New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo has said, he would rather prefer to quit politics rather than indulging in “petty” political gimmicks like refusing to sing at events of his political rivals.
Babul Supriyo, who is presently convalescing after a road accident last evening in New Delhi, told this in Rajat Sharma’s show Aap Ki Adalat, which was recorded a day ago. The show will be telecast tonight on India TV.
Asked why he sang on stage at the foundation day function of Trinamool Congress in Kolkata, Babul Supriyo replied: “I was in Kolkata, and the Mayor of the city invited me to the event as a guest. There was spontaneous request from the audience present that I should sing, and I did sing on stage.
”My Rabindra Sangeet songs are played at Trinamool Congress functions. Even Mamata didi listens to my music. My audience was sitting in front of me. Should I refuse by saying I cannot sing in front of Trinamool party workers? Then how petty will Babul Supriyo look? I am not going to do such things. The day I will start doing this, it would be better for me to leave politics, consider myself a failure (in politics), and go back to singing. No problem.”
The singer-turned-politician said: “I believe in a different culture. Our Prime Minister believes in ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’. We do politics in maidans, but when it comes to governmental procedures, one should not obstruct development in the name of politics.”
”Mamata Banerjee took 11 months to congratulate Modiji. For 11 months their ministers did not interact with ministers at the Centre, nor did they attend meetings. As the sole Bengali minister at the Centre, It was sad for me to see Didi wasting time in congratulating Modiji. The electoral battle was long over, and Modiji is the elected Prime Minister. She is the Chief Minister, and if they don’t interact, the common people and development will suffer.”
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Asked why he was sharing roadside snacks with Mamata Banerjee near Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial, at a time when BJP leaders were alleging their party workers were being beaten up, Babul Supriyo replied: “This question was raised by Rupa Ganguly (BJP leader) on air. Why should I seek mercy from Didi sitting inside her vehicle? I believe in ‘Ladke Lenge Hindustan’. Self-defence is a fundamental right. If anybody beats us, we will counter-attack, but we will not indulge in bloodshed like the CPM or Trinamool Congress, but I am not going to beg mercy from her, asking her to stop attacks on our supporters. I will never do that. I stand by my conviction. Ladke Lenge Bengal. This is a political battle which we will try to win on the battlefield, not by begging mercy sitting inside a vehicle.”
On assembly poll prospects in West Bengal, Babul Supriyo steered clear from making a clear prediction.
When Rajat Sharma said, there was speculation that Trinamool may retain power, he replied: “I don’t believe in ‘hawaa’. We have entered the battle with a will to win. As George Bernard Shaw said: ‘a person should not speculate under two circumstances, when he can afford to, and when he cannot afford to.’ If I say that the opportunistic politics of Congress and CPI(M) coming together is not going to bring about a big mathematical change in Bengal, I may be in the wrong. That’s why I think the situation is very complicated. We should patiently and humbly wait for the results of 19th May.”
”If Mamata didi says right now that she is going to get 100 pc majority, then people will suspect that Didi is saying this because her party has carried out rigging in elections well. I will advise Didi not to expose herself so much. If you think you have done it, then you better remain a bit silent. Let’s see what the results are on the 19th.”
The singer-turned-MP described how he got the BJP ticket from Asansol after a chance encounter with yoga guru Ramdev during a flight.
”I was sitting near Swami Ramdev inside the aircraft and joking about Kapaal Bhati. When I found the guru going through a list of names, I asked what it was. He told me, he was scouting for ‘good men’ to be fielded as candidates. I immediately said, I’m also a good man. The guru asked his secretary to take down my phone number. A week later I got a call inquiring whether I was ready to fight elections. My name was selected and I came to know about it while coming out of an awards function in Kolkata.”
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi complaining that he was not being allowed to speak in Parliament, Babul Supriyo quipped: “If Rahul is saying this, then he is wrong. It’s an assault on our intelligence. The more Rahul Gandhi speaks, the more advantage we’ll have.”
Babul Supriyo in Rajat Sharma’s show Aap Ki Adalat will be telecast tonight at 10 pm on India TV. The repeat telecasts will take place on Sunday at 10 am and 10 pm.
