Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal president
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal says a Chief Minister can be the one who has a vision for Punjab and who can unite the state and neither does the Congress nor Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have any efficient leader to lead the State, nor any vision to take the State forward. He says that while Congress leaders are fighting among themselves over the Chief Minister’s chair, the SAD has a strong organisation across the State and there is no clash over the leadership. Only SAD-BSP will give a stable government in the State. Claiming that SAD-BSP combine will win above 80 seats in this election, SAD chief asserts that all social welfare schemes that had been scrapped and curtailed during the Congress regime would be restored.
A sitting MP from Ferozepur, Sukhbir had represented Jalalabad assembly constituency thrice — in 2009 (bypoll), 2012, and 2017 — but vacated the seat after he was elected Lok Sabha MP 2019. Returning to his home constituency this time, Sukhbir says that Jalalabad is like his family. He added that the alliance’s focus will be on developing high-class infrastructure, creating jobs, and bringing big investors. In an interview with The Pioneer, Sukhbir talks about his father and Akali stalwart Parkash Singh Badal contesting his 13th election, its challengers AAP and Congress, party’s election campaigns, Sidhu-Majithia contest, among other issues. Excerpts from the interview:
Nomination process is now over. Do you think this election is different from the earlier ones?
Due to COVID, the rallies and large gatherings have been banned. But as SAD had announced its candidates’ names around two months ago, leaders were active in their respective constituencies for a long time. Before the declaration of the elections, I have campaigned for the party in over 100 constituencies. Now, we are interacting with the people of the State through virtual mode.
From the scenario of a three-cornered contest in Punjab last time, it is now heading towards a multi-cornered fight. Where do you see SAD in this election?
SAD is the only party which is present across the State. It has party cadres in each village and city across the State. In routine, we engage with our people to know what they want. We work for their welfare. In addition, the party has strong leadership. The Congress is crumbling day by day mainly because of failure to deliver on its promises, corruption, and backing to various kinds of mafias. Severe infighting is also hurting the Congress. BJP, Punjab Lok Congress of Capt Amarinder Singh, Sanyukt Morcha of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha are non-players. This time, people have made up their mind to bring the SAD-BSP alliance to power.
What is your reaction to opinion polls on Punjab election which do not place SAD comfortably but indicate that either AAP or Congress will form the next government? It is also possible that no party will get a majority in the State. Under such circumstances, will you tie up with BJP to form the government?
Punjabis do not believe in opinion polls which are funded by political parties to get favour ahead of the election. Delhi government funds are being used for elections in Punjab by AAP to manage poll surveys.
The party is paying channels to carry advertisements asking them to do surveys in their favour in return. Last time, they did the same. One survey had given them 100 seats and they got only about 20. SAD does not believe in surveys. As far as BJP is concerned, it will get zero seats so why would we tie-up with zero.
Punjab is already in a bad financial situation. Parties like Congress and AAP are still promising freebies to their voters. You also promised 400 units of free power. What is your comment?
One should not look at debt as a burden. Punjab is being defamed by making a hue and cry over debt. Those are enemies of the State who defame the state. We need to compare debt with the state’s GDP. There is productive debt and unproductive debt. Developing infrastructure is productive debt. Look at the huge debt Ambani has. But he commands the most powerful company. Debt is used for business and even to expand. Using debt in infrastructure and the economy gives a financial boost and increases revenue.
Like AAP, Congress high command wants people to decide its CM face for Punjab. Who would you prefer to see as the CM face of the Congress - Sidhu or Channi?
First, both are not good for Punjab. State needs a visionary CM. We will beat both of them. The Congress is a challenge only for itself. So many factions within the Congress are fighting for space, so they don’t need anybody else to challenge them. In this election, Congress is number three in the race at the moment. Congress will not be able to cross 15 seats. In fact, the number 2 position is a close fight between AAP and Congress. The number for both will be anywhere between 10 and 15 seats. AAP has no credibility now. They have projected Bhagwant Mann as the CM face but actually the image is a mirage.
Youths and students are shifting abroad in big numbers. How do you see the situation and what do you see in future?
During our tenure, we worked on improving the roads and power sector and results on ground show that we were successful. This time, we will work on improving the education and health sectors. As far as shifting of youth is concerned, Punjabis by nature cannot be tied down. They always move to greener pastures. We will educate them before they go so that they are better placed. We have envisaged a Student Card Scheme. Our kids will be able to study anywhere they want in the world. They will be given an interest-free loan.
Farmers have always been SAD’s support base. But this time, the farmers have entered the electoral arena. Your comment
Sanyukta Samaj Morcha will not make any difference. Our cadre consists of real farmers, and they are with us.
Your father Parkash Singh Badal is the oldest candidate to fight elections at the age of 94. What pushed him to contest election at this age?
We must understand that it is SAD and its patron Parkash Singh Badal, who has won the mandate of the people five times. We need his blessings. He has filed his nomination papers from Lambi, which the 11-time MLA has been representing for decades. Badal Sahab has also been the champion of peace and communal harmony and SAD is committed to continue this legacy. Punjabis believe them firmly.
How do you see the contest between Bikram Majithia and Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East?
SAD workers are present across the State and Amritsar East. The Akali Dal is getting a huge response in all constituencies where the BJP used to contest as an alliance partner. Sidhu will lose the election with a huge margin. He is an egoistic man, and the one who becomes egoistic is always guided towards the right path by the Almighty. We need not talk about the drugs case against Majithia because this is a false case. We defend him because he is innocent. Punjabis are asking why Majithia has been booked in a false case. You need to ask this also. Because the truth is that the Congress Government has registered a false case against Majithia after changing two DGPs and three directors of the Bureau of Investigation. He has been accusing Majithia of wrongdoings without an iota of truth. So we decided that we will fight him. Let the people of his constituency decide who is right.
AAP is talking about its Delhi Model, while Sidhu is popularising his Punjab Model. Do you think that these models can bring development and progress to the State? What is your model of governance?
The Delhi model is an advertisement campaign which has even poll surveys thrown in as a deal. People need to be told about this...how Kejriwal is trying to deceive Punjabis. On the other hand, Congress has done nothing in the last five years except raking up the issues of drugs and sacrilege. They want to hide their failure. They don’t mention that they promised ‘ghar ghar naukri’ or mobile phones or the debt waiver to farmers and delivered nothing. They want to divert public attention. People know that they are lying. For SAD, the issue has remained the same in every election which is peace and prosperity, communal harmony, development of Punjab and the welfare of every segment.
What is the main poll plank on which SAD is fighting this election? And what’s your strategy?
As I already said, for Akali Dal, the issue has remained the same in every election which is peace and prosperity, communal harmony, development of Punjab and the welfare of every segment.
That is what we had delivered in the 10 years of our governance. In the last five years, Punjab has gone down on every parameter — be it education, health, jobs, social welfare sector or overall development. That is why every segment of society is out on the streets today demanding justice and delivery of promises from the Congress government.