Neeraj Shekhar, Rajya Sabha member of Samajwadi Party, is quite a reflection of his irrepressible late father, former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, when he persists with what he wants to say, and what he thinks is right. Unlike many others, he can stand up on his own, and does not wait for a group to form to flag an issue.
Should an opportunity arise to question the Government on a delicate subject, Opposition benches know the Samajwadi Party member from Ballia (UP) will not easily concede ground. Nearing 50, Neeraj entered Parliament by getting elected to the Lok Sabha in a by-election from Ballia in 2007, when his father died. Ballia reelected him to the Lower House in 2009 but he lost the seat in 2014. He became a member of the Rajya Sabha in November 2014.
During his Parliamentary terms, he has been a member of Committees on Home Ministry, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Speaking to DEEPAK RAZDAN, he explains why he gets angry in the Rajya Sabha, and why he thinks the Congress Party has the primary responsibility to organise Opposition unity on major issues. Excerpts:
Q: In the Rajya Sabha, you fight for your right to speak quite aggressively in the angry young man mould.
A: I have learnt a few things from my father. There are a few issues on which if we don’t express our dissent, the situation will persist. So, it is important to express a difference of opinion, and the Government has a responsibility to give us an ear. If the Government does not care about the Opposition’s view, it is unfortunate, and raising one’s voice becomes unavoidable, sometimes. Outside Parliament, my profile is different, and people say I hardly speak.
If there are issues which concern the common man, and the Government does not respond, it becomes our responsibility as people’s representatives to take up those issues, and when we are not heard, it becomes necessary to speak loudly. There are times when the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman gets upset over my behavior. I tell them that I am raising people’s issues and problems, and the Government must pay heed to them and arrive at solutions.
Q: People have great expectations from you as your father has left a big legacy for you.
A: Being the son of a great public figure always means some advantages, as well as a few challenges. People have high expectations from such a person. It’s true in my case also. My father has left a great legacy for me, and it has contributed to my reaching the position I am in today. But if people start comparing the two of us, that will create problems for me. I have definitely gained from my father’s legacy, people of Ballia elected me to the Lok Sabha.
After that, it was time for me to show my worth, so that I am elected again. My father’s contemporaries like Sharad Pawar do comment that I lose my temper in the House, and rush into the Well. This could never be said about my father. Today’s situation, however, I would say, is different. There was a time when the Opposition spoke the Treasury Benches would listen. Nehru rushed to the House when a young MP like Atal Bihari Vajpayee or my father spoke. The scene is different today. The Prime Minister hardly comes to the House, he has no time to listen to us. Changes in circumstances do affect people’s conduct.
Q: The youth today is dissatisfied, they want decent jobs, good opportunities. What is your take?
A: The biggest problem today is of jobs for the youth. The unemployed youth is disgusted today not with this government alone, but with all those who are in politics. Every election time, assurances are given that if a party is voted to power, there will be a crore or more jobs. The youth is assured its interests would be taken care of. For 70 years, they have waited for action, but nothing happened.
This is the reason the youth is totally dissatisfied. They worked hard to be doctors, engineers. I have with me resumes of 400 B.Tech qualified youth. I am talking of just a few districts like Ballia, Ghazipur and Azamgarh. You can imagine the situation in the whole country. Parents invest all their savings for their children’s higher education. The Prime Minister’s response is “you can sell pakoras.”
I don’t consider selling pakoras a small job, but a pakora-seller doesn’t want his son, on whose education he has spent his life’s income and time, to stand beside him and sell pakoras after becoming an engineer. He wants his son to move upwards in life, and improve his family’s stature. The Government cannot escape its role in creation of jobs. No PM should have spoken the way Modi did, I said so in Parliament, a Minister could be OK. The PM’s words hurt hopes of the youth.
Q: Do you think Rahul Gandhi can be the centre-point of Opposition alliance?
A: Any leader can be the centrepoint. Right now, the need is for all Opposition parties to unite to fight elections. People ask who will lead the Opposition. I ask them, was there any leader in 1977; the whole Opposition came together against Indira Gandhi, formed Janata Party, and then chose a leader. In 1989, once again the Opposition forged unity, and formed Janata Dal. V P Singh became leader; the story was repeated in 1996. It’s not important to project any one; it is important to educate people fed up with this Government that this Government likes to talk about itself only, its own “Mann ki baat,” and does not care to hear others.
Q: Does it not appear that V P Singh got much more Opposition support on Bofors than the response Rahul is getting on Rafale?
A: I think the fault lies with the Congress Party. The Congress has some shortcomings. If the Congress Party takes the Opposition along… it is the biggest national party, it should call all leaders, and take them on board on the issue that concerns the country’s security. I would want Rahulji, Soniaji and the Congress Party, to call all Opposition leaders and take them into confidence so that the entire Opposition can speak on it. It is my personal view that this responsibility lies with the Congress to bring the entire Opposition together. This is a big issue already, but it can be much bigger, if Opposition comes together. The Congress has to take the initiative.
Q: How do you see the issue of reservation in jobs in the private sector?
A: I agree with this. The private sector too has a responsibility towards those who have lagged behind and turned backward. But I believe a proper policy should be evolved. It should not be like GST which was brought without much thought, and traders suffered. I’m sure if there is talk with the business people, they would readily agree to the proposal. They must be taken into confidence.
Q: How do you see the 2019 election?
A: I can’t speak for the whole nation, but what I see in UP, I can say the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party will jointly fight the BJP. This is decided. Akhileshji and Mayawatiji have already worked together. If this is so, we will get the maximum number of seats, we can win up to 70 seats. A large section of people at every level of society feels harassed by Yogiji’s policies in Uttar Pradesh, and Modiji’s policies at the Central level. No work has taken place in the state in the past 18 months. When two major political parties come together, I am sure, we will be able to defeat BJP’s communal forces, certainly in Uttar Pradesh.
Q: What has your experience in the Rajya Sabha been like?
A: I have been able to speak my mind, I have learnt a lot. Many people raise questions on the relevance of the Upper House but I understand that the House takes a second look at decisions sometimes taken in a hurry by the Lower House. Quite a lot of legislation referred to Select Committees by the Rajya Sabha was examined afresh with good results. This check helps in adoption of right policies and laws.
Q: The government accuses the Opposition of disruption.
A: The functioning of the House is the responsibility of the government. If they take the House into confidence, it works. How was GST passed by the House, SC-ST law? If you show your arrogance, the Opposition would unitedly stand up to you, and you will face difficulty. Democracy demands all should be taken along, anything in national interest will then move forward.