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Articles: Interview | Mere ko pagal kutte...
- Prof. 00782 Maverick
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Karan Thapar: What did Sonia say?
Rahul Bajaj: But she rang up around 1635 hrs. This was Sunday, June 4, the last
date and time for filing the nomination in Mumbai and I was in Pune when the
call came.
Karan Thapar: In other words before she rang you, you had already filed the
nomination?
Rahul Bajaj: No. This was Monday 3 pm and this was Sunday.
Karan Thapar: Then what was the problem?
Rahul Bajaj: I had confirmed to Sharad and Praful and by that time Advani Ji
and by that time Balasaheb Thakerey that yes I am standing.
Karan Thapar: Can I interrupt your flow. Did you ask Sonia Gandhi in that
conversation for Congress support?
Rahul Bajaj: 100 per cent.
Karan Thapar: And what did she say?
Rahul Bajaj: I don't want to misquote her, and this is personal talk, I don't
want to say many things.
Karan Thapar: You are not answering my question. What did Sonia say?
Rahul Bajaj: I will answer in my way not in your way. We are two very different
individuals but we are still great. And the 24 minutes will be hopefully over.
Karan Thapar: You are not answering at all. Except that you are simply for
time. Are you scared to say that Sonia said no? She refused support.
Rahul Bajaj: Sonia said more than that. What's there to be afraid of. Why
should I be afraid of anybody. Does she pay my salary.
Karan Thapar: Did she refuse support?
Rahul Bajaj: I got the impression from her, and Ahmed Patel said it, that three
days ago we would have supported you. I know your family's connection with the
Congress family for 70 years. I hold you in very different regard than the
other members in your community, other industrialists. But I will not be able
to now withdraw my candidate because we were assured by NCP and Sharad Pawar
that they will support our candidate, only today we have heard about this.
Karan Thapar: I will interrupt you. What she was indicating and what Ahmed
Patel confirmed was that you were three days too late?
Rahul Bajaj: Not confirmed because Ahmed Patel spoke to me only once but what
he mentioned was Rahul bhaiya we shall not be able to withdraw our candidate.
Karan Thapar: But if you had come three days earlier, they would have supported
you because they know your family and they know you. Isn't that what you say
that a moment ago?
Rahul Bajaj: Absolutely correct.
Karan Thapar: So in other words you were three days too late?
Rahul Bajaj: I wasn't a day too late because I did not know anything that was
happening.
Karan Thapar: If you had gone three days earlier, you would have got the
support.
Rahul Bajaj: I would not have gone. They should have come to me. How can I come
to somebody and say give me an independent seat. They were going to put my
sister, Prabha Rao from Varda.
Karan Thapar: I want to quote to you what you said to the PTI on June 11
2006. 'I was named Rahul by Pandit Nehru, Idiraji named her son Rajiv, I named
my son Rajiv, she named another son Sanjay, I named my second son Sanjeev.'
Rahul Bajaj: Correct.
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