Lok Sabha elections 2019: ‘Income tax raids meant to create atmosphere of fear,’ says Kamal Nath

“BJP is so bankrupt that it couldn’t find a candidate for Bhopal [from its own leaders]. They are trying to cause a division in society. After all, what kind of political or administrative experience does Pragya Thakur have?” said Kamal Nath

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath is donning several hats in this election season. A chief minister who has to steer his party against a strong rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the general elections, a father who has to ensure victory for his son Nakul in the family’s pocket borough, Chhindwara, and a politician preparing to face an assembly by-poll. In an interview, the top Congress leader spoke on a range of topics, including election issues and the income tax raids on his close aides earlier this month. Edited excerpts:

In an interview, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath spoke on a range of topics, including election issues and the income tax raids on his close aides earlier this month. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT Photo)

I don’t think there are different issues. Issues are same but it’s my first experience to face an election for state assembly. I had 75 days to work out of 102 days in government when the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls came into force. People of the state are witness to what the state government has done. Hence, there is support of people in both the elections.

My advice to him was to gain the trust of the people and then turn it into their faith. Their generations have voted for me (in the past 40 years) and I wish he is going to do the same thing. As far as my remark is concerned, I said that in jest.

All the opposition parties have one objective today which is to defeat the BJP. What I said was, if there was going to be a hung Parliament all the opposition parties should sit together and discuss the way out [to form government].

The opposition parties should sit together [after the results].

There is no discontent. Our promise was to waive loans up to Rs 2 lakh per head. If a farmer has got a loan, of say about Rs 60,000, he cannot be given Rs 2 lakh. We have started the process and out of 47 lakh farmers eligible for the loan waiver, loans of 21 lakh farmers have been waived.

BJP is so bankrupt that it couldn’t find a candidate for Bhopal [from its own leaders]. They are trying to cause a division in society. After all, what kind of political or administrative experience does Pragya Thakur have? She doesn’t have any political or administrative experience except her divisive stand. BJP is trying to polarise the voters but they have failed.

She [Pragya Thakur] stands exposed. People of Bhopal are not foolish that they don’t understand such things. They have never seen her. Suddenly she arrives and starts attacking with her statements on Babri Masjid, uniformed soldiers etc. It will not work.

They have to keep their morale high. That’s why they have to say all these things.

I am the CM. There is no other CM.

Whatever they have seized, they have seized from some people [like Ashwin Sharma] who I don’t know. But they [the income tax department] are saying these people are connected with Kamal Nath. This is a falsehood. This is only to create an atmosphere of fear among people but they are badly mistaken.

No, it’s not a quid pro quo. The inquiry on e-tendering was ordered by the previous government. Only the FIR has been lodged now.