Prime time at IIT-B with CM Devendra Fadnavis and Arnab Goswami

The highlight of the programme was when CM Devendra Fadnavis right and Arnab Goswami took potshots at other politicians PicSameer MarkandeIt was prime time at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay yesterday as hundreds of students thronged the premier institute to watch an interactive session between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and former news anchor Arnab Goswami during the annual campus festival mdash Mood IndigoThe interaction began with few questions thrown by Goswami at Fadnavis Before the muchawaited discussion students had already registered their questions on social media with the tag AskMahaCM Despite Goswamirsquos reputation for being a tough interviewer however the discussion didnrsquot have many penetrating or impressive questions Instead it was more like an hour of entertainment for the young audience who cheered as both Fadnavis and Goswami took potshots at each other and the Opposition and other political leadersStanding his groundPerhaps the most incisive turn the chat took was while discussing reservation policies While the IIT circles are known to strongly oppose reservation in admissions the CM stood his ground on the issue and said ldquoWe have some sections of society that have been deprived of opportunities To help them come forward reservation will continue to remain in the system for some more timerdquoGoswami pointed out that political leaders tend to bend to the wishes of their vote bank while making policy decisionsFadnavis justified this and explained ldquoTo become an agent of change it is important for me to get elected for which my vote bank is very important Unlike you Arnab I have to face my voters every five years to ask for votes again so I cannot afford to have them disappointed One has to strike a balance hererdquo However the news anchor continued to pursue the issue in the style he is well known for asking ldquoWhy canrsquot the government stand behind what is right even if that is not the popular opinionrdquo To this Fadnavis responded ldquoMy government has taken such a stand by allowing equal right of worship to women in religious places such as Haji Ali Dargah and Shani Shingnapur Only I am not as fiery as you to be able to shout about itrdquoComedy hourWhat really made the students cheer was when Goswami and Fadnavis trained their sarcasm on other political leaders particularly from the Congress ldquoI was once in a program where Mammohan Singh spokerdquo quipped Goswami drawing chuckles from the audience in the convocation hall This was followed by a discussion of dynasty politicsldquoRahul Gandhi has no qualifications other than being a son of the NehruGandhi familyrdquo said Fadnavis further adding ldquoWhile dynasty cannot be completely avoided that should not be the sole qualification for anybodyrdquoYes Prime MinisterAsked whether he had plans to become prime minister after a pause Fadnavis laughed and said ldquoI am happy focusing on my responsibilities as CM All those who dreamt of becoming PM have lagged behind in the race such as mdash Sharad Pawar Laluprasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadavrdquo