You have worked with both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar, and for long. What are their similarities and dissimilarities?

Both leaders care for the downtrodden, but they execute their work differently. Their aim is the same - to bring the poor into the mainstream. Their thoughts are the same -how to empower people who have not got their due respect. As I said, they work differently, which makes them different. Interestingly, both leaders emerged out of the JP movement and they have carried forward JP's legacy to reach their respective goals. In 1990, when Laluji was struggling to become chief minister, it was Nitishji who was struggling hard to make him realise this dream because they both had the same vision.

The BJP equates Lalu's term as chief minister with Jungle Raj (lawlessness). As a leader, you have worked with Lalu when the term Jungle Raj was coined and with Nitish when the BJP was supporting him. What's your take?

The BJP has a very cruel mentality. They always try to terrorise the poor, downtrodden, backward and the minorities. They follow Manu's principles, because of which they see those who are socially, politically, educationally and economically backward as jungle people. Till a few days back, BJP leaders used to praise Nitishji like anything. This same Sushil Modi had gone to the extent of saying Nitishji was more deserving for the post of Prime Minister. Now, the same people are calling Nitish's regime "Jungle Raj". That's why I said that the BJP's thoughts are very narrow and this is the reason they have been calling using terms like Jungle Raj 2 and Jungle Raj 3.

Though the RJD and JDU have agreed to an alliance, seat-sharing remains a grey area. How is the party going to deal with it?

Remember what the BJP and I had said about the alliance. I had been saying the alliance will take place. There was a mausam vaigyanik (Lalu calls Ram Vilas Paswan a mausam vaigyanik, which means weatherman) who had said the alliance would never take place, but it has happened now. I must tell you that seat-sharing would also take place smoothly, everything has been finalised and we will show our cards at the right time. We can share the details, as everything is going smoothly among the alliance leaders. In fact, BJP leaders should give a serious thought to their own party. They have no chief minister's face yet. Chaos prevails in the NDA.

Two scenarios have emerged among Yadavs after Nitish was announced alliance leader. There is a perception that Yadavs would not vote while many Yadav leaders are deserting Nitish and Lalu.

I must tell you that Nitish and Lalu are neither Yadav leaders nor enemies of the Yadavs. We do politics taking all castes together. We believe in unity. There are a few leaders who are always in a hurry to establish themselves as leaders of a certain caste, but society does not take any notice of such people. There are leaders who do politics of backward and forward castes, but we are not in the same league. We believe in socialism. Our leaders have always set examples of socialism and of bringing all castes under one umbrella. BJP leaders have always indulged in caste politics. If you remember, during the Lok Sabha election, they went to town declaring that their prime ministerial candidate was from the Teli community, Chandravanshi community or a tea-seller. Caste politics is there in the blood of BJP leaders.

You are a Mahadalit and so is Jitan Ram Manjhi. Where do you see him in the context of Mahadalit leader? Do you consider him a factor in the Assembly elections?

It is not important that only a Shyam Rajak or a Jitan Ram Manjhi, who are Mahadalits, will work for the Mahadalits. Nitishji is not a Mahadalit, but I do not think anybody else has worked as much for the community. Manjhi has done a lot for his own house and not for Dalits. He is not a factor in the upcoming Assembly elections. He is the BJP's baby sucking honey. When the honey is over, he will start crying. As you know, parents first try to calm down a baby with love, but when it is not effective, the baby is slapped. Similarly, sooner or later the BJP will slap Manjhi. That time, only we will come to his help.

The state government has not implemented Food Security Act properly. It is yet to reach ground level.

I want to remind those who are saying this that in 2013, Bihar was the first state to implement Food Security Act. Thanks to Nitishji and my department's efforts, 8.71 crore beneficiaries in the state have got maximum benefit. But what is the Centre doing with its quota? It is giving foodgrain to 7.60 crore people, while 1.11 crore have not received foodgrain. When Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and other central ministers visited Patna, they too said 1.11 crore people have not received foodgrain. They are the Centre's responsibility.

What is your say on the rice mill scam? Your name is linked to it?

Yes, there was a scam and I have sent all those who are responsible behind bars. Action has been taken against them. The matter is pending before court but we are not going to spare these people. We are the trustees of the people, not the owners, so we have to take action against them. If anyone misuses common man's money, it is my duty to teach such people a lesson. As far as my involvement is concerned, those making such allegations must prove how a minister and chief minister are involved in it?

It is said that farmers face great losses because the department does not procure paddy at the right time, forcing them to sell their yield at a low price.

In Bihar, production of paddy is 100 lakh metric tonnes. Our share is 20 lakh metric tonnes as per Centre's rules and we bought this paddy from farmers. We are the first state to give Rs 300 subsidy per quintal as bonus for paddy procurement. What are these BJP leaders saying? You know what Narendra Modi said during the Lok Sabha polls, that he will fix minimum support price (MSP) of crops, incorporating 50 per cent profit in farmers' cost of production, including seed, irrigation, manure and labour. Has he done this? He has just increased Rs 50, which is routine.

What would you have been had you not been a politician?

Since childhood, it was my dream to be an army officer. In fact I was Bihar's first para-jumper. I was the best cadet cop and represented India in a competition. However, I had to jump into the 1974 movement. Even today, when I see any army officer and their uniform, I feel I am no match.