With few months left for Punjab elections 2022, development mainly busy in Congress, focus on election promises made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and how BJP Plan to move on from former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, All kinds of protests are being held against Shiromani Akali Dal, but its leader and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal insists that a divided congress And the “weak” you can turn the tide in the party’s favor.
In an interview to News18, Badal announced that the Akali Dal would not go back to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which it had left last year to protest against the agricultural laws. He also challenged the ruling Congress to declare incumbent Charanjit Singh Channi as its chief ministerial candidate.
Edited excerpt:
Have things changed after the repeal of agricultural laws?
There was little tension because of the laws. People were in a state of agitation. There used to be protests everyday, but now everything is back to normal.
But farmers are demanding MSP. Do you think this is a reasonable demand?
The farmer feeds the nation. If he is not sure of the price and if you look at the MRP of a product, you will understand why it is important to have an MSP. The farmer is dependent on the government for procurement. when PM Narendra Modi The Chief Minister of Gujarat had recommended that MSP should be made legal.
How confident are the Akalis that they will come back to power?
Akali is a 100 year old party. People were swept away by false propaganda and false promises and we were defeated. But still our vote percentage remained intact. AAP has gone down and the gap between Congress and Akalis has narrowed.
A lot has changed in Congress too. Your bitterest rival Amarinder Singh is no longer with the Congress. Do you think this will help you?
I don’t think anything like that. The votes will be divided. Many in Congress who did not get tickets will join Capt. There is a tremendous tussle going on inside the Congress. Channi is not being allowed to work as CM. Sidhu decides how the government should be run.
The issue against the Advocate General was that he was compromised?
Every lawyer has a professional authority. Anyone can go to him. A lawyer is a lawyer. One cannot say that he was compromised. this is wrong. Sidhu can also be called a compromise because he was with the BJP.
You entered into an alliance with the BSP in the hope of wooing the Dalit votes. But now Congress is showing the glory of a Dalit CM. Does this make things difficult for you?
off course not. Is he really the Chief Minister? Is he the choice of Congress? It’s only been two months since he came there. Is he allowed to work? I challenge Congress to declare Channi as its CM face.
Do you see Sidhu as a challenger?
No, that’s not a challenge. He is a challenge to the Congress. Congress needs to worry about them.
What about you?
You were a bubble that happened in 2017. But they are going down every year. There are only about 300 people in Kejriwal’s meetings. Do you see any waves there?
You have changed the reason for leaving NDA. Would you ever attend?
No, they stabbed us in the back. They brought this law without informing us. They told us that it was just a cabinet note and it would be discussed later. But that never happened. He never bothered to pay attention to us. We can never go back to them.
What about Captain Amarinder Singh? Can you ever shake hands with him?
The Captain has always had a soft corner for the BJP. Even BJP has liked him. The captain is playing the game but we cannot play. Whatever has been received from Congress belongs to him. He never did any work.
Cases are being opened against you. You heard what Sidhu had to say…
If they have proof then arrest me. Can they prove drug charges against Majithia? It is politically motivated.
Are you sorry to Captain?
No, as I said, he deserves it. And let me tell you, Congress is ruthless. Tomorrow they will also throw out Sidhu. Sidhu just wants to become CM. One day he will have to form his own party.
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