Clean Economy, $5-Trillion Vision Are Priorities: BJP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Bhupender Yadav

The BJP today is the world’s biggest political organisation. Is it an achievement of the BJP of the Modi-Shah age or was it always planned like this?
The BJP is a political party driven by its ideological plank. It’s our good fortune that the party today is led at the Central by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, national president and someone adept at planning and strategising.  This enthuses cadres.

The Modi led government’s  mantra is “sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas”. In the last tenure, the party completed the target of 10 crore members set by Shah. In the current membership drive also, we have exceeded the target due to the enthusiasm of the party workers and the vision of the leadership.

Today, the BJP is the pivot. But the opposition is in disarray. Should that be a matter of concern?
It’s not that there is no trace of opposition. In various regions, there are different regional parties. Our party believes in forging a political consensus. In various parts of the country, various political parties are free to do their work and further their agenda. Our party believes that everyone in the country has the right to express and propagate their political belief.

The Kashmir move and the scrapping of Article 370 were important. Is it also an election plank?
In the overarching idea called “sabka vikas”, the temporary clause of Article 370 was a major roadblock. Whether it’s good governance, investments, or women’s rights, Article 370 acted as a hindrance. With the Modi government’s move, Kashmir too will move ahead with the rest of the nation on the path of development and economic prosperity.

Do you think this will be one big issue in the coming state elections?
People want an empowered, safe and secure country to march ahead. The move furthers the state’s integration with the rest of the country. The country has welcomed the move.

You have headed committees with economic ramifications. Amit Shah during his Gujarat days was known to hold forth on economic issues. Do you discuss the current economic crisis in the party?
In the last five years, in national executive meetings, you would have seen the economic resolutions passed by the party. They reflect the party’s economic thought and philosophy. We believe that through good governance economic interests are also served, and we believe that the government is taking measures that will benefit all.

How do you look at the economic crisis we are facing? Is it a matter of concern?
Given the prevailing conditions, the government has initiated a number of measures, with the finance minister making a number of relief announcements. The government is continuously engaging with all the stakeholders. Whether it’s IBC, or the ease of doing business rankings, the government has taken a number of long-term measures towards making India a $5-trillion economy. The world is showing interest in India. I am confident that in the coming times we will make India an economic superpower with a clean, corruption-free economy.