Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 24: Kuilady Suresh Nayak was recently chosen as the new president of the district BJP here. BJP national president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, appointed him recently as the district BJP president. Kuilady had in the past, discharged responsibility as the general secretary of the party.
Suresh Nayak has been associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Saigh (RSS) since 1986. He has been serving as an activist of the BJP since 1989. In 1996, he became the secretary of BJP Udupi Mandal unit. He became Udupi district BJP Yuva Morcha president in 2005. In 2008 he became the district general secretary of the party, and was made district BJP vice president in the year 2000. In 2011, he became the taluk MPMC president. In 2013 he was made the BJP Kaup Mandal president. In 2018 assembly election, he ably discharged duty as Kaup constituency in-charge of assembly election. Kuilady, who has been in the transport sector since he turned 19, has now become the district president of the party. Till now he was the general secretary of the district BJP.
Daijiworld's Suchith Kotian interviewed Kuilady Suresh Nayak.
Excerpts:
Q: What is your reaction on being made the district president of the BJP in a district that has been a strong bastion for the party? Which challenges do you perceive for the future?
A: The immediate challenge that is considerably huge is the gram panchayat election that will be held in April and May. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are easier compared to gram panchayat election. Even though this election is not fought on the basis of party affiliations, we have to take all activists into confidence. If we do this successfully, it will be easier to face further challenges in the future.
Q: Your preparations for local body election?
A: Like we have the supreme leader at the national level, we have leaders at the gram panchayat level. More than the individual, arrangements are made based on ideologies. Four to five booths together create Shakti Kendra. Maha Shakti Kendras are formed, booth level meetings are held, and candidates are decided at the level of Shakti Kendras.
Q: Will national level economic problems have any influence on local body election?
A: Election manifestos are prepared based on the integrated development of every panchayat. As money comes directly from the 14th finance commission directly to MLAs, zilla panchayat, MPs etc after the BJP government rose to power at the centre, development works are going on unhindered.
Q: Reason for Aam Aami Party's success in Delhi?
A: In New Delhi, a number of free schemes have been implemented. The people there have openly accepted such schemes. But people cannot be looked after by doling them anything free. These are election gimmicks. AAP ran the government only at Delhi and worked with focus in that city. They also get special packages. But in the long run, these things are not good.
Q: What is your take on CAA and NRC?
A: CAA is nothing but the continued part of agreement entered into between Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaqat Ali. People have misconceptions about CAA. Protests are held as part of Congress conspiracy.
Q: Will the protests by parties, people etc sound warning bells for you?
A: The party has undertaken many programmes to educate and alert people. The opposition does not want to appreciate these initiatives purposefully. People who are asleep can be woken, not those who act like sleeping.
Q: You grew with the RSS. What is your opinion about this outfit?
A: RSS does not support cast and religious differences. It teaches patriotism. But some have some misconception about it. It respects every individual irrespective of religious affinity.
Q: How was your experience of working in indifferent capacities in the BJP?
A: Every responsibility gives new experience. I have sincerely and successfully discharged duties except between 1999 and 2004 when I did not participate in party activities on account of some differences.
Q: You aspired to be party's candidate for assembly election last time but it eluded you.
A: Caste equations play an important role. Winning of the candidate is of prime importance.
Q: About district in-charge minster not present here.
A: The in-charge minister keeps coming here, and the legislators submit weekly reports on development. The activists want him to stay here, and we have brought this demand to the notice of the leadership.
Q: V S Acharya was the backbone of the BJP here. His untimely demise hurt the BJP a lot. What do you want to say about it?
A: True, he was an excellent politician who was beyond jurisdiction. His departure created a huge vacuum which took very long to come to terms with. He was like a walking Wikipedia. His knowledge was immense.
Q: How do you handle both responsibilities in transport and political sectors?
A: Because of various problems, transport business is going through a lean patch. It is not profitable. I took over when I was 19 due to the death of my father. Compared to elsewhere, the transport facility in Udupi is the best. I also have responsibilities in Canara Bus Owners Association. Toll charges are also hurting us. There is a need to bring them down.
Q: On your move on political path and childhood memories.
A: Kuilady is a small village. Then it did not have even vehicles. I completed education in Mundoji, Hiriadka and did my PUC in MGM College. I finished automobile diploma through MIT Manipal. I used to attend BJP office at Hiriadka. Although I used to campaign for the party when I was a student, I had not taken it seriously, nor did I dream of occupying important positions and power in the BJP. My father had fought Mandal panchayat election as a Janatadal candidate when Congress was everywhere. We have activists who work hard sincerely.
Q: On the notion that BJP saffronises Hindutva and coastal districts are used as laboratories for its experiments.
A: Those who have wrong understanding of Hindutva find it hard to understand. We have minority Morcha. Here minorities get more respect than the Congress. We do not differentiate between people of different castes and religions whereas Congress has spread such a false notion about are. We are not opposed to Muslims, not favouring Hindus. We are supporting those who love their country. Ours is not a party that is based on profession or family. We are happy if people understand our principles and policies and support us. We do not need certificate from the Congress.
Watch full interview: