INTERVIEW:
CHHAGAN BHUJBAL
"We will
not buckle under any pressure" Deputy
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Chhagan
Bhujbal, the man who orchestrated the move to arrest Thackeray, spoke to
Associate Editor V. Shankar
Aiyar. Excerpts:
Q. Why now? What
is the idea?
A. Why not? It is nothing new. The case has been pending for a
long time, nearly six years. Azmi's case was also pending. We have taken a
decision that this needs to be done.
Q. So there is nothing
political?
A. Not at all. The law sees everybody as equal. The law has to
be applied equally. Nobody, however high, can claim to be above the law.
You might see a political colour. To me, this is just implementation of
the law in letter and spirit. Azmi is a member of the Democratic Front
which is in power. Thackeray belongs to the opposition. You can't have a
more even-handed action.
Q. The Shiv Sena
says this is a mission of personal vendetta? That
you wanted to get even with Thackeray.
A. I am not like them. Let me tell you what personal vendetta
is. When they were in power, they sent goons to my house in 1997 to kill
me. That is personal vendetta. If it was political vendetta, why should I
take this long? It has been nine months since we came to power. The police
asked for permission to prosecute and we gave it. That is all.
|
THE GREAT GAMBLER |
| Bhujbal's
action against Thackeray is not about revenge. That would be too
simplistic. He has lofty ambitions. Born into a poor Mali family,
this former Sainik primed himself for 25 years to be king in
Maharashtra. Having lost out at the coronation stakes, he has cut
out a new path for himself and staked his career on one move. His
aim is to be the next Mulayam Singh Yadav. One day he could want to
be PM after being CM. |
Q. What about the
trouble on the streets? Isn't this risking public peace?
A. That is because of the Sena. What else can you expect from
them? We will not buckle under any pressure. The police has been asked to
deal firmly with those taking the law into their hands. This time we will
not need a commission of inquiry to find out who has been fomenting
trouble. It is already clear from the threats.
Q. You mean the
threats have not rattled the Government?
A. We have told the Shiv Sena of the consequences. I have said
in the Vidhan Sabha that the Government has taken note of Thackeray's
statements. They invite the same provision - 153 A - that he is being
charged under.
Q. You are personally
not worried about the political consequences?
A. I am simply doing my job. When I took oath, I swore I would
work without any fear or favour. There is no question of backing off now.
The law will take its own course.
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