United or divided Congress, nothing to affect BJP campaign: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, CM, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told ET in an interview that his image of a common man and his work in the state would help BJP sail through in the assembly election. Excerpts:

How do you plan to overcome anti-incumbency of 15 years in this year’s assembly polls?
Social welfare and development have been part of the roadmap since my government took over and that is exactly what I have focused on. The state of MP in 2003 was extremely different from the MP that exists now. There was no water, no electricity, no roads. Today we have electricity 24 hours and the best roads can be found here. Forty lakh hectare of lands get covered under irrigation — that was unthinkable a few years ago. The success story of MP government’s schemes is unparalleled in history. Our focus is clear — we are proud of the work we have done in the state and we will continue in that direction.

Congress leader Kamal Nath has said that it is time for you to take rest now…

(Laughs) His problem is that he thinks working non-stop is out of the ordinary. But that is what common people do. People who come from big families with resources won’t understand that. Hence, working for people without taking a break looks unnatural to them. I am a common man from a humble background. All that we know is to work to survive. People from big families will not understand what it is to be a common man. I do because I am one.

How do you view Kamal Nath’s appointment as Congress state president and that of Jyotiraditya Scindia as the party’s campaign in-charge?
A divided Congress or a united Congress — nothing really will affect BJP’s campaign, which will focus on development. It is just that it looks as if they are fighting to create their own empires — Kamal Nath sarkar, Jyotiraditya sarkar, Digvijaya Sarkar, etc. That is what is amusing but it is their internal matter, so I wouldn’t want to comment on it.

Do you welcome the decision to appoint Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar as the chief of the BJP’s campaign committee in the state?
Yes, indeed. He headed the party here for two terms and several people fought and won elections under his guidance. He has a lot of experience in managing election work. He is also known for taking people along. As I will be busy campaigning, he and the state party president and their team will make the necessary arrangements for the organisation and take care of the election campaign. I see the appointment as a positive development.

Why has Madhya Pradesh decided to recognise gurukuls on a par with regular schools, the only state to do so?
It is important to be rooted. I believe learning about ancient Indian values and heritage will help us become better as a society. What is wrong in taking pride over what is ours? Our culture has enough examples where it is proved to have taken education beyond literacy. I am only trying to reinstate that pride for our ancient customs and teachings in the state. Only value-based education can make our children better human beings. Skill development and best agricultural practices that we talk about now were already taught as part of gurukul education. That is why we have announced that gurukul education will be seen on a par with mainstream education.

How would you respond to criticism that you have been trying to appease Hindu groups by according minister of state status to sadhus and holding programmes such as the Shankaracharya programme and the Gurukul Sammelan?
People say what they want to but everyone knows I have respected all faiths. We recently had a big celebration on Buddh Purnima. Before that it was for rozas and for Christmas too. Even Khsamavaani or Jhulelal jayanti is celebrated with much fanfare in the state. These festivals are also celebrated in the chief minister’s house where believers from across the state come in large numbers. MP has been a symbol of ‘sarva dharma sambhav’ (harmony of all religions). Every religion has found a place here and everyone lives safely here.

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to your government over reports that newly recruited police constables had been marked with ‘SC/ST/OBC’ on their chests…
It is absolutely condemnable. I have asked for the strictest action against the offenders. Even before the notices came, we asked for the names of the people involved in this. We will make sure that those responsible for this will not get jobs anywhere else in the state.