We say Chowkidar Narendra Modi is Chor, not all Chowkidars — Jharkhand Congress president Ajoy Kumar 

Giridih/Ranchi: The President of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee, Dr Ajoy Kumar has donned many hats. The 56-year-old Congress leader has been a doctor then an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and now a politician. Kumar had become Member of Parliament from Jamshedpur seat on his very first election.  However, in the ongoing 17th Lok Sabha election, he is not contesting as a candidate. He is leading the Congress, in Jharkhand, which has got 7 out of 14 seats in mahgathbandhan (grand alliance). He accompanied former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi to Giridih. Marandi filed his nominations for Koderma parliamentary seat.

eNewsroom did an exclusive interview of Dr Kumar to know what will be the elections issues for Congress in Jharkhand – will it be Rafale scam controversy, mob lynching or hunger deaths in Jharkhand. How he will deal with the opposition Kirti Azad is facing for his candidature from Dhanbad, will the party keep using Chowkidar Chor Hai slogan even after BJP moved to Supreme Court over Rahul Gandhi’s comment, and how party will deal with the fact that not a single candidate from minority community has been field either by Congress or other partners of Mahagathbandhan. Following are excerpts of the conversation:

eNewsroom: Will Rafale controversy, which has taken a new turn with the Supreme Court rejecting Narendra Modi government’s request of not considering leaked document as an evidence, be the focal point for the Mahagathbandhan or Congress in Jharkhand?

Dr Ajoy: When the Supreme Court has said that the documents which were published in The Hindu newspaper can be seen as evidence. Since the way Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are escaping to show the document to court. Rafale’s corruption story is based on four to five important facts. The project has been given to such a company whose Rs 7000 to 8000 waive by the France government immediately after it. Leave aside aeroplane, you have given the project to such a company which doesn’t even manufacture a needle. You are giving it to such a company which has no prior experience, did not given to Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).

Besides these, we have suspicion that in the electoral bond which has been kept confidential. Companies are giving 1000 crores to parties but the names are not being made public and is being kept confidential. One gets receipt for donations made above Rs 20000, but 100 crores donations are being kept confidential during the BJP era. All these game are being played on the basis of money only.

I don’t know whether you know or not, that five airports have been given to Adani, even after implementation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). So in every sense, PM works for the super-rich people.

I think Rafale is a big issue, but the biggest issue is the war on poverty. Rahul Gandhi has shown the commitment before the country. When Rs 6000 will go to the account of women every month then there will be no poor in the country then. There will be a major shakeup in the Indian economy. It will really save poor. But BJP spokesperson says, “If poor get the money, then who will wash their car and who will do labour works, where will we get cook and cleaners?” In foreign, the owners themselves wash their cars, and you will keep poor people for it? The very comment indicates that they want to keep poor that way only. It is the mentality of RSS and BJP.

Listen to Dr Ajoy Kumar, President, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee

eNewsroom: At least 19 people have died from hunger and lynching cases in Jharkhand and the trend is not reducing in Jharkhand. How big is an issue will these be during election campaigning?

Dr Ajoy: Whether it is starvation death or lynching, it is the weakest person from the society who is being targeted. In the last five years, there has not been a single day, when there was no tension in any part of the country. It is the BJP which is creating tension, among brothers. They look for pawns, today it’s the Muslims, it may be the tribals or farmers may follow next. They do the politics of polarization.

eNewsroom: On the candidature of Kirti Azad from Dhanbad seat, there is an ongoing protest against Azad also. Will this damage the Congress and its candidate’s prospect?

Dr Ajoy: Five people have protested against me, while thousands had welcome. Five people are showing the black flag, and those are the suspended people. What is the importance of the protest few people? It is laughable.

eNewsroom: Rahul Gandhi, had been repeatedly using – Chowkidar Chor hai, but now the BJP has gone to the Supreme Court regarding this issue, so will Congress stop using it during the election?

Dr Ajoy: Chowkidar Narendra Modi Chor hai (Watchman Narendra Modi is a thief), it is what we say, which also means Chowkidar Chor Hai. And Rahul Gandhi is saying it continuously, in the issue of Rafale and other matters of corruption.

eNewsroom: There is growing discontent among the minority community against the Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand, especially against Congress as not a single candidate has been fielded from the community. How will you deal with it, as your alliance may face problems because of it?

Dr Ajoy: We couldn’t field minority candidate from Godda because of JVM, but we have decided that we will send a representative from the minority community to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).