Mathura MP and BJP leader Hema Malini on Friday said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had given a befitting reply to the Congress for a sexist remark its spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had made against her. The derogatory remark has snowballed into a major controversy with the BJP saying the Congress has touched a “new low” in showing “disrespect” towards women.
Speaking to News18, actor-politician Hema Malini said the BJP respects women while the Opposition “thinks differently”. Laying out her plans for Mathura, she said she is targeting a victory margin of 7 lakh votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Edited excerpts:
How is your election campaign going?
We went to Vishram Ghat where Lord Krishna killed Kans. It is very popular. Before starting my election campaign, I offer prayers at Vishram Ghat.
You have won the Mathura seat twice. What is your election plank this time?
Dreams I have for Mathura are not fulfilled yet. I want to make it a beautiful religious and tourist destination. Beautiful temples exist here. We have lot of places here where Lord Krishna has done ‘leela’. I went to Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was born. They keep their streets so well-maintained. Nobody bothers here, but I try my best. Basic needs like water and electricity have already been provided. The Chaurasikos Parikrama is most important. Right now, it is not good enough to walk, but a roadmap is ready for that. Nitin Gadkari ji is ready to do the project.
How do you react to the Congress party making sexist remarks against women while their leaders give slogans like ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’?
Narendra Modi ji says ‘Nari Tu Narayani’, that is our thought. Their (Opposition) thinking is different. Yogi Adityanath ji rightly replied on my behalf that it is an insult of ‘MatruShakti’.
When will the Parikrama Marg Project start?
We will start in this term. If I don’t start, then it will fizzle out. I belong to Mathura. If you give me some other seat, I won’t be interested.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath keeps dropping hints on the issue of Krishna Janmabhoomi…
It is a legal battle, let the decision come. At the moment, the temple is very beautiful, but the battle is for some other thing. So if it gets cleared… Lord Krishna will decide and start it off.
Locals are divided on the idea of Banke Bihari Corridor. Some don’t want it.
They don’t understand the benefits of the corridor once it comes up. It is a small space and we see a lot of rush. At times, it becomes a stampede-like situation. We will convince locals that nothing will happen to their businesses. Mathura city’s economy is due to tourism so we have to think about it.
Cleaning Yamuna has always been an issue. Can you assure the people that in your next term, you will fight for it?
When I first became MP, my first question in Parliament was ‘Yamuna Shuddhikaran’. People told me ‘you will never get water from Haryana’. Many people helped me understand the problem. Most of the sewage is coming from Delhi. We have to go and speak to the Delhi government. We have also spoken to the Jal Shakti minister. We have closed 20 sewers flowing into the Yamuna. Just four are left to be closed.
What victory margin are you targeting?
My karyakartas are saying asking me to target 7 lakh victory margin. I have done some good work with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Comments
0 comment