Rahul’s temple run, Cong attempts to spark violence will have no impact: Shivraj

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has charged the Congress with trying to trigger a riot or mass violence in the state by instigating farmers and maintained that AICC President Rahul Gandhi’s opportunistic temple run will have no impact on voters.

‘Congress yeh hi koshish kar rahi ki Pradesh ko hinsa ki aag mein jhoka jaye (Congress is desperately trying to put the state of Madhya Pradesh into a cycle of violence),’ the Chief Minister told UNI during an interaction here on Friday.

“They want some big troubles in the state….some violence and bloodshed. They are continuously doing this. Even now when farmers are taking produces to markets and mandis, they are instigating farmers. They do not want peace in Madhya Pradesh,’ he alleged.

‘Shanti se koi kam na ho, iske liye opposition kisi bhi seema tak jane ke liye tayar hae (To spark off violence in Madhya Pradesh, the opposition Congress is willing to go to any extent),’ Mr Chouhan said, when asked to comment on the peasants’ issues in the state and Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Mandsaur on June 6 to protest the death of six ryots in police firing last year. ‘Such negative politics, such approach to politics is not good’.

To a question on Congress trying to put up a united fight as stalwarts in that party like Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia have been asked to fall in line, Mr Chouhan, who has been in power for the last 15 years said, ‘No election can be won by united face of leaders in a party or even by projecting just a face.

‘I believe elections can be won only by performance. Those who perform will survive in power…..And as far as performance yardstick is concerned, you can make your own independent assessment, BJP will continue to win the confidence of people in Madhya Pradesh and also remain in power,’ he said.

To a question on Congress proposals for organising temple run for Congress President Rahul Gandhi – just as they did in Karnataka and Gujarat – and whether Congress move towards soft-Hindutva is a neo-electoral challenge for him, he said ‘There has to be a big difference between reality and mere showmanship….Visits to temples and other places of worship should come from personal faith, dedication and respect – Sradha- but if we turn this into a drama (natak) then….these will have no impact as people themselves can read through your intentions.

‘Your visit to temples should be guided by Bhavna (commitment and faith)…..Hindutva is Hindutva….It is neither soft nor hard. This is a matter of faith and conviction,’ said Mr Chouhan.

Asked whether BJP’s campaign plank will revolve around Mr Modi’s image or his own (Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s face), the Chief Minister said, ‘Modi’s image is universal. He is the top most BJP leader and therefore, all of us are standing solidly behind him (Modi)’.

The Chief Minister said in terms of preparation for elections, BJP is ready with a roadmap. ‘Performance will be our main plank,’ he insisted, repeatedly.

Meanwhile, during an interaction with a group of party leaders and social workers associated with the BJP Central Governance Cell, Mr Chouhan said, ‘Despite farmers’ distress due to various factors, BJP will continue to get the confidence and votes of the agrarian community in the state. This I am saying because we have worked hard to help farmers and improve their conditions in more ways than one’.

To a question on the kind of ‘impact’ will the ensuing elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have on Parliamentary elections due next year, he said ‘Different issues figure during Assembly elections and Parliamentary polls. I can give you several examples…..In 1993 and 1998, in Madhya Pradesh, Congress came to power, but in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP show was much better.

‘So my take is, the moral of the lesson should be people are very smart and they understand all matters. All elections are different….they decide in their own wisdom who should be in power in the state and who should be in power at the Centre. They lay emphasis on performance in the ultimate,’ Mr Chouhan said.

‘As far as Madhya Pradesh polls are concerned; by and large, people will vote by deciding among themselves who should be in power in the state. And on this I am confident, we will have BJP government yet again,’ the Chief Minister added.