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']]}This post was started by a bunch of cynics. The 1.5 people that read this blog must have, by now, realized that my co-bloggers have a cynical and acidic view of everything in life- from traffic to the monetary system in bangalore. I, on the other hand, have a rather optimistic view about almost everything.
My endeavor is to show these non-believers the bright side of things. Therefore today I shall talk about VD, my favorite politician. Now I really like this guy. In fact you can call me an ardent fan of his. Whenever the media interviews him I ask everybody present in the living room to shut up so that I can listen to every word he says. The thing is that amongst VD's numerous qualities his ability to deal with the media stands out at the strongest.
He replies to questions put to him with such elan that they are rendered speechless. For example, VD was asked yesterday as to what he thought about the protests by medical students in Maharashtra. He just said "This is a non-issue in Maharashtra. It MIGHT be an issue for the central government but its hardly an issue here". Hmmmmm.
Anyway in this blog I intend to showcase what I think was VD's best interview till date. Karan Thapar recently interviewed him on CNN IBN and I thought VD was at his best that day. You can read the whole interview transcript on the CNN IBN website but I intend to bring out the highlights of the interview.
On Maharashtra being called a failed state:
Karan Thapar (KT): Do you know what BN Yugandhar of the Planning Commission said in February about your state? 'Maharashtra is an example of a failed state'.
VD: I was there in the meeting , Yugandhar was critical, there is no doubt about it. But then, why did the same Planning Commission increase our outlay by 34 per cent?
KT: He said that Maharashtra is a 'failed' state.
VD: He must have expressed his views, but at the same time we explained that there are grey areas. As you said, there is an electricity problem, malnutrition problem and farmers committing suicides, we admit to all these problems.
My 2 pennies (M2P): See this is where interviewers like KT get it wrong. When a member of the Planning Commission calls a sate a failed state he is merely expressing his personal views, not based on any facts and figures, about certain grey areas. How on earth can a state with debts of Rs 121,000 crore, electricity problem, malnutrition problem and farmers suicides be called a failed state???
On farmer suicides:
KT: Chief Minister, let us turn to the agrarian crisis in Vidarbha. According to the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, there have been over 450 farmer suicides in June, over 322 since November, over 77 in March and they are increasing at the rate of three per day. As Chief Minister of Maharashtra, ho embarrassed are you by this?
VD: Things are very unfortunate as far as Maharashtra is concerned. In a state like Maharashtra, if the farmers are committing suicide, it is not going to add to our glory.
KT: Let's just for a moment, as you a simple question - Do you accept the figures put out by the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti.
VD: I don't want to contest over the figures.
KT: Do you accept them?
VD: The question is that any suicide cannot be termed as a farmer suicide.
KT: But let me repeat the figures because they are critical. Over 450 since June, over 322 since November, 77 alone in March and they are increasing at three a day. You accept those figures?
VD: As far as my figures are concerned, they are reaching about 350.
KT:Even Sakal, a newspaper tightly owned and controlled by your allies, puts the figure at over 400. How can you say it is under?
VD: Newspaper figures and the figures calculated by our own officers, the government figure...
KT: What's your official figure?
VD: I just said, nearly about 350.
KT: So, in other words, your official figures since June is nearly 350 and the Jan Andolan Samiti says that it is over 450.
VD: I don't want to contest with the figures.
M2P: I don't know what KT is trying to achieve. After all if its 350 suicides in a year as opposed to over 450 the situation is just not as grave. Besides someone as knowledgeable as KT should know that suicide rates among farmers are next only to Sweden's. Hence even in this figure of 350 there are many who committed suicide just because India didn't qualify for the FIFA world cup.
KT: Do you know what's the most cruel thing that's happening? Far from giving compensation, far from giving debt relief, your administration is organizing Bhajans and kirtans to build up the morale of farmers. Are you playing a cruel joke with them?
VD: No, no. Not at all. Because you see, you must go into the deep cause of these suicides.
KT: Farmers don't. Farmers need help, they need loans, and they need assistance. They don't need Bhajans and kirtans.
VD: Look, psychologically also, we have to do something.
KT: Are you mocking their spirituality, are you mocking their misery?
VD: No, no. Not at all. You see, after discussing about it with all our important people from various fields, we decided that this kind of a thing is required.
M2P: Once again KT comes up with a superficial analysis. The best way to solve this problem is by having a song and dance routine for the farmers!!!! And KT is talking about stuff like loans and assistance. Plus these bhajan kirtans have been organized after discussions with "important people in various fields". I only wish VD would let us know who these people are.
On election promises:
KT:So, you have broken a promise (to increase the procurement price of cotton to Rs 2,700 per quintal) you made at the election?
VD: There are so many promises that are given at the time of the elections, but it is very difficult to fulfill them because financially, it takes time.
M2P: Is KT a 2 year old kid? Why is he asking such naive questions. Doesn't he know that in our system we make promises first, then win the election and finally see if its financially viable. Is KT suggesting that the process should be the other way round?
On the credibility of newspapers:
KT: Chief Minister, let me quote to you DNA. Four months have passed and farmers haven't got anything. Neither the compensation nor the benefits of the package.
VD: No, I don't agree with that.
KT: Your own paper. And the same story is there in The Hindu as well.
VD: No you can't rely on them. Papers can give the information. But you can't rely on them. Every newspaper printing a story, how can you believe in that?
M2P: That rascal fellow KT! Does he not know that newspaper figures are a figment of the editors imagination????
On how things will change VERY soon:
KT: Farmers are dying at three a day, children are dying at four a day, where is the improvement?
VD: No. I think, it will take some more time.
KT: So, how many more will die before things improve?
VD: No, no. I don't think so. We need to have a proper dialogue with the farmers. Why, what are the reasons? Indebtedness is not the only cause of their death. There could be some other reasons.
M2P: This KT fellow is really silly. I don't know what he expects? Just because 350 farmers have committed suicide does it mean that the state should try to get to the root cause. Doesn't he know that in India unless the death toll touches 1,000 ( or was in increased to 2,000 in the last session of the parliament) we do not officially consider it to be a "tragedy". Once the magic figure is reached discussions will be held and solutions found.
That was an excerpt from the whole interview. Please do go through the entire interview for more gems such as these. And my fellow bloggers, come out of your cynical cocoon and applaud, appreciate and bow before our great leader. That's the least you can do!
