NEW DELHI: Actor-politician and sitting MP Ravi Kishan, who is seeking re-election from Gorakhpur, felt that the dignity of polls has been lowered by the opposition’s personal attack on PM and says that BJP will secure a landslide victory banking on the works done by PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath. He adds that the INDIA bloc is nothing but ‘26 logon ka ek immature dal’ which will disintegrate as soon as the poll results are announced. In a chat with TOI’s Mohita Tewari, he spoke about his poll prospects and priorities. Excerpts:
If you are re-elected MP what facilities or changes will you bring that couldn’t be achieved in the first term? It’s my dream to set up a regional film city in Gorakhpur like the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. I am a student of cinema and the one who set up a new film (Bhojpuri) industry in Mumbai. I had given employment to around one lakh people in Mumbai. I know how to generate employment with the help of cinema. I want to end the struggle of lakhs of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar children who want to make their career in this field. They will learn the art in their state and won’t have to struggle in Mumbai.
Gorakhpur is still struggling with waterlogging, unemployment and traffic jams. What have you done to resolve them as the MP? We have invested over Rs 1,000 crore to solve the waterlogging issue. We have set up a water regulator in Tarkulani village which sucks up excess water and diverts it towards the river to prevent waterlogging. Now we are constructing Goddhaiya Nala with an investment of Rs 1,100 crore. Around 80% of its work is complete. This way we have resolved the waterlogging issue to a great extent and just a few places are left which will be made free from the problem. On employment front, we have made Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority where big companies are coming, and students will get a lot of job opportunities. Also, I have raised the issue in Parliament demaning opening of IIT and IIM in Gorakhpur. This would help students get quality education and technical skills too. For resolving traffic woes, we have got Rs 2,650 crore sanctioned from govt for the construction of the ring road. Its work is in progress.
Opposition calls you an ‘outsider’ here. What do you have to say about it? Also, it is alleged that since you come from the film industry you give more time to Mumbai than Gorakhpur? You are sitting in my house. I have shifted here with my wife and my children. If you just scroll down my social media wall of the last five years you will find my presence here, be it during the construction of the underpass, railway track or flyover, or inauguration of new facilities, you will find me wearing a mask and carrying a ration on a boat to help people during the pandemic. I am the only one who has raised 500 questions in Parliament in the interest of public and have become the No. 1 parliamentarian in Uttar Pradesh.
How will BJP fare in Purvanchal this time? In the last polls, BJP failed to make a clean sweep despite ‘Modi wave’ in 2019 and could win 18 of the 27 seats. Will BJP win all 80 seats in UP? Seats are won with ‘work’ and fulfilling ‘commitment’. My Prime Minister Modiji is a man of his words. ‘Unki kathani aur karni mai antar nahi hai’ the same is true with ‘Maharaj ji (CM Yogi). Be it Ram Mandir or Ayushman Yojana, all work committed by the party have been done. I am sure of a very big success in this region. We are winning maximum seats in UP including all in Purvanchal.
You are among BJP’s star campaigners. Tell us how this election is different for you than 2019.
“Maine itni ghatiya rajneeti ka starr nahi dekha, maine bahut saare election dekhey hain bachpan se par vipaksh ka starr bahut gir gaya hai iss election me. They don’t have facts or figures to counter PM Modi and hence are personally attacking PM and also Yogiji. ‘Rahul Gandhiji ki bhasha, Akhilesh Yadavji ki bhasha, inke pass jhoothe aropon ke alawa kuch nahi hai. The opposition doesn’t have anything to oppose, all they have is ‘26 logon ka immature dal’.
Last time it was SP-BSP alliance and this time it’s INDIA bloc. Will it pose a challenge to you and the party? These people are here just for elections. After elections you will see them flying off to foreign shores. Their flights are already booked for Italy and Australia. They don’t know India. It is a land of villages and they will get lost here if left alone. Modi govt has worked for all sections of society. Hence people from all communities, religions and castes have aligned to vote for him be it backward class, SC or Muslim women. Govt schemes like distribution of free ration, giving houses to poor and others have benefitted all. It was PM Modi who asked me to make a movie on organic farming and real India, hence my recently released film Lapata Ladies is getting so much love from people.
What win margin are you aiming for? How many seats will BJP win in UP and the country? Last time it was ‘Damru’ of our success and I am confident that this time it will be a deafening ‘Nagada’ of success. Our party will witness a massive victory.
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