Former Chief Minister and Head of Congress unit in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh belongs to the royal family of the erstwhile state of Patiala. On the eve of his party releasing their manifesto in New Delhi, he spoke to DNA on the various aspects of the Punjab poll battle.
Will demonetization affect the upcoming Assembly Elections in Punjab?
Yes absolutely. From around 10700 villages, 7000 are not covered by the banking system. You find long queues in the city and villages. The feeling of bitterness is growing. Punjab has a short fuse and I can certainly tell you that the state will be impacted by demonetization.
In your manifesto, you have mentioned about ending the VVIP culture in Punjab. How will you do it?
The police here is working for 18 hours a day, we are going to make it 8 hours a day. They are red-eyed and exhausted and don’t even get a day off. The relics of the terrorism period need to go. I will change it.
How do you see the Nabha and Pathankot incidents?
In Pathankot, foreign elements were involved and the NIA is looking into it. But in Nabha or Fazilka, we came to know that a known crook was holding a meeting inside the jail. In Ropar they found 20 TV screens on the walls. The Nabha breakout was engineered by the government itself. DGP Punjab on record has said that 40 odd gangs are operating in Punjab and the breakout involved one of the gangs. And these gangs are used in elections.
Punjab has a very high debt rate and unemployment stands higher than the national average. How will you control it?
There is no agriculture or industrial policy in the state, no industry has come up. Our situation is very bad. It is a revenue deficit state and we are in an economic mess. Around 90 lakh youngsters don’t have jobs. I want to give them jobs. I have promised one job per household. We have to revamp the agricultural policy. All our surplus money is going out because people don’t have confidence in the government.
SAD and BJP have spoken about the work they have done for the heritage sites. Is it symbolic or substantive?
Working for a religion is a good thing to do. The cultural department handles it. I want Punjabi culture to be enhanced. The beautification of Durbar Sahib is very good. But it doesn’t feed empty stomachs.
Drugs is a major issue in Punjab. How will you address it?
Everybody knows that there is a problem. We will break the nexus. We will do it.
The Badals also say that the BSF isn’t doing the job well?
They are the ones who are involved. It comes from Afghanistan. BSF is responsible as it is the first layer but the second layer is police. What are they doing?
How can you say that the Badals are responsible?
I’m talking about the Akalis. The Akalis are the manufacturers and salesmen. Everything happens through them. When I was MP from Amritsar, I knew of mohallas where there are no men left. You only have women and children.
Who are you fighting against?
The Akalis have slid, they don’t exist anymore. The Akali Dal President got stoned in his constituency. They haven’t functioned well in Delhi as well. Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s people are being tried in serious cases. In Punjab, they don’t have an organisation. People from other states have been made incharge of the districts and 50,000 outsiders are being brought in to man the booths. The youth had hope in them but now they don’t trust them. Our girls are being raped and that’s what AAP's people are doing who have come from outstation.
You cannot deny the fact that AAP got four seats during the Lok Sabha elections.
Yes. Where are these MPs now? People have got disillusioned and have moved away from them. I follow social media. There is no positive comment for Kejriwal by Punjabis. They have lost confidence in him.
Why did Congress absorb Navjot Singh Sidhu?
He belongs to the Congress family. He is not a BJP man, he became disillusioned with them. His father was in Patiala. When my mother went to Parliament, she saw to it that his father became the district Congress President. I had watched him play cricket, he is a nice boy. When you are in a battle you choose everyone. And yes, he will contribute. We will use him in other seats as well.
What is your relationship with Rahul Gandhi?
I have a good relationship with him. We get on very well.
Is it correct that you had to arm-twist him to become the face of the Congress in Punjab?
That’s not the case. You cannot arm twist anyone, but I did say that if you don’t have need for me, then I will have to find my own place as it is my last elections. I did say this.
So am I speaking to the future CM of Punjab?
Well, please ask Rahul Gandhi. My job is to bring the Congress back and I'm going to ensure that it comes back.
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 "Amarinder Singh")
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