Nitin Patel, Gujarat’s Deputy Chief Minister, told in an interview to ET that, Patidar agitation was nothing but a tactic adopted by Congress to get some attention and find some place for themselves in Gujarat. He said that when Congress was in power, it totally ignored the Patidar community and now it was supporting the Patidar agitation led by Hardik Patel. This act shows how Congress is playing strategies in Gujarat politics. He further added that Patidar’s of Gujarat are educated and politically aware and very well knows that BJP can promote business and protect land.
During the interview when asked if BJP was trying for non-Patel OBC consolidation in Gujarat after it succeeded in non-Yadav OBC consolidation in UP? Nitin Patel replied that, Yadavs were the main elements of Mulayam Singh’s party and hence were always against BJP in UP. But this was not the case in Gujarat, Patidars of Gujarat have been with BJP since the Jana Sangh days. They were never in favor of Congress as the party always ignored them. He further said that, Congress always played politics by setting one community against another. They never supported the Patidars or the Suvarnas, they were always running politics of backward castes. He also said that Congress never gave a feeling of security or promise of growth to the Patidars. It is BJP that will promote businesses or safeguard properties, both of which are extremely important to the Patidars and they know this.
He further mentioned Modi’s beliefs and said that BJP politics is not based on any particular community. As the slogan says, ‘Sabka sath sabka vikas’, (together with all, development for all), BJP strongly follow Modi’s advice to shun politics of caste and adopt the politics of development.
Speaking about Hardik Patel’s rallies, Nitin Patel said that more than half of the people attending those rallies are not even Patidars. These rallies are just a ploy of the Congress to gain attention and to use the youth of Gujarat. He also said that, BJP never tried to stop these rallies, thinking it to be a way of talking of the young adults. He further added that BJP even fulfilled many of their demands and introduced schemes to give scholarships, increased age bar in recruitment and many more, but than these youth fell in the hands of Congress. It is very clear and everyone knows, how Congress is using these youths to demonstrate and gain attention.
During the interview when asked about his intentions of being the CM of Gujarat, Nitin replied that, he was into politics from the time of Jana Sangh days, even before the party was formed. He said that he became the MLA at the age of 37 and has been a part of the struggle workers had to go through in the eighties. He further added that it was not for ‘satta’ (power), that he was in politics, he was in politics for ‘seva’ (service). The final decisions are taken by the party high command the party president, the PM and parliamentary board and he will do as his party tells him to do, he said.
Also focusing on the implementation of GST soon, Nitin Patel said that the growth rate of Gujarat will jump up. Gujarat is a prosperous state with income and spending capacity more than of other states and therefore will benefit more from GST. He also quoted Modi’s words that, Gujarat is India’s growth engine. The Make in India programme in Gujarat and the policies introduced by the CM are very much appreciated by the investors. Water, electricity, infrastructure are better than that of other states. He further added that with the completion of Narmada Dam, agriculture will also boost and will have its growth rate in double digits. Ten years ago, agricultural produce of the state was worth 9,000 crore, now it has crossed 1,50,000 crore. Farmer’s income has increased, along with growth in services and industries.
Talking about MoUs signed during Vibrant Gujarat, Nitin said that, 70-80% of MoUs signed have been implemented. It takes time foe any project to be implemented, procuring NOCs (no-objection certificates) from various departments, buying land, getting permissions from central government ministries and railways take about three years in normal course of action, he said. Companies such as Honda and Maruti are in production and are employing hundreds of people.
Concluding the interview, Nitin Patel spoke about the effect of demonetisation on Gujarat. He compared demonetisation with building of highway. He said that when a highway is built, people are forced to use a bypass, kaccha roads for a few days, but once it is ready, they cruise on it and forget the struggles it put them through. Same was the case in demonetisation, people went through a little trouble at first but than the uncertainty went by. Now digital payment has become a way of life for many. The Centre is putting systems in place and are making regular announcements and warning defaulters to pay taxes, to come into the system. That is making a difference everywhere and also in Gujarat, he said.