Sukhbir Singh Badal at the EXPRESS

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SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL: I took on major responsibilities in the Shiromani Akali Dal about two years before the Assembly elections. The polls were contested on an economic agenda. Punjab suffers from a location disadvantage: we are landlocked, have inadequate infrastructure and are surrounded by states that have massive tax exemptions. Once we came to power, the question was how to push the state forward. The first thing was to upgrade infrastructure. We are working on multiple fronts, including power, aviation, education, roads, irrigation and housing. People often ask me that despite so much planning, there are no tangible results. You have to understand that planning takes a long time. Implementation comes at the end and is relatively fast. I have been ridiculed for what people dub as “big talk”. As per my vision, Punjab should be producing 10,000 MW of power in the next four years. People say it as foolhardy, considering that the entire country’s target is 40,000 MW. But my abiding philosophy in life is that you can achieve big results only if you think big. The times have changed. Twenty years ago, the government would decide where a company should invest. Today, the investor decides and the government’s role is to facilitate.

•MANEESH CHIBBER: One hears a lot about you taking over as chief minister. When is that happening?

There should be no ambiguity in the fact that Parkash Singh Badal is the chief minister and will continue to be so. There were some incorrect reports from Day One that I wanted to be chief minister. This talk about my “imminent ascension” amuses me. I must thank the media that their speculation ensures that I remain in the spotlight.

•DINKER VASHIST: Don’t you think lineage continues to play a big influence in our politics?

Your father’s name enables you only to get one chance. If your politician father has nursed his constituency, everyone would know your family name. So in the first instance, people would vote for you. After that, it is up to you. Family can be a double-edged weapon. Your performance will always be judged against the high standards set by your family. And if you don’t live up to it, you fade away.

•HARPREET BAJWA: All projects announced by Punjab come with a PPP tag (public-private participation). Is the ruling government obsessed with this idea?

Let me answer with an example. Suppose we want to set up a power plant of 10,000 MW, which would cost around Rs 50,000 crore. The government doesn’t have this sort of money. So we bring in private players and select the one who is going to provide us power at the cheapest rate. This ensures higher efficiency and government’s funds can be utilised for health, education and other welfare activities. Take the example of Adarsh schools. These would provide free education to almost two lakh poor students. We have entered into agreements with several corporate houses where the government and the company share the costs equally. The student does not have to pay anything. Since the corporate house knows that its name is associated with the school, it ensures that it is run properly.

•VIPIN PUBBY: What is your opinion on the Centre’s power sharing with states?

The state governments have no autonomy to talk of. Look at our income sources. We only have VAT, state excise and stamp duty. The Central government corners everything else. Take wheat as an example. The international rate of wheat is Rs 1,700-1,800 per quintal, but Punjab farmers are paid only Rs 1,000. They make so much noise about subsidies being given to Punjab farmers. On the contrary, Punjab farmers are subsidising the entire country. You cannot have one common policy for all the states. What is suitable for Bihar may not hold good for Punjab and vice-versa. The Centre should simply grant the funds to the state and leave the spending to the state government.

•MUKESH BHARDWAJ: What is your opinion of the separate SGPC announced by the Congress government in Haryana? Also, what is your position on the sharing of waters between the two states?

SGPC was created under an Act of Parliament. Who is the Haryana government to decide its functions? This body concerns the internal religious matters of a community and it is inappropriate on the part of governments to interfere in it. The Congress in Haryana went to the extent of mentioning it in their manifesto, which practically means they want to break the SGPC. As regards the water issue, it is sub-judice. Let us await the Supreme Court’s verdict.

•GAUTAM DHEER: The fact that Dera Sacha Sauda came out in support of the Congress in the run-up to the assembly elections, affected your tally adversely in Malwa region. Would you seek their support in future?

The Dera factor definitely affected the election results. But let me tell you, we were never dependent upon them and will never depend upon them in future.

•JASNEET BINDRA: But is your alliance partner BJP keen on seeking Dera support?

I can’t comment on them. As a representative of the Akali Dal, I can tell you our party’s stand is unequivocal.

•RAGHAV OHRI: The High Court has made scathing observations on the government on the issue of political vendetta. Please comment.

I can’t comment upon the High Court observations, but I think the Congress crying hoarse about political vendetta is a bit of farce. Give me the name of one Congress leader against whom we have filed a case. On the contrary, they went to great extent to book us on flimsy pretexts. The level of corruption seen during the Congress regime was simply too much. Look at the DGP Virk case. Tell me, how can the DGP of a state apply for an Rs 500-crore mega project?

•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

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