We connect to people through work not speeches: Vasundhara Raje

The rousing welcome chief minister Vasundhara Raje along with Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani got during the Gujrat Gaurav Yatra on Thursday shows which way the wind is blowing.

During the campaign Raje spoke exclusively to Zee Rajasthan reporter Aishwarya Pradhan:

Huge response from the people. Gujarat chief minister is also with you. It is being said that huge crowd turn up wherever you go. Two CMs are together. How will this benefit?

I can only say that people compare between the vast amount of time Congress got and the very little time the BJP got. They talk about development; they talk about Swachh Bharat and how much filth has been reduced even in the villages. You can see energy and spirit level of these people. How cheerfully they have been welcoming. When you see this kind of feeling, there is nothing much to do. This is Banaskantha; last time we had won three seats and lost six but this time we will win 100%.

Congress has been giving various statement regarding development in Gujarat whether Rahul Gandhi or any other leader. Ashok Gehlot too is here.

(while commenting on Gehlot) we are seeing his utility in Congress party in Rajasthan. In the last 70 years the Congress has developed the habit of doing noting. It’s only scheming and doing vote bank politics.

Divide people and take votes. (On PM Modi) He was earlier CM and now the first PM who said we have to look towards development. If a state develops it would benefit everyone. There should be electricity, water, health and education facilities, teachers and jobs in each village like they have abroad. The Gujarat has given this in the last 20 years. I was looking at figures a while ago 57 universities from 7, 3000 medical seats from 800 and 65,000 doctors from 20,000.There were handful of anicuts now there are lakhs of them. Drinking and irrigation water has reached places where agriculture was not possible. The situation has changed. Gujrat has moved forward.

Gujarat elections and by-polls in Rajasthan are going to be held simultaneously. You have huge following in Rajasthan. There was huge reception in Ajmer and Alwar. How will this benefit because Congress has been constantly accusing you.

You must have witnessed personal allegations. How low they can stoop. We want to connect with people. We promised to serve them for which they voted for us. Therefore, we do not want to engage in argument with them. We don’t want to ask them but we only want to ask them why you didn’t do anything so far. If only you had done we wouldn’t be so backward. Our people would not have been counted among BIMARU state. I am proud that in the last four years we worked to take the state out of BIMARU status. We want to keep it that way and for that we will have to work hard. You have seen we have been working 12-12 hours. I am not saying that you praise me.

It is being said that your energy level is unparallel. You take meetings for 12-13 hours; discuss each and every point till the meeting is not finished.

You have been seeing for one week. Meeting should not be formality. Don’t do it then. There is no point unless there is effort to listen and resolve the matter. We sat with district administration to try and correct small matters. I believe lot of things were resolved that made people happy and we are also pleased. People who get votes and acquire high position should not think about themselves rather they should think how much we could do for people. I want to stay away from that benchmark. I am not concerned about what they say.

Rajasthan government’s schemes are quite popular. People have begun to understand. How much will this help in election?

There cannot be success in everything you do but those in the government have responsibility to make effort and correct things. They should try to delivery things properly to the people. A lot of people ask me why do you do surprise inspection. I reply that this is necessary because if I do not know where things have gone wrong and if I am not able to rectify it then what people would do. People are bored of speeches. We have to connect people through work not speeches. If there is even a minor mistake in our programme, there will be strict action and government officials are working for public, they get salary but if they are not ready to do public’s work than they have no right to sit there.