Former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned to contest the Lok Sabha elections last year and is now a BJP MP. One-and-a-half years into his new role, he wishes the Centre would do more to check the Trinamool Congress government, which he had frequent run-ins with as a judge. In an interview with The Indian Express, he also says the BJP has not used his potential to the fullest. Excerpts:
* You were outspoken about alleged corruption in the ruling party ranks when you were in the High Court. Now, many of the TMC MLAs facing cases are getting bail, including Partha Chatterjee.
When the court feels bail is required and has granted it, I will not make any comment regarding it.
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* Do you think there have been any shortcomings in the Enforcement Directorate and CBI probes?
It is very poor, their performance is very poor. I do not know why they are not proceeding with the cases properly… stopping the investigation after 75% of the work is done… (and) not taking any steps in matters pending in the Supreme Court, (letting) miscreants enjoy stay orders. The CBI is not sincere about vacating the stay orders. All these searches by the ED… and what is the outcome? They should come clean, so should the CBI. So I say that the CBI performance is very, very poor and the ED performance is also poor.
* How do you see the working of the present BJP leadership in Bengal?
The BJP president (Samik Bhattacharya) is a very nice man, a very erudite person, and he is running the party for the last few months taking everybody along… not antagonising anyone. But as far as the other members are concerned, I do not wish to name them but at least two people in key posts are not liked by anyone… A large number of serious party workers are a bit depressed.
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* Do you think this could have an impact on the Assembly elections early next year?
It will not affect the elections directly, but if they remain in these positions at the time of nomination filing etc, there may be an impact… Whether people will give votes or not, I do not know, but party workers will remain de-motivated.
* Are you saying there is infighting in the party?
No, no, there may be differences in opinion, but everybody is working unitedly to oust the Mamata Banerjee government.
* How would you rate the TMC government?
See the industry, land policy, education, every matter… They are so corrupt that the government is not running at all. That is my point… why is the Centre not stepping in?… It has not done anything to change the course of actions of the West Bengal government. So why have constitutional provisions in this regard? The Centre must act. Bengal is a very prosperous state, but with so much corruption, benefits have gone to the pockets of political leaders and not to the people of the state.
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* There is a view that the BJP would have benefited more if state leaders held more decision-making powers, rather than the party being controlled by the Centre.
Suvendu Adhikari, Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh and others… they are fully capable of steering the party for the West Bengal elections. Yes they will take advice of elders, the national leaders, but the actual show must be run by people who know what Bengal is… Adhikari held three portfolios as a minister and has administrative and political experience, Dilip Ghosh is a very good organiser and dedicated to the party… Bengalis also want to see Bengali faces. Except for the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah), if too many non-Bengali leaders occupy the BJP political scene here, Bengali leaders will not be happy…
* You were a judge earlier and are now an MP. How has life changed from then to now?
It’s quite different. I did not mix with people earlier as I do now, as I have the liberty to do it and it is my duty to meet the people of my constituency and other persons… I do a lot of work for my constituency.
* Do you feel the party has utilised you well?
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No. I have not been involved in organisational work except for some lecturers and seminars. I can do a lot… A large number of people have a wrong notion about the TMC government… I feel I should go to them, talk to them and tell them that the TMC government is doing nothing, neither for the minority nor for the majority. This is very important work which I think I can do if given the responsibility.
* How do you view the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision drive? The BJP says Bangladeshis and Rohingyas should be identified.
Not only that, Muslim persons who are not Indian citizens, who have crossed the border by some means and have obtained false documents with the patronage of the TMC, they should not be allowed to remain in our country. They may come and go as tourists, but they cannot stay here as permanent citizens.