Page 24 - 30NOV2018E

INTERVIEW

GIRIRAJ SINGH — 66 YEARS It is true that India was partitioned on Government? sues in political and social life. If you talk
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES religion basis. Then it was decided that I don’t know. It is unfortunate that I do of Hindus, you are a communal and if you
Pakistan would be on communal lines the work of development which does not talk of Muslims then you are a secular,
because the Muslims are in minority. If I
and the Hindus in India would not echo
get reflected in the media. It was just in
‘Pseudo-secular and award-wapasi gang their voice and that would be the true recent past days that it was mentioned say that the Muslims should be divested
that jobs were not being given. Even to-
definition of secularism. It seems we
of the minority status, you will immedi-
have accepted this and perhaps that
ately brand me a communalist. I am put-
day I say it with authority that my Min-
lack the power to listen to harsh truth’ is why people misinterpret the spirit istry provided about 2.5 crore jobs in ting it on record today that this is what
behind my comments.
MSME sector, two million jobs under
pains me.
financial inclusion and 1.9 million en-
The problem is that your own coali-
How is it that you are one of the
most popular ministers in the Modi trepreneurs during the past four years, tion government gets trapped into trou-
However, there is no mention about it in ble in your own home state because of
the media. your statements.
A PERSONALITY with distinct identity is Watch, I have never bothered as to
emerging in contemporary Bihar politics. His Most of your statements are on who gets into trouble, I have the right to
reputation remains no more confined to the religious issues and there has been put forward my views logically and I do
precincts of Bihar but is spread across the no mention about policy vision so. The day I realise that I am no more
entire country. Giriraj Singh, a Minister in document pertaining to your ministry.
the Government of India, represents Nawada and why it is so?
parliamentary constituency of Bihar. Giriraj It is unfortunate that whenever I say and When I tell the
Singh belongs to those fearless and frank even now I am saying, you are twisting truth it does not
politicians whose breed in contemporary the argument and asking me the same
politics is shrinking. dr anil singh spoke to thing. I am saying with authority that appeal to the
Singh, one of the closet ministers to Prime they (UPA) provided 1.1 million jobs in the intolerant and
Minister Modi MSME sector in 2010-2014 under finan-
cial inclusion. It is not an oral statement pseudo-secular
EDITED EXCERPTS FROM AN INTERVIEW • but is supported by the data and I pro- persons and they feel
vided jobs to 1.9 million people. Is it not
a development? Is it not a document? bad about it. They are
As soon as your name comes up, the They (UPA) accomplished 17 clusters
first question arises as to whether and my department under the leader- dealers in votes and
your “hard-hitting” comments are ship of Modi ji accomplished 103 clus- that is why they react
spontaneous or deliberate? ters. Is it not a vision document? You just
See, you have pointed out rightly. All discuss with us about vision document, to what we say
journalists ask me the same. I don’t know the MSME sector has weathered many
as to why what I say in my statements ap- storms, especially the demonetization
pears “hard-hitting” to others. But I cer- and the GST and my department and the useful for the party and the politics, I will
tainly know that whatever I say I tell the government gave this sector a support- leave politics as well the party.
truth. And when I tell the truth it does not ing stage as a result of which it didn’t fal-
appeal to the intolerant, pseudo-secular ter but continued to march ahead. Do you feel that you are still in the
persons and those who talk of pseudo- Cabinet despite being the most
secularism and they feel bad about it. They Have you been officially authorised controversial person in the entire
are dealers in votes and that is why they by the party as far as your line of cabinet?
react to what we say. I tell the harsh truth thinking on the Hindus, Muslims and I reiterate once again that two streams
and those belonging to pseudo-secular religion is concerned, because the of thought are flowing in the country.
and award-wapasi gang lack the power to party has to breathe heavily while One stream of thought is that of pseudo-
listen to harsh truth. defending your statements and, in secularism. Nobody objects to the release
the end, it lets off by stating that it of the movie PK and the sexy portrayal
What is the reason that most of your was a personal statement. of Goddess Durga; nevertheless, even
comments are related to religion? Individually, there are some personal is- the misplacement of a hair of the Holy
I do not know. Politics is not practiced in Prophet could results in great commo-
a planned manner. I am not to comment tion. Is it the real meaning of secularism?
on those who practice politics by planning. • Planning politics Politics is not practiced in How much sufferings would the Hindus
Politics is the voice of inner conscience a planned manner, says Minister of state for have to undergo to save India from the
and I do what this voice dictates to me. MSMEs Giriraj Singh breakdown. One partition of the nation

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24-27 Q&A Anil Singh.indd 2 11/15/2018 4:42:33 PM 24-27 Q&A Anil Singh.indd 3 11/15/2018 4:42:41 PM