New Delhi. In a conversation with IANS, Indian Overseas Congress President Sam Pitroda spoke on several issues including the Bangladesh crisis, the biggest mistake committed by ousted PM Sheikh Hasina and expressed his views. Apart from this, he also expressed his views on the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.
On India-Bangladesh relations, he expressed hope that Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government Muhammad Yunus will take all necessary steps to protect minorities in the country and will also work towards maintaining good relations with India as before. He also condemned the idea of ’one nation, one election’ and said that India is in a very diverse and complex situation to implement this policy.
IANS: What according to you was the biggest mistake made by Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh?
Sam Pitroda: People make judgements about leadership based on their perception and position. However, from an outside perspective things looked somewhat autocratic. I remember when he put Yunus under scrutiny, many people globally were unhappy because he had a reputation. He won the Nobel Prize and had dedicated his life to Bangladesh and its poor women. Though we may not agree with everything he did, overall he deserves a lot of respect. It sent a global signal of autocratic attitude in governance, which endangered democracy. The same scenario is being seen in many parts of the world, where institutions like the Election Commission, the judiciary, universities, tax departments and the police are being suppressed, leading to unnecessary harassment. Maybe the situation in Bangladesh got so heated that it suddenly spiraled out of control. It was surprising, especially given the speed at which it happened.
IANS: During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern about minorities in Bangladesh and hoped that the situation would return to normal soon. What are your thoughts on this?
Sam Pitroda: I agree with him and we should be concerned about minorities everywhere including India. Hopefully Yunus will follow through on his commitment to work on this.
IANS: Are conditions like Bangladesh being seen in India too?
Sam Pitroda: India is a very different country. The situation here is diverse and complex. India is more conscious of democracy and its roots. I would not compare India with Bangladesh, the main reason for this is its population and democracy.
However, the threat of authoritarianism always remains. Look at America, I came here 60 years ago and never thought that a day would come when America would have to worry about authoritarianism. We believe that American institutions are very strong, whether it is the judiciary, security, students or universities. American institutions are independent, full of talent and full of courage. Many of our institutions do not have the courage to stand up for the right thing. So, India is different, anything can happen.
IANS: Is it right for India to give asylum to Sheikh Hasina?
Sam Pitroda: It is for India to decide. It is up to Indian foreign policy experts to decide. We have good relations with Bangladesh. We should find a way out that makes everyone happy. We don’t want any more mess.
It is in the interest of India, Bangladesh and other countries to ensure that Bangladesh returns to normalcy as soon as possible. If Sheikh Hasina has to stay in India for some time, I am sure it will be fine. We can sort things out.
IANS: We have good relations with Bangladesh. However, after Sheikh Hasina is out of power and an interim government is formed, do you think the relationship will remain the same?
Sam Pitroda: It is difficult to say how things will turn out there, but if people like Muhammad Yunus are at the helm, I can assure you the relationship will be good. I know him personally and have known him for over 30 years. I respect him and we have a good friendship. He is a visionary and is well respected across the world. He would want good relations with India because he values it. We also respect Bangladesh and want good relations with it.
IANS: In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi reiterated his call for ‘one nation, one election. What is your take on that?
Sam Pitroda: It is not possible to have elections once in India because we have 30 states. It is not practical. Some people want uniformity but India is for diversity. India cannot have uniformity because it thrives on diversity. There are many elections, languages, cultures and ideas, that is India. Do not impose uniformity on India, it will not work. This is what people with authoritarian mindset try to do. It does not work in the long run. The PM has a tendency to lie about many things, so I do not pay attention to him.
IANS: There is a debate going on in India regarding reservation. What is your opinion on the creamy layer among SC and ST? Should the creamy layer also get the benefit of reservation?
Sam Pitroda: This is a very complex question. What it means is that we need to lift a large number of people from the bottom who are deprived in many ways – jobs, education – and our priority is to lift them, and it is going to be painful. It is not easy.
In the US, we find a similar situation with minorities. Inequality and exclusion are challenges and we cannot please everyone. Unfortunately, in India, there is an added dimension of caste. I don’t care who is a Brahmin and who is not, but society cares, so it is our job to guide people out of it.
We need to look at the number of SC/ST/OBC people in key positions in universities, banks, etc. As Rahul Gandhi has said, the top 10 per cent control 90 per cent of the jobs. There is a lot of talent here and no one should underestimate it. They (SC/ST/OBC) may not have degrees, but they are artisans, craftsmen and musicians and they do most of the work. They make things, but they don’t get the respect and share in the economy they deserve.
IANS: You have once again become the president of the Overseas Congress. Was your statement on inheritance tax misinterpreted or taken out of context?
Sam Pitroda: I stand by what I said. I know there are trolls and liars in India and people are paid to attack and I take it as part of the package. I never said that inheritance tax should be implemented in India. I said this is what happens in the US, which is fine. Even if I had said it, there is a system in India that there will be debate, discussion and voting in Parliament. These things do not happen just because Sam Pitroda says so.
If you want to divert attention from important conversations like the economy, inflation and unemployment during elections, you go after Sam Pitroda. This is an organised attack by a group of people employed to do such things on social media. Another example is when I spoke about diversity. It was on the media for 10 days and nobody talked about it, but suddenly the Prime Minister spoke and it became a big issue on national television.
IANS: PM Modi also said in his Independence Day speech that a large section of the country believes that we should move from a communal civil code to a secular civil code. What is your opinion on this?
Sam Pitroda: I don’t know. I am not a legal expert. I believe in equality, inclusion and diversity. Lawyers will have to sort it out. I am not qualified to comment on it.
IANS: The Election Commission announced the dates for elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. This is the first time that elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. How do you see this?
Sam Pitroda: I would urge people to come out and vote in large numbers, because this is their way of standing up for the kind of Kashmir they want. I would like to see 80 per cent or more voting if possible. I want everyone to make sure that their name is in the correct voter list, so that there is no last minute confusion and I want free and fair elections in Kashmir.
I am not happy with the last election, like in Odisha where there were 40 lakh extra votes – where did they come from? People are asking questions to the Election Commission and the Supreme Court and are not getting any answers, which is not acceptable. If this happens, you lose confidence, and it is not a fair election. But in India, if you question the Election Commission, people say it is not right. Of course, it is right and it is the job of citizens to raise questions.
My request is to keep an eye on every booth, count the number of people voting and match it so that the Election Commission does not get more votes – all this is a matter of concern for me.
IANS: There are reports that Rahul Gandhi will visit the US in September. What will be his events and programmes? Since the Election Commission has announced the election dates, will Rahul Gandhi’s US visit be postponed?
Sam Pitroda: It is too early to say anything about his visit. We are working on it. Hopefully, when the dates are finalised, we will have a press conference about it. If the visit gets postponed, it will be his decision – he will take a decision based on his schedule.
IANS: Rahul Gandhi is reported to have met Khaleda Zia’s son Tariq Rehman during his London visit. What was the reason for this meeting?
Sam Pitroda: First of all, it is wrong. I was with Rahul Gandhi all the time, but people lie. Lying is a normal thing in India. This kind of misinformation keeps going around. I don’t pay attention to this kind of information. People get paid to lie, so what do you do? You live with it.
Bangladesh, Congress, Narendra Modi, sheikh hasina
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 17, 2024, 20:10 IST
