Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
At the National Convention for Social Justice conference in New Delhi, several issues such as reservation, the EVM row and general elections were discussed. The Quint spoke to Gujarat MLA Jignesh MevanI who was at the event where he answered several crucial questions.
For reservation in higher education, a 13-point roster has been brought in place of a 200-point roster. Why are you opposing it?
In the past four-and-a-half years, we have seen the BJP and RSS’ attack on the Constitution. Dalits, tribals and OBCs are scared about Modi government’s reservation schemes. Whatever Modi is doing with reservation is not in the spirit of the Constitution. The underprivileged of any caste or creed are hard workers. We are not against them. The grounds on which Babasaheb Ambedkar had introduced reservation in the Constitution now what BJP and RSS are giving is in complete opposition to that. RSS and BJP have been trying to abolish reservation for many decades. This is a step in that direction, this is our common feeling. Even parties with differences should come together on this issue.
What should be the strategy of Opposition parties for the Budget Session?
I feel Modi will bring a new ‘jumla’ during this Budget. Maybe, Modi will announce something about jobs or announce something about farmers’ debts. However, if his (PM Modi’s) intentions were right why didn’t he fulfil any promises in the last four-and-a-half years? Forget delivering, more than 30 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat in the last 4 months. He didn’t even visit their houses.
As elections are approaching, the EVM issue has started to heat up. How do you plan to take up the issue of EVMs?
I won with a margin of 19,700 and that day I told the media that if I have to choose between EVM and ballot papers, I would choose ballot papers. People usually say so after losing an election but I said it after winning. I said it on day one itself. RSS and BJP are fascist forces. This is the character of fascism, which is trying to stop free and fair elections. Every party is worried about this issue. There’s genuine apprehension in the Opposition over EVMs. All parties should come out on the streets over the issue of EVMs.
Parties will be contesting the elections soon. What are the key issues in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
The most important issue is to save the Constitution at any cost. Remove these forces who are opposing the Constitution. Our Constitution says that we are a secular and socialist democracy. Babasaheb Ambedkar and others who wrote the Constitution imagined a secular society. We don’t want to take rocks and go to Ayodhya. We want to go to libraries we want to go study at universities, we want to go abroad to study.
We want to end untouchability. What is this ‘chalo Ayodhya’?
80 crore people can’t afford two full meals a day. They only have Rs 20 to spend a day. The issue of food, clothing and shelter has become a non-issue. These issues are unresolved. More than 60 crore labourers don’t even get minimum wages.
Will the Opposition decide on the leadership now or post elections?
This election is about saving the Constitution. It is not about whether X or Y will be the prime minister.
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