Arun Lakshmna | 30 Jul, 2023
Newly-appointed national secretary of the BJP, Anil Antony has said
that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vision for the next 25 years to
turn India into a developed country.
Son
of veteran Congress leader and former Union Defence Minister A.K.
Antony, Anil, who is an engineer with a Masters from the prestigious
Stanford University, spoke about the Congress and the prospects of the
BJP in his home state, Kerala, in an interview with IANS.
Excerpts from interview:
Q: What is your first reaction on being appointed as the national secretary of the BJP?
A:
I joined the BJP, because I was very sure that the BJP is the only
national party with a vision and direction to drive the country forward
under the leadership of our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. He
has a vision for the country for the next 25 years. In the nine years
under the Prime Ministership of Narendra Modiji, the country has
progressed much ahead than the earlier 67 years post Independence put
together.
India
is emerging as a prominent pillar in a multi-polar world. He wants to
push forward the country into a developed nation in its 100th year of
Independence. I am feeling very humble and honoured that the BJP
leadership has shown this much confidence in me and with this new
posting that I have a better platform to work towards the PM's vision
for India.
Q: Will you be concentrating on Kerala as a BJP leader who is now a national secretary of the party.
A:
I have not yet been assigned any new responsibilities after announcing
me as the new national secretary of the party. I lived in Kerala for a
significant amount of time during my upbringing. I have a lot of
interest to see that the party grows in Kerala. I will definitely be
making my efforts to develop the party in the state.
The
party has been consistently growing in the state. The vote share was 3
per cent and it has increased to 13 to 14 per cent now and our alliance
is growing in Kerala. Many accomplished citizens and many promising
youths have joined the BJP and are still joining.
Just
like across India, the youth in Kerala are attracted towards the
Honourable Prime Minister’s vision for India. Kerala is a state with a
lot of socio economic growth. While the median age of the country is 27,
in Kerala it is 35 and young people are struggling for job
opportunities. They are leaving in masses searching for jobs both
outside the country and within India to other states.
India
is thriving and moving forward under the leadership of PM Modi. He has a
vision to transform the country by providing economic and social
opportunities and young people will definitely resonate with the good
governance of the Government of India and they want to be part of
India’s growth. Just like West Bengal, Tripura and other Northeastern
states, the party will grow in Kerala.
There
is exceptional growth. In Kerala, also we have 14 and 15 per cent vote
share and state leadership is strong and central leadership is showing
more interest in the state. In 2024 we will definitely win multiple
seats and BJP will become a significant political party in the state. I
can say that we will have exceptional growth in Kerala.
Q: It is learned that senior leaders of the BJP will be in fray in 2024 general elections. Are you a candidate?
A:
I joined the party only in April and my first responsibility in the
party was announced only yesterday. My only priority is only to work on
the responsibility given by me. These are decisions taken by the party
leadership and it is the leadership that decides. Everything else is
speculation. I won't comment on the seat and other factors that the
party leadership has to decide.
Q: You are the son of senior Congress leader A.K. Antony. Is that a baggage for you in your future political career?
A:
My father was in parliamentary politics for 52 years and has spent more
than six decades in party politics. In his parliamentary career he was
the Chief Minister of Kerala, a Union minister and had handled the
crucial defense portfolio. He has generated tremendous good will across
the political spectrum, across people and among the public. He has now
retired from parliamentary politics.
The
current Congress led by Rahul Gandhi and his associates have diverted
themselves from what the Congress party used to be. The party is now
going in a very very negative tangent where they don’t have any clear
vision or direction on how to progress. At the same time we have a Prime
Minister who has had a vision for 25 years. Congress is getting
alienated from the young and aspirational India and cut off from Young
India. The Congress party has changed a lot and is no longer a party
where my father and many other stalwarts worked for many many years. My
father has tremendous goodwill and I am proud to have a father like him.
Q:
Narendra Modi and the BJP have been in power for the past nine years.
Will the party and Modi get a third tenure in 2024 general elections ?
A: Definitely Narendra Modi and the BJP will be returning to power after the 2024 general elections.
In
2014 and 2019 PM Narendra Modi led the party to back to back victories.
Every year the progress of India is exponential and in the last nine
years it is more. In 2014 we had 500 startups and now we have over one
lakh. We have more than 115 unicorns, and is the third largest digital
economy in the world. This is exponential growth.
As
far as Infrastructure is concerned, we had 75 airports in 2014 when
Narendra Modi came to power. Now we have 150 airports and in 2030, there
will be 400 plus airports. In 2014 highways were built at a speed of 8
to 9 km per day; now it is more than 100 km per day.
Lot
of this is due to the passion, dedication and vision of the Prime
Minister to take the country forward. There is a great future for the
country and the entire government and party machinery have full
confidence in this vision and are working to ensure that the milestones
are met.
The
people of India are beneficiaries and their lives are improving better
than any time, including employment opportunities. We are getting more
and more global recognition and we are respected in international
forums.
Across
international and domestic stages and, including grassroots levels
India story is resonating and because of this people will show
confidence. We will come back with a better mandate and the margin will
be higher than in the 2019 polls. There are 38 allies for the BJP now
within NDA and the BJP and party organization is getting bigger.
Q: Manipur is turning into a major crisis. What's your take on this?
A:
The Manipur issue is very disappointing. However, the opposition
parties create a narration far removed from realities for their
short-term political victories. It is a state where there were frequent
clashes between tribes for many historic reasons. If you look at the
state of Manipur for the past 20 years, the violence has come down with
data that shows that Manipur was getting more peaceful than anytime in
the past. For example in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 an average of 150
people were killed. It has come down to 10 or 15 people in the last five
years.
Law
and order situation has been drastically improving. There are
anti-India elements inside and outside the country who are trying to
flare up the tribal conflict. The opposition is trying to flare this up
for their political exigencies. They are trying to create a false
narration of a communal war for a tribal conflict. This has been
steadily controlled and violence steadily decreasing but anti India
forces are trying to unleash violence and the opposition is not standing
with the people of India and instead of bringing stability to the
region, they are playing in the hands of anti-India forces. India has
been more secure and stable in the last nine years from Kashmir to
Northeastern states.
Everywhere,
we are seeing situations where everything is brought under control
through steady intervention. The Honourable Home Minister visited the
place multiple times. But the opposition is creating false narrations to
rake up the issue communally and people of India will reject this kind
of negativity.