Video Editor: Md. Ibrahim
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, The Quint caught up with Congress leader from Saharanpur, Imran Masood. In an exclusive interview, The Quint spoke to him about the SP-BSP mahagathbandhan, Chandrashekhar Azad and the issues that he would raise during his election campaign.
Talking about the barb that Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had directed at him saying that he is the son-in-law of terrorist Masood Azhar, the leader said, "Yogiji is the chief minister of a state. He should be aware of the dignity his post holds."
Speaking about fighting the election despite his repeated losses after one win, he said, “I am a warrior. A warrior never tires.”
On the topic of the Muslim candidate fielded by the SP-BSP mahagathbandhan, he said that there was a need to rise above Hindi-Muslim politics. He added that he had hoped that all anti-BJP parties would have stood together.
"Mayawati has ruined the entire game, now she says that she will not speak to the Congress. If she won't speak to the Congress, who will she speak to, BJP?" he asked.
He added that the secular vote needed to have come together.
Speaking about the issues that he would bring up in his election campaign, he said that the most important would be employment for the youth and agriculture. “People should have jobs and farmers should get the right price for their crops,” he said.
Speaking about Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad, who Masood had helped when the former was in prison, he said that he expected people who he had helped to be part of his campaign. "It is his decision. But everyone who I have helped is supporting me now in the campaign," he said. However, he added that he could not force Azad to support him.
Talking about the results of the upcoming elections, Masood said that they should be able to repeat the magic of the 2009 election.
On Priyanka Gandhi's entry in politics, he said that it would greatly benefit the Congress.
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