Intro: Congress candidate from Mandi and Himachal PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh has much at stake in the Mandi elections where he is pitted against BJP rival and actor Kangana Ranaut. In an interview with The Newz Radar Senior Correspondent Munish Sood , the royal scion opens up on what inspired him to enter the fray, the challenges and his plans for the constituency if he defeats the high-profile opponent.
Q: How do you view the Mandi elections and how big a challenge is Kangana?
A: My challenge isn’t Kangana, but the task is to make Mandi parliamentary constituency the number one in the country. During my 15-month tenure as the PWD Minister, I’ve undertaken development works worth ₹3,500 crore, including upgrading 2,700 km of roads. I stood by the people of Mandi during the disaster and now, I’ll fulfill the new role assigned to me with equal dedication. I have a vision for Mandi, aiming to make it a smart city and lead it forward. Preserving Mandi’s historical monuments and constructing tunnels like the Jalori tunnel and the Bhoo Bhoo Jot tunnel will be my priority. It doesn’t matter who my opponent is as my focus is solely on the state’s development.
Q: The BJP is alleging you have been made a scapegoat and pushed into contesting under some conspiracy when Mukesh Agnihotri, Astha Agnihotri and Raghubir Bali all are reluctant to fight? Is it a punishment for siding with rebels?
A: I don’t discuss who decided what. I’ve learned to face challenges from my father and I’m fighting this battle for the party. No one pushed me. Sonia Gandhi summoned me home and ordered me to contest these elections. She said it’s a matter of the party’s prestige and considering her words, I made this decision myself. These elections aren’t about Vikramaditya Singh, but about the dignity of workers.
Q: Pratibha Singh won by a narrow margin against first-timer Khushal Thakur in the last Mandi byelection. How can you be confident about your victory?
Answer: If that’s the case, why was Khushal denied the ticket? By doing so, the BJP has insulted thousands of ex-servicemen in the state, particularly in Mandi. The BJP has ignored the dedicated workers of Mandi and instead fielded a parachute candidate. Even their own people are refusing to vote for them. The BJP has insulted its true leaders like Ajay Rana and Govind Thakur. Is there any guarantee that if Kangana loses, she’ll still stand with the people of Mandi, or will she flee to Mumbai? Is Kangana ready to file an affidavit for this?
Q: You are known for your Facebook posts. You wrote posts targeting Kangana too, after which the actor called you “Chhota Pappu”.
A: I cannot comment on what language she wants to speak. My education is good and I am not sure of hers. I have personally opposed whatever wrong was said or written about her. As far as “beef consumption” is concerned, she herself has admitted to having it. These things are spoken during elections when she herself calls herself the “Queen of Hinduism”. Otherwise, my focus is on issues related to the public.
Q: Your attire, chanting Jai Shri Ram, taking photos with BJP members, praising ministers, don’t you think this raises doubts among people?
A: That’s not true. I am a minister in the state government and in the last one and a half years, I have completed projects worth ₹3,500 crore in the state, which were approved by the central government. I have met central ministers several times and brought funds for my state. What’s wrong in it? We don’t always criticise the central government. Faith and attire can’t be anyone’s monopoly. Lord Ram belongs to everyone and we are all Hindus. BJP can’t certify who is a bigger Hindu and who is smaller. We will show BJP in these elections who the real Hindus are. And secondly, I am the only person from Himachal who was invited to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya because it was Virbhadra Singh who enacted the anti-conversion law in Himachal.
Q: But the BJP says the invitation was not for you but late Virbhadra, and here Kangana was invited. You are inheriting legacy while Kangana has her own identity.
A: This invitation was not from the BJP, but from the temple committee and it’s true that Virbhadra Singh has done a lot of work. We are taking that work forward. I respect Kangana, but there’s no denying that she’s a good actress, but she lacks knowledge and understanding of state politics.
Q: In your speeches, you appeal to Kangana that if she is so close to the Prime Minister, she should bring back from the Centre ₹9,000 crore owed to the state employees. When it comes to your party, during the last one and a half years of the Congress tenure, all development works in Mandi were stopped, whether it’s Sardar Patel University, Shiv Dham or various educational institutions and government offices that were opened in Mandi?
A: No, that’s not true. The Jai Ram government started many projects during its tenure without any budget, which were not feasible to continue in this government. The university was started with a mere ₹10 crore. Any new university requires a provision of ₹400-500 crore. The state was also left with a debt of ₹80,000 crore. But I assure the people that whatever deficiencies are there will be rectified soon.
Q: Mandi people believe that the Virbhadra family is a political family that only comes to ask for votes and then doesn’t see them for five years. How do you expect votes from Mandi?
A: During the disaster who went to Panchvakhtar temple, Pandoh temple, Thunag, Banjar, Bhambala, Bali Chowki, Sainj and Sarkaghat and who was with people in their pain and suffering? We went everywhere, me and MP Pratibha Singh, and provided relief to the people. Instead, tell me, where was the BJP candidate then? If she says that Mandi is her family, then she should come to meet her family members more often.
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