For actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has all the qualities to be the prime minister of India. The TMC leader, who is contesting from Asansol for the second time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, said he is confident of people’s love for him and hopes to win by a bigger margin.
News18 caught up with the star who only had one message for voters — “Yeh Khamosh Mizaaji Tumhe Jeene Nahi Degi, Zamane Mein Rehna Hai Toh Kohram Macha Do [Being quiet will not let you live, make some noise if you want to live in this society].”
Edited Excerpts:
Your constituency is hot in terms of temperature and also politics. What do you have to say?
It is also the hottest constituency in terms of love and warmth. People here believe in harmony. It’s a cosmopolitan city in the truest sense and I am happy to represent it. The Bihari Babu has now become Hindustani and Bengali Babu. I came here on the instructions of one of the most powerful leaders of the country, the Iron Lady of India. When I came here for the first time, I got appreciation from people. The rest is history.
This has been a BJP bastion. In 2014 and 2019, Babul Supriyo won from here. Last time, you won with a margin of three lakh votes. What will happen this time?
I will not say I am confident, I am confident of our people. Whatever funds I got, combined with the old funds of Babul Supriyo, helped us do a lot of work. I have made a booklet on the work done in Asansol and shared it with people. It’s sad that Bengal’s funds have been stopped by the Centre, whether it is development fund, MGNREGA fund, or Awaas Yojana.
They [BJP] are saying you all have indulged in corruption.
They will say such things. All guarantees given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are ‘jumla’. What has he done? He is coming with new guarantees to wipe out old ‘jumlas’. First they have to answer why they stopped our money. We want ‘Sadda Haq’ [our right].
Will there be Lord Ram’s effect in your constituency?
I know people here have only one mindset, which is to support Didi. They are attached to her. Mamata-ji is a tigress and people will vote for her. Centre has stopped our funds but she will still give us money. Mandir-Masjid is about personal belief. My house is called Ramayan and we brothers are named as per the epic but I will not ask for votes on these lines. People will see the work political parties have done and vote accordingly.
Do you think Mamata Banerjee can counter PM Modi?
She has already countered him. She is quite capable of becoming the prime minister. My friend Narendra Modi became the prime minister. What was he? He was the chief minister of a state. He has no special qualifications. You can also become the PM if you have the numbers. Mamata Banerjee has her own wave. In the entire country, there is only one woman chief minister who is so popular. The Centre is attacking her. We speak about women’s prestige but last time they did “Didi, Oh Didi”. People gave an answer to that. This time also, they are doing the same thing. This proves Banerjee is powerful.
What’s your take on Sandeshkhali?
What has happened in Karnataka? Their alliance partner is embroiled in the biggest sex scandal of the world. What happened in Hathras, Unnao, and Manipur? They are not ashamed of that. PM Modi said shame on Sandeshkhali, not on others. If the allegations are true, then there is no doubt that whatever happened in Sandeshkhali is bad. Strong action has been taken against the accused. It was late because of court order and CBI’s flip-flops. After all this you speak like this about Didi? Asansol will take its revenge.
Home Minister Amit Shah has said to News18 that they will get 30 seats in Bengal.
He is today’s Chanakya after Sharad Pawar. He said in Delhi that they will win with 2/3rd majority, what happened there? What happened in Karnataka? He says these things to boost morale of cadre but it has no effect. Their ‘400 Paar’ will not happen at all. Maximum they will get is 150.
They have said that they got more than 100 seats in the first two phases.
They know EVMs very well, they must be doing something.
There is no industry in Asansol. There are allegations of corruption and cut money.
You know what happened in Karnataka about 40 per cent commission. We will work together so that these things do not happen. Nobody can raise this issue about me. I will work unitedly with our team so that we can take Bengal to new heights.
What’s your take on SS Ahluwalia?
Ahluwalia is my friend and I have nothing against him. It’s a fight against ideology. This is a democracy. I will not make the Opposition “khaamosh” (quiet) but my work will be “dhamaakedar” (explosive). It will break last time’s record.
What would you say to your people in Asansol?
“Yeh Khamosh Mizaaji Tumhe Jeene Nahi Degi, Zamane Mein Rehna Hai Toh Kohram Macha Do” [Being quiet will not let you live, make some noise if you want to live in this society].
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.