Win or lose, I won't be back in party: Saryu Roy, former Jharkhand minister

Saryu Roy who was in the Jharkhand govt was denied a ticket for speaking against Raghubar Das. He stood against the CM as an independent in the recent elections

Former minister in the Jharkhand government, Saryu Roy is believed to be the man whose efforts put two former chief ministers (Lalu Prasad and Madhu Koda) in jail for corruption. Today, he is locked in a contest with his own chief minister, Raghubar Das, as an independent. Roy tells Shikha Shalini why he is fighting his own party. Edited excerpts:
 
You have been a popular and senior leader of the party. Why were you denied a ticket?
 
I have been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1962 when I was in Class 8. I joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) later. I never asked the party for anything, but the party gave me a lot. I am grateful for that. When I was a minister in the Jharkhand government, I was critical of the government’s work. I spoke to everyone in the Cabinet regarding these irregularities and I also spoke to the top leadership like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. But people didn't like what I said. That's why I'm out of the party.

 

I even told the party that if I am not being given a nomination, please let me know so that I can publicly announce that I will not contest the election. I was told: there is no question of not contesting. After the fourth list was released and my name was absent from all, I said: now I feel insulted. I said that whoever is responsible for this, I will contest against him. So, I contested the election as an independent from Jamshedpur East against Raghuvar Das.
 
What kind of irregularities were you seeing in the government?
 

Out of the 30 government departments in the state, 16 departments were held by the Chief Minister (CM). The CM kept all the creamy and important departments. You can imagine the motive behind this. It was in the knowledge of our Prime Minister and the national president Amit Shah. Despite this they backed the CM.
 
No one called me to intercede. I went to talk to Modi and Shah myself. If they thought I was doing something that I shouldn't have done, they should have called me and talked to me at least.
 
What do you think there was implied consent of the top leadership to what the CM was doing?

 
It wouldn't be right to impute in any motives to the top leadership. The people will have to think this over. However, let me make one point: That the Prime Minister did not take Das’ name in public meetings. In many places, he was not able to share the dais with the Prime Minister.
 
How was your talk with Prime Minister Modi and Shah?
 
I met the Prime Minister on August 4, 2017. He and even Shah gave identical assurances that my objections about the functioning of the government would be addressed. Shah also came to Ranchi and things remained fine for six months but after that it went back to the same thing.

 
Had Shah said something to the chief minister?
 
I don't know what happened. Mangal Pandey, a Bihar minister who was also in charge of Jharkhand in the Lok Sabha election said that I should not say anything till the Lok Sabha elections and they would rectify the situation. I don't know what was happening at that time but nobody called me and talked to me. I am not here to keep people happy. That's why I say what I think is right. I even told the chief minister that the path you have chosen is the same path that led to Madhu Koda’s fate. I said it many times. Only about 10 per cent of the matter came out in the media. They are also upset that I talked to the media.

 
What is the problem in the party in the state? Because there are many groups…
 
People remain dissatisfied. The party is expelling those who appear to be standing with me. But the fact is that there is an attachment to the party and no one would want to leave the party under normal circumstances. I had told most of them that I would contest against the CM and that they should take a decision according to their conscience. I don't believe anyone is with me. I'm alone in this fight.
 
What will be the political future of Jharkhand in your opinion?

 
It is clear that the BJP is not going to get a majority in Jharkhand.
 
You mentioned allocation of mining leases to some companies and appointments scam during the campaign. Why did you not speak aggressively while you were a Cabinet Minister?
 
There are limitations and decorum of being in the Cabinet. I have objected to these things in writing also. There is a record of things I have said, though these have not been made public. Now I am free and I am publicly saying what I said internally. It's not that I'm saying anything new. My words should be judged on merit.

 
Your efforts have put two former chief ministers in jail for corruption. Who will be your next target?
 
I'll follow up on all the issues that I've raised earlier. Certainly, the objectionable points against the CM will also be raised. It is difficult to find evidence of something directly.
 
I don't say anything unless I'm sure about it. I don't even speak against the opposition people without proof. Many things may come out in the public. We cannot say today, what might happen in the future.
 
Will you consider returning to the party?
 
I won't come back to the party whether I win or lose the election. I told my party leaders: Whatever the party tells me I will do. I am even ready to clean the floor. But if you humiliate and insult me, it will not be tolerated.

 
If there is a hung assembly, what will you do?
 
If I become an MLA, I will decide on merit. Even if I win, my role would be that of an independent MLA.
 
You had a few meetings with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad. Did he say something?
 
I met him in 2013 when I went to Ranchi jail. After that I met him when he was ill. I was the one to lodge the case against him but I went for a courtesy meeting. He has supported me in this current election.
 

Nitish Kumar's party is also supporting you? Do you think your proximity with the JD(U) chief created some problem?
 
Yes, Nitish ji's party has also supported me and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have also given me moral support. My friendship with Nitish goes back to the time we were classmates in school and at Patna Science College. We were in the same hostel. When I lost the election in 2009, he called me to join his government. Our political stand makes no difference in our personal relationship. Shah had said at a meeting of the parliamentary board that Nitish released my book though he doesn’t listen to anyone. However, he was the chief minister with the BJP’s support. My book release by Nitish was not liked by many party members but supporting his candidature for CM post was fair enough.