As the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, goes to polls on June 1, Congress MP Manish, a former Union minister and currently MP from Anandpur Sahib constituency in Punjab, Tewari is fighting to win the seat. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Tewari, a two-time member of Parliament, said in an interview with The Hindu that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are an election that will decide India’s survival. Edited excerpt:
What do you think of the 2024 Sabah state polls?
This is an election where the survival of India is at stake. I strongly believe that if the central powers succeed, this could be the last election in this country, but given the realities that seems difficult at the moment.This is an election where I am fighting to protect democracy, to protect the Constitution of India…They are [the BJP leaders] They have made very clear their intention to abolish the Constitution and replace it with their own. In Chandigarh, people witnessed what happened during the mayoral elections. Someone had the right to vote and someone else became mayor. And the Supreme Court had to exercise special jurisdiction under Article 142 to preserve democracy in general. So this is something that resonates very strongly with people. Because people saw it unfold before their eyes…this was just a preview of what was in store for us.
Why Chandigarh?
I have represented Ludhiana (Punjab) in the past and represent the adjoining constituency of Shri Anandpur Sahib. I think I’ve become pretty acquitted over the last five years. It was the party’s decision to shift me to Chandigarh. I also wanted to contribute to the city where I was born, where I went to school and university, where my father was assassinated by terrorists on April 3, 1984, and where my mother spent her entire working life. I have an essential connection to this city. Incidentally, since 1967, when Lok Sabha elections began to be held in Chandigarh, I am probably the only candidate to have actually been born in this city. So even though they are targeting me as an ‘outsider’, the truth is that if there is an envoy to Chandigarh, it is me.
Do you think your party can form a united front in terms of ideas and mobilization with the Congress and its potential allies?
Putting together a pre-poll coalition is easier said than done, but the Indian bloc has managed to operate fairly, despite its problems. I think people who decide not to participate in pre-vote arrangements will form an alliance after the vote because they are actually on the same side of the fence. When there are conflicting parties, reconciliation on the ground can be a daunting task. But so far it seems to be working. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a joint meeting and sent out a positive message. There are conflicting voices within Congress. For example, about inheritance tax, wealth redistribution, caste census, etc. What is your opinion? The Congress’s position is set out in its manifesto, which is the last authoritative word as far as the party is concerned. Yes, we do not follow the discipline of controlled Hitlerism, where people do not make their opinions clear, but those are personal views.
The Congress is fighting in alliance with AAP in Chandigarh but is at odds with AAP in Punjab. How difficult is it to convince people of this contradiction?
That’s not so much of a contradiction. Historically, we have fought with the Left in the polls in Kerala, but we have worked together at the national level. Even in West Bengal we opposed the Trinamool Congress, but at the national level we cooperated. In North India, this is a new experiment. During the campaign, I explained to people why we were here to fight together. [in Chandigarh] and separately there [in Punjab]. The only purpose is [fighting] This election is for saving and saving the souls of the people.
Voter turnout was relatively low in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls.
More people must come to vote. However, low turnout does not necessarily reflect support for the incumbent. It reflects fatigue with the current administration. People who had previously supported the government are not coming out publicly.
Will you push for a metro service, which was opposed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirron Kher, to strengthen public transport in the city?
In 2019, when I was the Sri Anandpur Sahib MP, I wrote to Union Roads and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari proposing a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) from Ambala to Landran and Panchkula. The reason I proposed such a vast site was to take advantage of the potential that Tricity has to offer. [Chandigarh-Panchkula-Mohali]. More importantly, it will also bring economic viability to the project. The solution to rapidly increasing traffic is efficient and effective MRTS.
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