Making his debut in the electoral bout from Kharar constituency in the Punjab Assembly election, Kanwar Sandhu, a seasoned journalist, feels that his contest is against the crooked political system in the State.
After working for several decades in journalism, Sandhu had taken political plunge last year and is now a prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate in the poll fray,
pitted against Congress sitting MlA Jagmohan Singh Kang from Kharar.
Known for taking a tough stand against the Badal Government, the AAP leader has dared SAD chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to contest against him.
“There is hatred against Akalis who have ruined the State and remained involved in nepotism and rampant corruption,” says Sandhu while talking to The Pioneer.
“It is Sukhbir’s seven-star hotel against all the people of Kharar,” says he while referring to Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa, which he mentions in his every speech.
Confident of his victory in the election, the former journalist, who is also the chairman of AAP’s Punjab Dialogue Committee, says that Congress and SAD-BJP alliance will be wiped out in Punjab in the assembly election. Excerpts from the interview
You joined AAP last year to bring about change in Punjab. Do you think AAP’s popularity graph has been declining following the controversies including manifesto’s cover page, sacking of party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur, your opposition to inclusion of Akali leader Harmail Singh Tohra in AAP among othersIJ
As compared to the controversies that have hit the SAD-BJP alliance and Congress, AAP’s controversies are miniscule. Despite some setbacks, AAP has shifted to top gear in the poll-bound Punjab to record a victory in the state. Punjab’s Congress chief Capt. Amarider has Swiss bank accounts and has been involved in scams, while Badals were involved in nepotism and rampant corruption.
You had accused Badals of forcefully closing down your news channel. How do you look at the current scenario as far as freedom of the Press is concernedIJ
Punjab Press is stifled. Badals have not allowed any channel to run except two channels which are serving as their propaganda medium.
Both Congress and Akalis have levelled allegations against you of taking favours and misusing your power when you were editor of newspapers here. Your take on that.
All allegations are false and total nonsense… let them enquire into these allegations.
How do you look at your Congress and SAD-BJP combine opponentsIJ Who is your main competitorIJ
There is no rival at all. Congress and SAD-BJP alliance will be wiped out in Punjab in the election. While the sitting Congress MlA Jagmohan Singh Kang is facing huge resentment and strong anti-incumbency as he did nothing for Kharar constituency, there is hatred against SAD-BJP combine. Two other key issues are costlier toll plaza and Sukhbir Badal’s 7-star hotel which will go against the SAD.
What would be the key agenda for you for Assembly pollsIJ
Development would be the key agenda in my constituency.
What would go in your favour in the Assembly pollsIJ
I believe that people’s yearning for change and a corruption free Government would go in my favour as well as AAP’s favour. Also, I have been campaigning here for about a month now, which is an advantage over my opponents.
What are the challenges you are facing during election campaigningIJ
I feel that biasness of the Police and local administration is a major challenge while campaigning. They are favoring the ruling party. We have also registered a complaint against some officers with the EC.
What kind of campaigning are you focusing on and how much time do you spend in the field for campaigning in a dayIJ
I have been campaigning for almost one month now. I have been doing door to door campaigning and nukkad meetings. Besides, we are organizing projector shows to showcase achievements of AAP-led Delhi Government and AAP’s roadmap for Punjab. Big rallies by prominent AAP leaders have been organised to garner people’s support.