Sukhbir Singh Badal at the EXPRESS

Related Stories ‘HP has Rs 1,50,000 cr in forest wealth, yet we are in debt. We should be compensated for our forests’‘The question is whether India’s dynamism of economic growth is matched by equivalent dynamism in political extroversion’‘There are many stars, few actors and fewer brands. I am happy to qualify for the last two’‘There’s no single area you can clamp down on to curb inflation. You have to use many measures’‘I believe all my films are flawed. I simply forget about them. I don’t feel the need to burden myself by looking at what went wrong’

•MANRAJ GREWAL: Akali Dal is the second-oldest political party in the country. Despite that, it is still viewed as a very Sikh-dominated Panthic party. What future do you envisage for the Shiromani Akali Dal?

You will get a glimpse of the new Akali Dal in the organisation that we shall announce shortly. Lots of people from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities will be part of our organisation. We are a Punjabi party and our idea is to promote the interests of Punjab.

•SUKHDEEP KAUR: Does the government intend to provide crop insurance to the state’s farmers?

The state government cannot afford the cost of crop insurance. The premiums and rates are too high. We may agree to bear a part of the cost. That doesn’t mean that we are not concerned about the farmer. We are promoting the interests of farmers in our own way. For example, the irrigation system of the state is being revamped. An efficient irrigation system will save electricity and ground water. Also, I think we have been successful in bringing the cause of Punjab farmers to the forefront. Recently, the Union Agriculture Minister visited the state to ensure effective procurement. You could never imagine these things during the Congress reign.

•JASKIRAN KAPOOR: The state of higher education and health in Punjab continues to be woeful. We don’t have any centres of excellence.

A Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences is being set up in Jalandhar. You will see brand new hospitals in Bathinda and Mohali, shortly. We will soon be getting a new campus of Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, at Mohali. We have been allotted an IIT and are looking at a Central university too.

•SWADESH TALWAR: Punjab’s youth has been severely afflicted by drug addiction. Have you any plans to counter this?

We are setting up a big drug de-addiction hospital in Talwandi Sabo. This problem has become so big that it is scary - it is a major social problem. It is not only a responsibility of the government, but parents as well, who do not spend enough time with their children. The maximum drug recoveries have taken place in the last one year. Also, there are problems because of common borders with Rajasthan. Under some strange policies, it seems to be promoting drug use — you have authorised drug vends on their side of the border.

•NITIN SHARMA: What are your plans to promote sport, especially hockey?

Very shortly we are going to set up a hockey academy in Talwandi Sabo. We are also coming up with a Punjab Institute of Sports. We are planning a hockey league too, along the lines of IPL. We are in active talks with top corporate houses to sponsor these league teams.

(Transcript prepared by Dinker Vashisht.)

editor@expressindia.com

Ads By Google