MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Oct 10: Independent MLA Saryu Roy, who left BJP and defeated its incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das in his constituency in 2019, said the Indian youths should be wary of rising communalism and warned them against calls for Islamization of India.
“It’s difficult for Indian youths to remain unaffected by the communal feelings spreading across the country but they should understand that communalism can be dangerous to the Indian civilisation,” Roy said in an interaction at the lagatar24.com office in Ranchi.
“Youths should see what they want in future. Indian civilization should not get destroyed like the Persian civilization. There should be harmony between the different religions. It is not acceptable that some sections want to turn India into an Islamic country.
“The ancient Indian civilization has a rich cultural heritage. I oppose the calls from some people to Islamize India by 2047. This prosperous civilisation should not get destroyed,” said Roy, who has remained connected with both socialist and nationalist leaders.
He joined RSS when in school, participated in the JP movement against corruption in 1974, remained BJP leader for a long and exited it after not getting a ticket in 2019. He won as an independent with support from socialist leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav.
However, Roy said he was an RSS activist and remains one till date.
“I am a hardcore Hindu and have stayed in Muslim-dominated areas. During times of communal tension, I used to walk into their colonies and asked them to show restraint as true hardcore Muslims. I have never followed the appeasement policy,” he said.
Roy has planned an anti-corruption movement starting on the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, Tuesday 11 October 2022, to make the new generation aware of the effects of corruption that results in poverty and unemployment.
“More than 800 people have registered to take part in the meet tomorrow. Our aim is not to change the government but if it happens, it can be considered as a milestone on the path to changing the system that is destroying the country and the future of its youths.”
As to how he could defeat the incumbent BJP Chief Minister in his own constituency, he said that he never fought the election to defeat or insult Das. He said he wanted to raise a voice against injustice and both BJP workers and socialist leaders supported him.
“It’s the junta that decides. They took it as their duty to make me win. In the fight against corruption, voices from different corners will help generate a mass movement,” he said.
