‘Leader of Oppn’ Vishwanath hits out at Bajrang Dal, VHP

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

News Trail: Why are you angry with the BJP?
AH Vishwanath: I am not angry with the BJP government but I am upset with extraconstitutional authorities like Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat (RSS leader). Who gave them the power to act like the government? Be it the hijab row or the removal of chapters on Tipu Sultan from textbooks, what right do they have on these issues? The incumbent government is not that of the Bajrang Dal or VHP.

NT: Why has the government been silent on these extra-constitutional authorities?
AHV: Nobody is talking, neither the CM nor any minister. The CM & ministers cannot be silent spectators when these extra-constitutional authorities take up such issues. Did we give you (BJP) the chance to come to power for this? It was not the people who gave you power, you (BJP) did not have the minimum number of seats to form the government after the polls (in 2018). The BJP came to power in 2019 with the help of people like us.

NT: The three political parties have taken three different stands. While the Congress has taken the side of the minorities, the BJP has decided to stand by the Hindus and the Janata Dal (Secular) has not taken either side. What’s your opinion?
AHV: The actions of all three political parties are focused on votes. Each leader must be wondering how many votes he can get by adopting a particular stance.

NT: Is this trend common when the state is gearing up for the 2023 Assembly polls?
AHV: Maybe...but before the Assembly polls they need to work out their strategies. What they are doing now is not in a positive sense and will boomerang on them.

NT: Can the BJP come back to power riding on the back of these issues?
AHV: It adopted similar strategies in the past but did it come to power in the state? Has the BJP ever come to power on its own? First they came to power with the help of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, then they came to power with our help. The voters of Karnataka have never given a clear mandate to them. It is not good to adopt such tactics to get the people’s mandate.

NT: Has the CM been given a free hand to deal with VHP and Bajrang Dal?
AHV: Unfortunately, others are pushing the CM aside and taking decisions on their own without consulting or taking the C M into confidence. Basavaraj Bommai is a good man and wants to take all along with him. But he has to prove his mettle. As an administrator who has constitutional power, he must show to the people that he will not succumb to any pressure.

NT: Are the hands of the CM tied preventing him from taking action against right-wing organisations?
AHV: Every party has a high command except for the JD(S) and the high command controls everything.

NT: By taking up the cause of minorities, can the Congress Party return to power in the state?
AHV: It is quite difficult for Congress too. If the present situation continues, there may be another ‘khichdi  sarkar’ with no clear mandate for any party.

NT: Are the 16 MLAs from the Congress and JD(S ) who joined the BJP in 2019, happy now?
AHV: I don’t know who is happy or who is sad. I am happy with the attitude of our CM but not with his administration.

NT: Will you demand a ban on Bajrang Dal and VHP for trying to divide society on caste and community lines?
AHV: I am not seeking a ban on these organisations but they adopt extra-constitutional powers. The RSS has been interfering in the functioning of the government. Different wings of political parties like the Youth Congress, Women’s Congress and the trade union of the Congress do work to take the message of government programmes to the people when the Congress is in power but they do not interfere like the VHP, Bajrang Dal or RSS do in the functioning of the BJP government.

NT: In the next one year, should the BJP government focus on development or on polarising issues like hijab. halal