Four Cornered Vision: Interview with the Big Four in Punjab

Why. What are the major issues in this election?

Charanjit Channi: I come from a poor family. I know how difficult it is for the poor to get pulses and rice. If the government keeps giving flour and pulses, it will keep them poor. They need quality education and healthcare. I will make sure Two types of societies are being created. One, who go to government schools and learn Punjabi in the medium, and others who have access to private schools and learn English. I am focused on providing quality education. Similarly, healthcare needs to be strengthened. We also need agro based industry. To eradicate poverty, you need to focus on youth and apart from providing them quality education, we need to create an ecosystem that allows youth to start startups. Even if they want to set up transport business, cottage industry, the state should be a facilitator.

Why. What are the major issues in this election?

Charanjit Channi: I come from a poor family. I know how difficult it is for the poor to get pulses and rice. If the government keeps giving flour and pulses, it will keep them poor. They need quality education and healthcare. I will make sure Two types of societies are being created. One, who go to government schools and learn Punjabi in the medium, and others who have access to private schools and learn English. I am focused on providing quality education. Similarly, healthcare needs to be strengthened. We also need agro based industry. To eradicate poverty, you need to focus on youth and apart from providing them quality education, we need to create an ecosystem that allows youth to start startups. Even if they want to set up transport business, cottage industry, the state should be a facilitator.

Divine Values: Unemployment is the biggest issue. It is at the root of many problems in our state. If unemployed, those with MSc, MBBS or engineering degrees are also in line for IELTS to go to Canada or Australia. There is brain drain. Every student going abroad withdraws Rs.25 lakh with him; After a few years his family also migrates. Those who fail to clear IELTS or run away fall into bad company or depression. Many people resort to drug abuse. We want our students to get employment here. I’ve never heard of anyone hiring and taking drugs. The main issue is to provide employment to the people according to their educational skills and degree.

Sukhbir Badal: We should take Punjab to the next level. People are expecting development and prosperity. To achieve this, Punjab needs a strong, decisive and passionate leadership. We don’t need comedians but people who have a vision to build a state.

Amarinder Singh: People are going in search of their stomachs and jobs. Everyone wants money and farmers certainly want more, industrialists want more. Industrial development and agricultural development both are important and for this we need to come up with new ideas. We have to make commitments for jobs – that will be our main point.

Why. Why should people vote for you?

Chani: I will provide my people with reduced rates of electricity, water, petrol and diesel and sand rates offered by my government as well as schemes launched to help start new businesses and provide women and students I have been informing you about the free bus ride going on. I have become popular by doing so much work in 111 days. If I get a job for a tenure of five years, imagine how much I can achieve. Anti-incumbency, if any, is against Captain Amarinder Singh, not Congress. We are lucky that he left Congress on his own. Congress was suffering because of him. The BJP has inherited that sentiment by accepting them in its fold.

Value: I am from among the people. I am not from any palace. To the people, I am like their son or nephew – their own. The palace of clouds has huge walls; Not even a bird can chirp sitting there. My opponents just call me a comedian. They are wrong – I am a satirist, a social critic. When I talk about cancer deaths, farmers’ deaths or corruption, are these jokes? These political parties have made fun of our country. We will give an honest, transparent and good intentioned government to the people of Punjab.

Cloud: Due to the development we did while in power, we connected every district of Punjab with good roads. All the new power plants in the state were built during the Akali rule. Punjab needs a decisive leader. The Chief Minister is like the CEO of the state. People can count on me for rapid growth. We are the only Punjabi party – the rest are national parties and we do not understand Punjab. For example, Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Supreme Court asking for the closure of thermal plants in Punjab as they cause pollution. A national party always has a conflict of interest with the state.

Amarinder: I provide experience. I have been in this game for 50 years and know what my state needs. I wouldn’t give freebies to everyone, like Channi and others are doing. This is absolutely bullshit because where do you get the money for these concessions? When my government gave something, it was with a purpose, like free health insurance. I will ensure both industrial and agricultural development.

Why. What is your solution to the agrarian crisis in the state?

Chani: We need to switch to organic farming and get relief from pesticides and urea – the silent killers. We need to fix a separate MSP for organic crops. Then, all the farmers will turn to organic farming and the health of our country will improve. We also need to diversify from rice to other crops as the water table in Punjab is falling alarmingly. How will they survive if we leave the barren land for generations to come by reducing the water? To improve this situation we need to grow crops like pulses, maize etc. For this the government needs to ensure higher MSP.

Value: Guru Nanak said that Uttam Kheti (farming is the best), Madhyam Vyapar (business comes next), Neech Naukri (job is the worst). He gave top priority to agriculture, while the reverse is happening now. Farming was no longer profitable. Central agricultural laws were repealed. We won this struggle. But even before the implementation of these laws, farmers are committing suicide. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) should be at the center of the scheme. We will strengthen it. We intend to create more awareness among farmers by employing two graduates in each village to impart the required knowledge. This will create at least 40,000 jobs. The second problem is that of paddy. To grow one kg of paddy, 3800 liters of water is required. This has created a water crisis in Punjab. We can grow maize, barley, millet and other crops. Our land is fertile, but we have neither marketing infrastructure nor assured MSP procurement. We will create cooperatives and reduce the cost of production.

Cloud: Farmers should get a guaranteed market and price. Till the Center does not guarantee MSP procurement of maize, farmers will not diversify. They should allow ethanol on a large scale. States should have sufficient financial power to support these initiatives.

Amarinder: Punjab’s mainstay in agriculture is paddy, which India no longer needs as we have enough reserves. India imports pulses worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore every year. Give me Rs 25,000 crore out of this amount and we will persuade the farmers to shift from paddy to pulses. We will take out paddy from the road and also save water.

Why. What is needed for industrial development?

Chani: Agricultural production is at its peak in Punjab. We have done what we could. Now, we need to shift gears towards agriculture industries and focus on industrialization. From cottage to big industry, we need revival. We need support from the Centre. Ours is a border state. We need encouragement and the Center should look into it.

Value: Traders are roaming around carrying bags full of money for politicians. They are not doing this because of praise. Traders are going to all the leaders to please them and ensure that they do not follow them after assuming power. Governments are not made to harass people. But these days traders are worried about their success. Mandi used to be the hub of Gobindgarh Steel. not anymore. We’ll change it. We will woo industries from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states.

Cloud: We will focus on priority areas. IT is one such sector as its potential has been exhausted in South India. If IT firms move north, we can provide them with best location, international airport, good hotels. We need to promote tourism in a big way. We will start 2 or 3 big projects to develop food processing. Within a year of coming to power, I will ensure a paperless government towards ease of doing business. Once you make this process paperless, 99% of the corruption and bottlenecks will end. Not the bureaucrats, but the industrialists should make industrial policies because this will make them accountable.

Amarinder: The main thing is that we need money and policies that encourage industry to come to Punjab.

Why. What is your opinion about your opponents?

Chani: Sukhbir Badal is arrogant and relies on muscle power. All his family members are associated with politics. He is just a good businessman. God’s honor is not a challenge; It’s just a rubber stamp. Even AAP posters ask people to give Kejriwal a chance. The BJP has spoiled its reputation by choosing Captain Saheb as its face. He will not get any seat in this election.

Value: The mafia in Punjab is a gift of Badal. Amarinder Singh took it a step further. It is clear that they work together. Captain sahab made fun of the decision of the public. Charanjit Channi claims that he is a common man but has declared assets of more than Rs 110 crore. He is a fake common man.

Cloud: No one is Charanjit Channi. He is neither charismatic nor does he have statewide appeal. Channi is likely to lose from both the seats from where he is contesting. Captain Sahib’s alliance with BJP is zero plus zero equal to zero. About Bhagwant Mann, I dread the day when people like him are chosen to lead the state. He’s just an alcoholic.

Amarinder: There is no doubt that people feel the need for change, but you need someone competent to bring it in. Bhagwant Mann is unable to run the state. All he has done is stand up and tell jokes. People have not forgotten about Sukhbir Badal, the problem of sacrilege and drugs till date. Charanjit Channi has limited abilities. He lacks the bandwidth to become the Chief Minister.