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New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the recent allegations by a former CBI joint director against the Congress and RJD showed how these parties used to put “pressure” on governments when their leaders were embroiled in scams.
Speaking to IANS on Sunday, former CBI joint director Upendra Nath Biswas had alleged that Congress and RJD were pressurizing the central government led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to save RJD chief Lalu Yadav from being arrested in the fodder scam.
In an interview with IANS, Rijiju criticized the Congress party and RJD over ‘dynastic politics’ and claimed that these opposition parties do not respect the Constitution.
He also discussed the Bihar Assembly elections, RJD leader and Grand Alliance chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav’s recent comments regarding the Waqf Amendment Act and accused the opposition alliance of indulging in appeasement politics.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
IANS: Former CBI joint director Upendra Nath Biswas has said that Congress and RJD had put pressure on him to protect RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during the fodder scam case. How do you see it?
Kiran Rijiju: There was no such thing as system during the Congress era; They believed in only one family. You know the mentality of the Congress party and these people – a family is everything for them. He used to run everything according to his own will, be it CBI or courts.
They do not respect the Constitution or the law. So, from what the officer has said, it has come to light that how the Congress used to apply pressure to remove the state governments and harass the people sitting in the state governments without any reason. This has been an old tradition of Congress.
IANS: Tejashwi Yadav has said that if he wins, he will ‘throw the Waqf law in the dustbin’. What do you have to say about this?
Kiren Rijiju: It is surprising that Tejashwi Yadav claims to be the Chief Minister and does not know the basic fact that the state government cannot overturn any law passed by the Parliament. They do not know the Constitution. How can he talk like this?
The people of Bihar and the entire country are watching and laughing that the person who calls himself a Chief Ministerial candidate does not even know that if he becomes the Chief Minister, he will throw the parliamentary law in the dustbin.
What kind of language is he using? Firstly, I think Tejashwi is not mature and lacks knowledge. Second, he is so desperate for power that he will say anything. Will he say that he will throw the Waqf law in the dustbin to get Muslim votes? How can he say such a thing?
IANS: Since you are the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, you also have responsibility towards the minorities. Can a state government refuse to implement a bill passed by Parliament?
Kiren Rijiju: Any law passed by the Parliament will be applicable to the entire country, the whole of India. No one can remove the power granted by the Constitution. So can Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi explain that if they do not obey the law passed by the Parliament, if they do not obey what the Supreme Court has said, then do they not obey the Parliament, the Supreme Court or Indian democracy?
If the children of these few families consider themselves above the law, above the Constitution, above the Parliament, then what can I do? But the country and the people are watching everything.
IANS: Do you think the opposition is engaged in appeasement politics before the Bihar assembly elections?
Kiren Rijiju: For decades, Congress and RJD have ruled by appeasing Muslims, cheating and misleading Muslims. Now Muslims have understood this and gradually everyone will understand. But a large section of Muslims is under the control of some people, who are trying to create a vote bank by misleading them, scaring them and using BJP as an excuse.
Gradually Muslims will also understand that the country will progress only because of PM Modi. Under the leadership of PM Modi, not only Muslims but all minorities or majority will be safe in India. Everyone knows this. So now even Muslims have understood this to a great extent.
IANS: Chhath Puja is being celebrated. What is your message to the countrymen?
Kiren Rijiju: Chhath Puja is very special. This Chhath Puja, which involves bowing and worshiping the rising and setting sun, is also a way to unite our entire communities and people from all walks of life for the welfare of the world. I want to wish everyone a happy Chhath Puja.
–IANS
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