t need to, then no person can pressure me to. My struggle for the jute generators is what issues, 21 lively jute unions within the state have unanimously liked my stand.

You’ve got softened your stance in opposition to Mamata Banerjee…

My most effective center of attention is my citizens, just right politicians do this. Many from my party have liked that I’ve raised a voice (for the jute generators). Barrackpore as soon as used to get in comparison to the textile business in Manchester. West Bengal had 62 jute generators. Until 2021-’22, Barrackpore by myself had 20. Now, most effective 14 generators are purposeful.

Professionals say that enjoyable the higher value cap of uncooked jute will get advantages a bit of the stakeholders however now not the cultivators.

The Rs 6,500 in keeping with quintal cap mounted through the Jute Commissioner is forcing jute generators to near as they’re incurring large losses. Marketplace costs are round Rs 7,200 a quintal and they’re pressured to promote at 6,500 a quintal. There must be no value capping in any respect. My query is in case you are in favour of farmers, why are jute cultivators now not receiving subsidies? Why can’t the federal government purchase all of the jute and provides it to the generators? This can be a nexus this is paving the trail for the plastic business to switch jute. The federal government could make the Jute Company even more potent and let it do all of the buying. This may increasingly save each farmers and the generators. The board is these days operating like a white elephant this is of no need. The federal government must permit the Jute Company to mend the fee once a year. The company has workplaces far and wide, it’s not as though it does now not have the infrastructure.

You mentioned the TMC must be extra competitive in this factor. Do you now not endorse what Mamata Banerjee has carried out?

In a gathering on December 13, the Union Textile Secretary requested the Jute Commissioner of India on what foundation he had mounted the Rs 6,500 in keeping with quintal cap. I insist that they unlock the assembly’s mins within the public area. A nexus is at paintings … is there no person to discuss jute mill employees? Why most effective Bengal CM, via your esteemed paper I need to ask the CMs of Assam, Bihar, and Odisha additionally to return in combination by contrast choice of the Jute Commissioner. They must write to the federal government of India about how this choice will kill the jute business. I raised my voice by contrast within the Lok Sabha too. A fact-finding committee must be shaped beneath the management of a retired pass judgement on to determine the goal of the Jute Commissioner.

The state executive in December 2020 beneficial solving the higher cap of uncooked jute at Rs 6,000 in keeping with quintal, which is less than the Rs 6,500 in keeping with quintal value mounted through the Commissioner.

It used to be a short lived choice since the value had shot as much as Rs 9,000 in keeping with quintal in 2020 after Cyclone Amphan during which 60,000 hectares of jute fields have been destroyed and part of the jute crops have been broken. I’m in opposition to Mamata Banerjee, there is not any doubt about that. Having mentioned that, I used to be born in a jute mill house, I’ve lived my complete lifestyles right here. My loyalty lies with them. I discuss in favour of jute employees. I additionally enchantment to Mamata Banerjee to aggressively soak up this factor.

Previous, you accused the Union Textile Ministry of seeking to damage the jute business within the state.

I accused the Commissioner of convincing the minister, who has were given no thought. Piyush Goyal is from the Rajya Sabha. How will he know what occurs in jute generators and the way the field works? The Jute Commissioner is misguiding the ministry in order that jute merchandise are changed with plastic pieces. Our high minister (Narendra Modi) has referred to as for the promotion of jute as it’s eco-friendly.

A couple of other folks declare that your call for to take away the fee cap is for your hobby.

My core citizens are from the jute mill house. I will be able to lose them (if I don’t lift the problem). Didn’t Top Minister Narendra Modi revoke the farm rules? So, this choice too will also be revoked in public hobby. My hobby is proscribed to my citizens. The Centre will have to revoke the Rs 6,500 value cap. Even though I won no reaction from Piyush Goyal, a senior professional has sought a record at the topic. We can ship it quickly.