Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that after quitting the Congress, he could either form a new party or join someone else, adding that he could not sit at home as he would work for Punjab. can do a lot. Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18’s Managing Editor Zakka Jacob a day later announced that he would soon launch his political party“The Congress has decided that I have to leave, so I have left the party… but I don’t think I will sit at home… I can do a lot for Punjab,” Singh said.
The former senior Congress leader said, “Morarji Desai was the prime minister of 92 years, Prakash Badal is 15 years older than me… so why can’t I live?”
Singh had last month resigned from the top post citing “insult” after a power struggle with Punjab MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was appointed as the state Congress president.
Talking about the Congress, Singh said the party lost very fast in Punjab after Sidhu was made the state president. “About six months ago, they were doing well. One of the main reasons for the decline was (when) Sidhu was made the state party president,” he said, adding that Sidhu’s elevation “created some bad blood”.
Singh, who was one of the powerful regional satraps of the Congress, also said that he “never experienced such interference as a chief minister”.
The 79-year-old further said that he does not know why the Gandhi family asked him to resign. “I had a very close relationship with Rajiv Gandhi… I don’t know why the family did what they did.” Elaborating further, Singh said, “Everything cannot be decided in Delhi. I got a call from the party president (Sonia Gandhi) to resign. He only said ‘Amarinder, you should resign’. “
Expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Punjab, Singh said his decision to form a new party was related to this issue. “The situation has changed in Punjab. We have terrorists and gangsters linked to each other, smuggling of arms and ammunition, I have seen this happen in the last 1.5 years, and that’s why I decided to contest again.”
He said, “I told Sonia Gandhi that I will lead the Congress in Punjab elections…Once we win…I will step down and you can choose the chief minister. Letter to Sonia Gandhi at that time. was received.”
However, in an attack against the oldest party, Singh said, “As far as the Congress is concerned… it is over”, and insisted, “I am not a horse out in the pasture. Am.”
Singh had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last month, fueling speculation of joining the BJP after his exit from the Congress. Responding to the rumours, Singh said he had met Shah to discuss the farmers’ protest. He also said that he has always ensured that Punjab gets the money it needs from the Centre.
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Singh has urged Shah to resolve the crisis immediately by repealing three agricultural laws. He asked, “There are three controversial bills…we have so many amendments…why don’t we have one for these agricultural laws?”
Singh, however, said going to the Supreme Court was not a solution as agriculture law is a “political” matter. “Farmers want some guarantee and security. I met the Home Minister and told him that this should not get out of hand.” The former chief minister had also raised security concerns in his meeting with Shah, saying “ISI and Khalistani farmers may recruit from protest.”
‘Channi is a good boy’
Speaking on the Punjab Assembly elections, Singh said that the seat adjustment with respect to his party can be discussed provided the BJP resolves the issue of farmers. “We will talk to the BJP about seat adjustments closer to the polls… but for that to happen, the BJP will have to address the farmer issues.”
“If BJP solves the problems of farmers, then I have no problem with them,” he said.
Addressing close ties with the BJP, he said, “As a Chief Minister, I have to be close to the BJP… No Chief Minister can act alone… You think the new Chief Minister is from the BJP and not the Prime Minister. will get?”
On the newly appointed chief minister, Singh said Channi is a “good boy and hardworking, but too little, too late” for the Congress. “Chani is running all over Punjab… it is not his job… His job is to run the government,” he said, “I entrusted my work to my ministers and guided them while running the government.” “I don’t need to run around.”
Singh said Sidhu’s father and late Congressman Sardar Bhagwant Singh had introduced him to politics. “Sidhu was a boy with a certain character… you saw how he was a cricketer.” Although, as a political leader, he is unstable, “I told this to Sonia Gandhi,” he said.
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