Youngest BJP MLA, Harsh Sanghavi, says Modi brought peace & harmony after 2002 riots; BJP has worked for Muslims in the state.
Surat: At 32, Harsh Sanghavi, BJP MLA from Majura in Surat, is the youngest MLA of the Gujarat legislative assembly. Sanghavi, also the vice president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, spoke to Associate Editor Ruhi Tewari about his party’s plans to counter anti-incumbency, Rahul Gandhi’s campaign, why the BJP still needs to fight elections in Modi’s name, and the 2002 riots. Edited excerpts:
BJP has been in power in the state for 22 years. How can the party tackle the anti-incumbency that would have naturally set in?
There is no anti-incumbency. In the last 22 years, the rate of development of Gujarat has been better than that of other states. There is safety, security. Women can be out even at 2 am. As far as farmers are concerned, water has reached farms even in areas like Kutch. Even in the area of electricity, the government has done very good work. There is no other state where employment opportunities have been created for the youth in such numbers. Nobody can deny that there has been development in Gujarat.
Demonetisation and GST have angered the business and trading community. How will you address that, especially in Surat which is a textile and diamond hub?
Demonetisation was a historic decision. People in Surat are very wise and they can see the PM took a decision on his own in the interest of the country. I agree that in GST there was a need to bring in some changes and many businessmen had some difficulties. But after each GST council, decisions have been taken to help businessmen. There are some more issues in GST in which solutions are needed, and will be brought in.
The big issue the BJP is facing here is the Patidar agitation. Much of the youth from the community has turned against the BJP and is with Hardik Patel. As a youth leader, how do you think the party can handle this?
Every community has a right to put forth its views in front of the government. But there is a way to it. You can’t support a political party in the name of your community in a managed fashion. We can see what is happening and being done in the name of the Patidar community. But this community has had a unique relationship with the BJP for many years. The maximum development of Patidars has happened under BJP’s rule and BJP’s maximum growth has happened with the support of this community. The Congress attempt to divide the society ahead of elections has failed.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has campaigned extensively in Gujarat this time. He has got a lot of traction on social media. How do you view the Congress campaign?
I don’t agree with the social media bit because it’s based on paid retweets and paid likes. In the last many years, Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in various state elections for the Congress but hasn’t met with success anywhere. What has struck me in Gujarat is that he campaigned in four zones of the state. However, his speech was the same whether he was addressing farmers, traders or youth. His speeches end and begin the same way. He came to Gujarat with a scripted plan. I believe Rahul Gandhi never had traction in Gujarat and never will.
After PM Narendra Modi’s move to the centre, is there a leadership vacuum in the state? Why is the BJP still fighting the election in his name?
When there are elections in the UK, their candidate works in Modiji’s style. When there are elections in the US, Trump uses Modiji’s name during his campaign. Modiji is Gujarat’s son, was the CM for many years and brought in development. Many MLAs like me joined politics inspired by him. It’s natural that when we campaign in our constituencies, we will talk about the work done by him as CM and PM. BJP is a cadre based party, there is no leadership crisis in Gujarat.
How many seats do you estimate the BJP get this time?
Our slogan is 151 seats and we will cross that.
You were quite young when the 2002 riots happened. Do you think Gujarat’s youth voter has forgotten the riots and it is no longer a political/election issue?
The 2002 riots were not one sided. Clashes between two communities have happened in several states. But whenever BJP is in power in a state, riots there will be talked about in the media for many years. Such riots have happened under Congress governments in states in the past but they are never talked about. Riots did happen in Gujarat, but the state government worked towards unity in the state and Modiji brought in peace and harmony.
Why do Muslims not vote for the BJP then?
This election looks different. If there are elections in Kerala, Rahul Gandhi visits mosques. In Gujarat, he has been visiting temples. But we don’t believe in such politics. We have worked in favour of Muslim women, whether it’s on triple talaq, or their safety…This time, the Muslim community will also be in BJP’s favour.