The Rediff Interview/O Rajgopal

'If we work in tune with our national culture, our nation's progress can be better ensured'

Your party has become an untouchable to other parties.

They keep themselves untouchable (laughs). The political parties consider us untouchables, but people take us to their hearts. That is evident from the growing public support for the BJP, in spite of the consistent opposition from the other parties.

Recently, some senior BJP leaders stated that regional parties cannot be ignored now as the political scenario has changed with the weakening of the Congress at the Centre. So, are you going to have some understanding with regional parties?

We don't rule out any coalition with regional parties. Even now the BJP has four or five partners in many states. In Andhra Pradesh, Laxmi Sivaparvathi's Telugu Desam Party is coming nearer to us. Similar developments can take place in other states also.

Earlier, the BJP had the reputation of being a very disciplined party. But now wherever you are in power, you have dissidents and there is indiscipline in the party.

That is the problem of growth. As the party grows, there will be more and more such problems. We have to learn to tackle it. It can be done.

You might have noticed that the youngsters of today are very cynical. It is the political system that is mainly responsible for this attitude. There is no patriotism, only cynicism. Has the BJP any plans to change this trend?

You are pointing your out a very basic issue facing the nation. And the BJP is very conscious about that. Whatever may be the grievance or complaints about the BJP, nobody can say that the BJP is not a nationalist or a patriotic party. If there is any party in which the sentiment of patriotism is predominant, it is the BJP.

I do not know whether you heard any of Advaniji's speeches during the rath yatra. He has been stressing on a few aspects. Number one, there should be a corruption-free government. Only it can deliver goods. At the people's level also, there should be change. To achieve the change that he described, two aspects should be given importance. One, instilling patriotism. Two, instilling discipline.

Only a disciplined and patriotism nation can go forward in a big way. He specially pointed out two countries, Israel and Japan. The basic reason why these two nations reached the top was patriotism and a sense of discipline in the minds of the common people. If these sentiments are instilled in the minds of the common people of India, by setting ourselves as examples, India can become one of the topmost countries in the world.

Even after fifty years of independence, India still cannot provide one square meal a day to 35 per cent of its population.

38 per cent.

How can the BJP change their lives?

This again is a problem connected to the basic problem of corruption. It is not because of the failure of any programme or plan as such. Like Rajivji pointed out, when the central government spends Rs 100 for a project, the actual amount spent is only Rs 15, the rest is swallowed by other people. He said that in 1985. Now the corruption scale will be much more.

So, there is nothing wrong with the Congress's plans.

I don't say there is nothing wrong. The failures in the economic front is mainly because of the flaws in the planning and the corruption of the rulers. This is what happens when whatever money that is given for cattle is swallowed by the Laloos.

Why does the BJP drag religion into politics? Is not religion very personal?

Yes, personal

The concept of god is also very, very personal.

There are some people who do not believe in god also. There should be place for them too.

Yes, there should be place for atheists also. But the BJP is accused of using religion to get votes.

No, we don't want to use religion. But you have to remember one thing. We have a 5,000-year-old civilisation. It has its soul distinct in nature. And if we work in tune with our national culture, our nation's progress can be better ensured. It is better to remember what Vivekananada said, 'If you want to teach the people of India politics, economics or anything, we have to speak to them in the language in which they understand.' That means, the language of religion or spiritualism. It is not against this religion or that religion.

When people like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and other leaders with a Western orientation spoke to Indians in a liberal language of the West during the freedom struggle, people were not concerned. But when people like Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi spoke in their language, they understood. They organised Ganesh Utsava to inculcate the feeling of love for the country.

Is that the reason why the BJP is using religion -- to reach people?

Not religion. When we say, 'Rama is our national hero and his birthplace was conquered by foreigners and let us get it back,' it creates a feeling of nationalism and patriotism and love for our tradition in the minds of people. It is not against any religion. We are only reminding people of their own heritage. When I say I love my mother or wife, it does not mean that I hate another man's mother or wife. It is a positive concept.

One last question: The talk is that the BJP is funded liberally by Hindus living abroad. Is it true?

Not at all. It is true that a large number of Indians who are living abroad have great love and regard for the BJP. That is because any Indian living abroad will have a better view of the country from outside as one piece. When you go to the USA, you are an Indian and not a Keralite or a Tamilian or a Marathi. This national feeling comes naturally to the people who live outside India. So, they have a better appreciation for the BJP than the other parties. Some of them come and take part in our programmes also. Otherwise, the BJP is essentially self-funding. Every worker of the party has to contribute to the party.

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