Actor Prakash Raj, set for a political debut, says farmer loan waivers are a sham. He has allied with AAP and picked a BJP bastion for his poll fight.
Bengaluru: For an actor known for his sheer versatility, having showcased his craft in five Indian languages, Southern superstar Prakash Rai, better known as Prakash Raj, is preparing for arguably his toughest role yet.
The outspoken actor, who announced on 1 January that he would contest these Lok Sabha elections from the Bengaluru Central constituency, is now setting his poll house in order.
His swanky new election office, a stone’s throw from the famous UB City Mall in the heart of Bengaluru city, has Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and other volunteers milling about.
“Yes, the AAP workforce is working in the office. They are wonderful, strong and they’re on the ground,” says Raj in his first freewheeling interview since announcing his candidature. “This communal politics by the BJP cannot be stopped by me alone.”
Raj has forged an alliance with the AAP, which has instructed its cadre to provide ground support to his political team in Bengaluru. The actor, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says he decided to ally with the AAP as he felt his ideology matched with that of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whom he met on 10 January.
The actor, however, is clear on one aspect of politics. “Anybody who is secular can support me but don’t try to take away my identity by asking me to join a party,” he told ThePrint.
Also read: Modi-critic Prakash Raj is the latest actor who wants to try his hand at politics
‘Standing up to authority’
Raj explains his entry into politics saying that the time has now come for politicians in the country to know that they are accountable to the people.
Over the past year, the actor has been openly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP and feels that his candidature will help people raise their voices and question the highest authorities without fear.
“It is not about PM Modi. Who is he? After six months he will just be another MP,” Raj says. “They (BJP) have the arrogance to say that they’re going to be here for 50 years. Who are they? The citizens of this country will decide.”
The actor further emphasises that his opposition to Modi is not personal.
“We did like him when he was elected. It is not that we hated him when he came. But what happened to the jobs he promised? What about the agrarian crisis and demonetisation?” Raj asks. “When GST was implemented, we said it was badly planned. We did not say it was wrong. They changed it over 200 times.”
The budding politician accuses the BJP of experimenting with people’s lives with its decisions. “We need solutions. We need a scientific temper. The damage has been done,” he says
An uphill task
Raj’s choice of constituency, Bengaluru Central, is a curious one.
For one, despite being a closely contested seat every time, the BJP has held it for the past 15 years. But it is the other aspect of the constituency that Raj says has drawn him to it.
Bengaluru Central is an eclectic mix of urban and Below Poverty Line (BPL) voters and consists of Telugu, Tamil and Kannada speaking populations. It also has a sizeable Muslim presence.
“I did not choose Bengaluru Central because I was born here but because it is a mini India for me. There are Muslims, Christians, Dalits, Hindus and also there are Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu speaking people,” he says. “They have not just seen me as an actor. They have also seen how I have put my foot down on social issues. I am beyond an actor for them.”
Also read: Bollywood hasn’t offered me a role since I started speaking out against Modi: Prakash Raj
On farmer loan waiver and Sabarimala
Raj says that his priorities if he is elected an MP, would be to look at the way policies are being implemented in the country.
Claiming that the farm loan waiver scheme is nothing but a sham and an appeasement ploy, he says that it has caused more damage to farmers. “We need to empower our farmers. Why don’t you bring in cold storages and agricultural colonies?” he asks. “Agricultural crisis is not just about farming. It has many other issues such as education and health issues of the farmer. It is not just about water or rain.”
Noting that unemployment is a huge problem today, Raj credits Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, or KCR, for taking concrete steps to address it.
KCR has done a great job by providing sheep to farmers and in four years, the state has stopped importing sheep and begun exporting it, he says adding that it is the kind of model that creates employment.
On the Sabarimala issue, he accuses of all parties are playing with people’s emotions.
“In my recent interviews, I have clearly said that Mr Pinarayi Vijayan (the Kerala chief minister) could have been more cautious but other parties are playing politics. Everybody has their own agenda,” he says.