Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya speaks to Namita Bajpai on the UP government’s performance in its first 100 days.
What are the main challenges in the first 100 days?
Whatever we have been doing for the past three months, we did as a challenge.
How do you evaluate your government’s performance in the first 100 days?
We will come out with our report card on the occasion. No scope of deducting marks is there (smiles).
Why the government has not been able control crime?
It’s not true. Criminals are under fear and the way government is acting tough against these elements, is an achievement in itself. The occurrence of incidents can’t be checked completely but quick action and resolution of cases is all that matters the most. Criminals have realised that they won’t get patronage from any government quarter.
Have you been able to create a bhai-mukt samaj?
An anti-crime atmosphere has been created and we are going to consolidate it further. As we have got a huge mandate and the Opposition is grappling to save its political space, some political elements are playing a role in maligning our image. We are looking into this angle as well. If any such issue crops up, police will not shy away from taking a suitable action against whosoever.
Outfits such as Hindu Yuva Vahini and Bajrang Dal are said to have got emboldened after the formation of BJP government. How will you check them?
The BJP has nothing to do with HYV. It is an independent outfit. However, Bajrang Dal and VHP are associated with our Vichar Parivar (RSS). These used to be active for protecting cows from slaughter and stopping their smuggling which was rampant during the previous regimes owing to their appeasement policy. But at present there is no such issue.
Even after loan waiver, why farmers don’t seem to be happy?
Those who have loan burden running into lakhs may be feeling otherwise as we have waived crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh of small and marginal farmers. But we are working sincerely to elevate their living standard and income. Cane farmers are getting their dues in time, record purchase of wheat, 18-hour power supply for irrigation and task force against land and mining mafia are steps in this direction.