When the publisher of CINE BUSTER Ronnie Rodrigues and Jyothi Venkatesh went over to the office of Ashok Chavan, the humble and down to earth former Chief Minister of Maharashtra who currently is the President of the Maharashtra Congress party and also holds the post of the Opposition Leader in the Maharashtra Assembly gave us a no holds barred interview.
What made you to decide to take up politics?
It was nothing but natural instinct. My father Shankar Rao Chavan was an active politician for over 50 to 60 years. I completed my degree in Business Management in Pune University and then did my Business Administration in Bombay University. I joined his path in politics and joined Congress at District level first and then the State level.
You are perhaps the first person to hold the post of the Chief Minister in Maharashtra following in the footsteps of your father who was also the Chief Minister?
Yes. I may perhaps be the first son to follow in the father’s footsteps to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra but I am not the exception to the rule as already Farooq Abdullah followed his father Shaikh Abdullah as the Chief Minister and his son Farooq Abdullah succeeded him as the Chief Minister in J&K and Mulayam Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
What do you like the best about your father Shankar Rao Chavan?
My father was a good administrator ,who was honest to the core and also down to earth. Loyalty with the party was his main virtue, which I too have imbibed from him. I would say that my father Shankar Rao Chavan is my biggest strength.
What do you think was your sterling contribution to Maharashtra as the Chief Minister during your tenure?
As the Chief Minister, I took my State to the position of No 1 as far as investment was concerned. I had industry as one of my portfolios. We brought down terrorism and also handled the issue of the farmers’ debts properly. It was only after I had taken over that the law and order problem in the State was under control.
How tough is it for you to be in the Opposition after having been in the ruling party?
For me, it is the same routine, whether I am part of the ruling government or in the opposition. Earlier I was in the organisationl side whereas now I am in the opposition.
Do you watch films?
I go with my family regularly to watch films, especially during the week-ends. Recently I saw Tube Light. I like to enjoy watching a film with my family. My favorite stars in Hindi films are Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.
What do you think of Marathi Cinema today?
Marathi Cinema is doing very well for itself but the problem is that the producers do not know what exactly the audience wants today, if it has to survive. Like the makers of the film Sairat knew the pulse of the audience and the film clicked all over the country wherever it was released though it was a Marathi film. I make it a point to watch old Marathi black and white films on the TV.
This is not the GST that we wanted, with 5 different slabs which will burden the common man.
Do you remember your meetings with Rajiv Gandhi?
I have always admired Rajiv Gandhi. He has always been my great source of inspiration. I got a lot of opportunities to interact with him when he was the Prime Minister of the country and I was in the 8th Lok Sabha. Those were the good old days when the Congress party ruled the nation.
Do you think that the Congress will come back in a big way?
I am 100 % sure that the Congress will come back especially because today with BJP at the helm of affairs, people in our country do not enjoy the freedom of thought or for that matter freedom of expression. People in a democratic country like India should have the right to have the basic amenities. The government also lacks planning and also foresight. Democracy is important and the current government will not be able to rule the country with fear factor.
What do you think of the Adarsh scam and RERA?
Though there were several vested interests which blew it out of proportions, I think that the Adarsh scam was an accident in my life. It was like a Mumbai pothole. RERA is a welcome regulation introduced to protect the people from builders. We should ensure the regulations should not be very harsh for the consumers as well as the developers as we have to promote development of the State.
Do you aim at becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra?
More than me aiming to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, it is very imperative that our party should come back to power. Today the poor farmer has to put up with a lot of difficulties in their day to day life. We will see to it that the farmers get proper prices for their produces. If prices fall, the government should protect them. It will be our government’s topmost priority
What do you have to say about the GST ?
This is not the GST that we wanted, with 5 different slabs which will burden the poor common man. Our benchmark should be One Nation One Tax, not five different slabs of taxation. The government has made procedures very difficult and cumbersome. It is a big harassment for traders and everyone is unhappy with the slabs of GST. It is rubbish to have upto 43% taxes as GST.
Do you think it is tough for a honest politician survive in our country?
Why should always a politician be made a scapegoat by the media? Why is it that always issues which concern a politician blown up by the media? There are a lot of honest politicians too in our country. There are good and bad people in every sphere of the society and hence it is wrong for one to generalize and say that politics isn’t a good place for one to enter. Weren’t Nehru and Indiraji good as politicians?
Do you think Congress would agree to be an alliance partner with Shiv Sena if the latter requests the Congress?
I do not think that an alliance with Shiv Sena is possible now because we believe in being secular whereas Shiv Sena has the plank of Hinduism. We are not against Hinduism but want a political set- up where we do not sideline a person on the basis of his or her religion.
Riteish Deshmukh became a hero in films. Hasn’t the acting bug bitten you, though you are also handsome?
I am glad that you consider me handsome enough to be an actor. I would not mind trying my hand if I get the opportunity.
What is your message to our readers ?
Believe in secularism and help us unite to make our country a strong country in the real sense of the term.
