It is time we paid our dues : Shekhar Suman's Interview in The HIndu

ZIYA US SALAM

Two actors who are making their political debuts this year, talk about their plans for the future.

Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Starry challenges: Shekhar Suman.

Television’s best known motor mouth, Shekhar Suman is not your archetypal politician. Entering the fray from Patna Sahib on a Congress ticket, he is remarkably honest when it comes to the challenges facing him. Film actor, TV chat show host and now an aspiring MP, Shekhar admits his party is in the doldrums in Bihar though it might just turn the corner this time around. Excerpts from a chat:

After years of hosting “Poll Khol” what brought you to the other side of the fence?

“Poll Khol”. While hosting it, I realised I had brought a certain awakening with the show. I have entered elections but I did not want to join politics on a winning ticket or a place with a political base. Congress has no base here but my intention was to go through the right party, a party that cares for the country and countrymen. Right from my grandfather, who was the first Advocate General of Bihar to my dad, everybody has been with Congress.

In fact, all through my career I have made independent decisions. When I came to television, everybody said don’t go there. Today, everybody from Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan to Akshay Kumar is there. It is important to be a role model, lead the way. Before joining politics, I used to be angry with our political system too. Now I realise to change the system you have to be in the system.

But is not Bihar in the doldrums and Congress, which has ruled the State earlier, at least somewhat responsible for the fate?

We have developed a cynical attitude towards politics. But it is time we paid our dues too. If today we are a global power, 60 years after Independence, it has to be due to some honest politicians, some people who had the right policies, the right ideas, the right vision. It was important to join a party to win an election. Once you become an MP you get a forum to make things count, it is a lot easier to raise your voice.

How steep is the challenge ahead, considering you are pitted opposite Shatrughan Sinha of the BJP? And RJD has parted ways with the Congress in the State.

Nothing comes easy in life. If you think you are on a weak wicket, you will lose. I believe with courage and honesty you can fight any opponent. As far as Shatrughan Sinha or any opponent is concerned, I believe people have seen over the years who could have delivered for them and who did not. Because of them people might view me also with scepticism.

The media might project a different picture but I believe the RJD parting ways with the Congress is the best possible thing for our party. It is rejuvenation time for the Congress in Bihar. We have an agenda, a plan in place. Winning or losing is not everything but there is hope across the ranks of the party now.

But the Congress is likely to need the same RJD to form the government at the Centre? And other allies too.

I sincerely hope the Congress comes to power on its own. If you take support from other parties, you have to bow to policies the party does not believe in. We might need support though…

The Samajwadi Party bailed out the Congress in the nuclear deal. Do you look at a possible ally there?

I would dread that. A party that takes the nation back by a century. It is time for people to realise that to learn Hindi you don’t have to ban English. To give a job to everybody you don’t have to ban computers. It is a Utopian thought the Samajwadi Party seems to be espousing. Today, you cannot wish away mobiles and go back to landlines.

Your special agenda for the constituency and the State?

Till the 1960s, Bihar was among the best administered States. It was a seat of intellectual power, a cultural hub. I want to revive those times. Today, it is considered an abuse to call anybody a Bihari. I want everybody to be able to say with pride that he is a Bihari. And for that to happen, we have to provide the infrastructure in the State. Biharis excel when they leave Bihar. We have to stop this brain drain. And we have to say goodbye to the politics of division and segregation. I hate the Hindu-Muslim divide, the majority-minority talk. Why can’t we talk of the nation, India, strengthen it, make everybody strong? I may not be able to bring about a revolution but if as an individual I can bring about even a miniscule change, I would be satisfied.