Deekshith D V
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Apr 2: BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar Kateel, who has been the MP of the district for the last five years, is a man of few words. Time and again questions have been raised about his contribution as an MP, his educational qualification and his ability to speak in the parliament given the language barrier. Nevertheless, a recent survey by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) claimed that he is ranked 24th among the MPs in the country.
Nalin Kumar Niranjan Shetty Kateel began his career as a member of RSS at the age of 18. He worked as a civil contractor before joining the BJP in 2004. He was district general secretary of the party for a period of five years. He was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in the year 2009.
In an exclusive interview with daijiworld, Nalin Kumar speaks on various issues, from development to criticism from opponents, even as he exudes confidence of winning the upcoming election.
Transcript of the Interview
DW: In the previous elections you won by a margin of 40,000-plus votes. Do you feel you can repeat that performance this time too?
NKK: Yes, 100 percent. Bharatiya Janata Party will win this district by a greater margin than last time.
DW: Is there Modi wave in Dakshina Kannada?
NKK: Yes, definitely there is a wave. If you compare the last elections and this one, you can see the difference. After Narendra Modi came to Mangalore (in February this year), the atmosphere has completely changed. There is Modi wave in each and every village of this district.
DW: Will people of Dakshina Kannada vote on Nalin Kumar’s performance or Modi influence?
NKK: They are two different things. A positive atmosphere has been created due to Narendra Modi’s nationalist thought and ideology. Regarding my own work efficiency too, in Times Now survey 88-90% people expressed good opinion about me. In five years I have brought several grants and implemented various projects, hence people have faith on me. Therefore, people will vote considering both me and Modi.
DW: There is direct allegation from Congress leaders that 'Nalin Kumar never raised his voice in the parliament'. What do you have to say to this?
NKK: By asking 284 questions and taking part in 14 discussions, I became the voice for the people of the district and raised their concerns in the parliament. Not only inside the parliament but even outside I have spoke on issues like Niddodi power plant, Netravati river diversion, fruit rot disease, and demanded Tulu language's inclusion in 8th Schedule. Both inside and outside (the parliament) I have struggled for people. Today, Congress has no other issue to take up and criticize. They sleep in the Assembly and Lok Sabha. So they think others are also like them.
DW: Previous election you won with a majority. Do you think it was because of a strong influence of Sangh Parivar in Dakshina Kannada?
NKK: Definitely. When I was a common man, when voters did not know who was Nalin Kumar, I got 40,000 votes. It was because of the influence of Sangh and party workers.
DW: Basically you were a social activist. What made you to get into the politics?
NKK: I was known as a social activist, I evolved as a Sangh member amidst religious thinking, and as RSS volunteer, and subsequently the Sangh leaders asked me to get into politics, which I did.
DW: Do you have that same support from Sangh Parivar in this election too?
NKK: Definitely, the same goodwill is there with me. All activists of Sangh are supporting me. When I err, they correct me and guide me all along the way.
DW: What are the major challenges you face in this election?
NKK: All elections are challenging to candidates. Just as exams are challenging to students, so also in politics, each election is challenging to the candidate.
DW: Do you think this time sympathy wave may favour Congress candidate Janardhan Poojary?
NKK: He is a senior leader, a respectable and veteran politician. It is not right for us to think what wave he has or not.
DW: When your name was announced as the candidate, there was confusion and dissatisfaction within the BJP party workers. Does that dissatisfaction still exist?
NKK: There was no confusion or dissatisfactions among party workers or activists. People who wanted to create this confusion had done so.
DW: Your opponents and detractors ask 'What is the contribution of Nalin Kumar Kateel to this district'. How do you respond to that? Can you mention a few of the major works you have done?
NKK: At the outset my question is this - What is the contribution of Veerappa Moily who won from this district earlier? What has Oscar Fernandes who was Lok Sabha member for 30 years done for this district? What has he done as a minister? The Congress government has ruled this nation for 60 out of the 67 years since Independence, but has it given to this district? Let them first make that list.
In 5 years as member of the opposition party (at centre), I did what I could do. First, by making use of grants. I brought more grants to this district. The grants were properly utilized for the development of rural areas. By continuously making a follow-up I implemented the programmes of the central government. I organized regular railway meetings. There are three divisions Palghat, Mysore and Konkan Railways. To solve problems pertaining to railways promptly, I called meetings once in three months. Tender process began for Jeppu-Padil railway bridge work, Jeppu-Kudpadi and Adyar have got approvals, Baikampady bridge work is at the final stage. There are various rubber boards. Today, two rubber divisions in Puttur and Beltangady have got approval. As opposition party member I have done what I could. That is why I am leading in the survey.
DW: In the forthcoming elections if people bless you for the second time, what can they expect from you?
NKK: Surely, people will bless me for the second time. This time NDA will form the government. If NDA comes to power we will have various projects. These projects had previously been prepared.
Mangalore should get separate railway division and port should be developed. The district depends upon agriculture, hence special agriculture zone should be formed, through which employment and business opportunities can be created. IT Park should be set up which will provide employment opportunities to 75,000-1,00,000 people without harming the environment. Four-laning of roads should be completed and problems with regard to Shiradi Ghat should be solved. Bajpe airport should be upgraded to international standards.
Special importance should be given to fisheries development. This we can do if I get opportunity when our government comes to power. Despite having no past experience I was able to become one of the top MPs, now with experience I can do much more.
DW: What is your stand on Nidoddi power plant and Yettinahole projects?
NKK: The whole world knows that I protested against the Niddodi project by joining hands with people of Nidoddi. I met all union ministers concerned in support of Niddodi people. If there was a temporary stay on this project, it is because of my struggle and effort. I will never allow Yettinahole project either, I am completely against it. Such a hazardous project will never come to this district.
DW: Moral policing is one major problem that has been haunting the district. If you are elected again what action you will take on this?
NKK: Moral policing increases when the home department fails, and when there is no action from police department. Let the government take proper action on this. Why does moral policing happen in the first place?
DW: So you are saying that the present government has failed in this regard?
NKK: The government is not doing its work. Where is law and order? Every day rape cases are being reported in Dakshina Kannada district, murders are taking place in broad daylight, but there is no arrest. Cattle thieves and slaughterers are barging into houses, kidnapping incidents are being reported. The government should never interfere in police matters, but instead strengthen the department. Government is politicizing the police department. When the police get good support, there will be no moral policing.
DW: On March 27 in a press meet, a state minister openly alleged that Nalin Kumar Kateel obtained a BDA site within three months after becoming MP. Your response.
NKK: BDA site was given to me as it was given to all other MPs and MLAs. As per law it is not in my name. It is in court, because of problems with BDA sites. He (the minister) should study the issue properly and then talk. The site was sanctioned for me but it is not with me but in the court. It is in my name but not registered. It cannot belong to me.
DW: On what prominent issues will you go to people for seeking votes?
NKK: We will bank on 'development mantra’ - Development and progress of NDA government during its tenure and secondly on BJP government’s contribution to the state. Third, development work done by Narendra Modi in Gujarat and my own development works in the last five years. We will go to the people with all these development works.
DW: This time even the AAP is in the election fray. Will it affect your votes?
NKK: This is a democracy, hence anyone can contest. Voters of Dakshina Kannada are intellectuals. They decide who they want to vote for. If they are concerned about national issues they will vote for us. Anyone can present their ideology, but accepting or rejecting it is up to the people.
DW: We can see BJP party workers in Mangalore and other places seeking votes in the name of Narendra Modi and not in the name of Nalin Kumar. Your comments.
NKK: Modi is our party's captain. A team needs a captain. In a cricket team, the captain is more important than the bowler and the batsman. Our leader is Modi. Today, the Congress has no captain. Chidambaram and Abhishek Sanghvi are not contesting elections as they have been run out. Why are they using the Gandhi name from several years? They used the Gandhi name to seek votes, but we never questioned, we will not do so either. So we ask people to vote for Narendra Modi to make him PM of this nation. Here we ask votes in the name of Nalin because Nalin is the candidate. Moreover, vote is cast for the lotus symbol, hence we ask people to vote for the symbol.
DW: Poojary claims that it is a contest between him and Modi? Why doesn't he take Nalin's name?
NKK: You are addressing this question to the wrong person. You need to ask this question to Poojary. He is a senior politician, he is capable of answering this question.
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