EXCLUSIVE/ 'Stood Outside My Home With Cannula In Typhoid, Doors Didn't Open: Chirag Paswan on Feud With Uncle

New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP from Hajipur in Bihar and son of late Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan — Chirag Paswan — in a tell-all, revealing interview with Republic on Saturday, spoke about the alleged feud and strained relations with his uncle and former minister Pashupati Kumar Paras, his 'devotion to PM Modi' and much more.

The newly inducted minister for Food Processing and Industries and the National President of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), who recently assumed his office said it took him a few days to understand things in his ministry initially.

He told Republic, "It took me a few days initially to understand, read and get in-depth knowledge of the ministry. Now, I'm on the roll. My Prime Minister has given me a huge responsibility and I genuinely believe that the food processing industry is the future of our country."

Paswan In A No-Holds Barred Conversation On Alleged Feud With Uncle

Speaking about the alleged infamous feud with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, the 41-year-old minister said, "Somebody who's like a father figure to you...forget about being a father figure, he is a father to me after my father's demise. He was the one I used to look up to. My younger brother, who's like a kid brother to me, when we fight against them, it gets really difficult."

It Gets Difficult When You Fight Against Your Own People, Says Paswan

He added, "I'm ready to fight (against) the world but fighting against the family is the toughest. My father taught me to be a fighter. It gets difficult when you fight against your own people."

Paswan however said he held no grudges against anybody as he practised meditation and indulged himself in worshipping Gods, something that gave him immense 'self-control and gravity.'

'Told Uncle To Take Away Everything But...'

Paswan recalled the moment when he went up to his uncle amid the feud. He said, "I went to meet my uncle to give him everything I had. Had he met me that day...I didn't want to be the National President of my party anymore. I wanted him to take over if that was his wish. I just wanted to tell him to take everything but just don't break the party or the family."

'My Uncle Got Insecure, Wanted To Be Minister'

Addressing the allegations of being 'arrogant' and 'dictatorial,' Paswan asserted, "A lot of allegations were levelled against me' I was labelled as arrogant and a dictator but now when I connect the dots, I realise my uncle wanted to be a Central minister. That's it. It was as simple as that. It was his insecurity - that I will take over everything and get popular - that led to the family drama and split."

Couldn't Believe My Chachi Cursed Me, Says Paswan

Paswan further added, "I went inside (my house) and wanted to meet my uncle but couldn't meet him. I touched my chachi's feet. She always gave me blessings but that day, she looked at me and said whatever was happening to me was good. I couldn't believe my ears that a lady who was my mother could curse me this way. That eventually became a turning point."

They Didn't Open Doors Of My House: Paswan

Paswan, who said he felt unwelcomed at his own home underscoring the family tensions, asserted that he tried his best to keep his family and party intact, had the 'belief' and 'confidence' in himself that things between him and his uncle would work out. He said, "I was trying my best to keep my family and party together. I had this belief and confidence in me that things would work out and that nothing could go so wrong that blood relations could get hampered. I had that hope within me but I couldn't believe they didn't open the doors of my house for me."

'Stood There During Typhoid With Cannula In Hand'

He added, "I stood there in a condition when I was suffering from typhoid. In the visuals, you can see I had a cannula in my hand. Even before I went there (to my house), I was on drip."

Was Labelled A Nepo-Kid...But Had Nothing Left With Me...

Paswan said he was labelled as a 'nepo-kid' (an informal word used for children of famous parents who supposedly climb their way up through nepotism and not merit). The actor-turned-politician said, "The strongest allegation that was put against me was that I was a 'nepo-kid' but I had nothing left with me. I was the National President appointed by my father and elected by the party. I was thrown out of my own party and my party's name was taken away from me, and so was the symbol, the house where I was staying for the past 34 years was taken away from me within three hours. I started from scratch; I didn't even know the procedure to form a new party because it was my father who did all that. I was left to nothing. Glad my mother and the people around me had that belief in me, which kept me going."

'I Had To Be Strong, I'd No Other Option'

Paswan said, "You (are) fighting that situation and also dealing with the repercussions at home...with your mother, sister, niece, nephew etc. You are fighting that at multiple levels. I had to be strong, I had no other option. Difficult times come with only two options - either you become a crybaby and complain or you become a fighter."

Chirag On Calling Himself 'Lord Hanuman' of PM Modi

Speaking about his famous remark that he was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Lord Hanuman,’ Paswan quipped, "I believe he is the PM of our country and he is my PM. I have that devotion towards my PM and that belief in him. In the past 10 years, PM Modi has delivered everything that I have believed in. My Prime Minister and I share a beautiful equation together. He stood by me through all the thick and thin. He was there as a moral support."