How do you plan to inject new zeal into the NCM?
I believe for better accountability and effective implementation of decisions, the country ought to be divided into five zones, each under one NCM member. Every member will have to establish close contact with governors, chief ministers,home ministers and police chiefs in his or her jurisdiction. They will have to send a quarterly report and look into specific complaints from minority communities, as well as those against them. There is a toll-free number listed on the NCM website and any community is free to contact us.
Won't your BJP past come in the way of securing full confidence of the minority communities?
Certainly not. They know that I'd gone to gain experience and I am wiser now. I will never return to BJP.
What would be your equation with the Yeddyurappa government?
I've no quarrel with BS Yeddyurappa. But as leader of the NCM, the prickly point I have with Karnataka is the genesis of moral policing. This is a serious matter. We'll look into it. There are allegations that many church attacks are self-inflicted for selfish reasons, like the recent one of Humnabad in Bidar district which turned out to be the handiwork of an ex-pastor.Is it true? Then it is really a serious matter. We will take this kind of mischief very seriously.
What do you suggest to check the saboteurs among the minorities?
We must issue a mission statement of guidance for minority communities and spell out the need for growing without stepping on others' toes. We should also recommend criminal action against insiders if they are found guilty.
Do you support Scheduled Caste status to Christian and Muslim converts as the Ranganath Commission has recommended?
Yes. Though many of them are convert by thoughts, their economic status remains poor.
Will it not encourage religious conversions?
So be it. This is a free country and the Constitution allows conversion by will, not by force. Let all the Christians in India be converted to Hinduism and vice versa, where's the problem?