Punjab needs a government that reflects its character and stands for the rights of its people, a government that is run from within the state, says AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in an exclusive interview with Aditi Tandon on the eve of Punjab polls. Excerpts:
How significant is this election cycle?
Every election is significant as it indicates the mood of the electorate. We are fighting hard in all states, even where our organisation was previously defunct like in UP. We are contesting 400 seats there after 30 years. Hopefully people are understanding how destructive BJP’s politics has been. We desperately need politics of development. Only the Congress can provide the alternative with its experience in governance.
The greatest danger to democracy is a PM who believes he’s an emperor. If he’s so averse to political families, why has he taken all Congress dynasts and given them plum positions?
What is Congress’ core message for Punjab?
To bring a stable, strong government with focus on creating jobs, curbing price rise, supporting farmers and working for the poor. Punjab needs a government that reflects its character, stands for rights of the people, a government run from within the state. It can neither be run by the BJP nor any party that succumbs to BJP’s pressure whether it is Akali Dal or AAP.
Your top challenges in Punjab?
Our fight is against rising prices and unemployment caused by the Centre’s actions. Strengthening health and education infrastructure, supporting small businesses and agriculture are other top challenges. CM Channi has taken some decisive steps, including power tariff cuts and waiver of water dues. We are confident that given a five-year term, the peace and prosperity Punjab will see under Channi ji will transform the state.
There’s a feeling that Congress wasn’t so proactive in Punjab. You were the last to declare the CM face.
Our party has been working tirelessly since Channi ji took over. He has been more than proactive in taking bold decisions. Personally, I don’t know of any other government that was as decisive in a mere 111 days as this government.
How big a factor is farmers’ agitation?
The entire episode spells out BJP’s politics starkly. They brought the laws to hand over the sector to a few billionaire friends. They did nothing as 700 farmers sacrificed their lives. Their top leaders called the agitators anti-national and terrorists. They turned a blind eye when their colleague’s son trampled farmers to death and took no action until there was public uproar. Then, elections came. Suddenly, the PM repealed the laws as it was about to cost him the election. Farm stir should be a major factor as this chain of events has exposed not only the BJP but also AAP which had accepted the black laws.
You are stressing development in UP, but played the SC card in Punjab.
I don’t think these two issues are mutually exclusive. It’s not a question of playing a certain card. Development is about opportunity. It is about empowerment and leadership that reflects the struggles and aspirations of people. What better representation of this than Channi ji? He is capable, politically courageous and extremely astute. Why should his assumption of responsibility be defined as playing the caste card?
PM Modi termed family-run parties the biggest danger to democracy. Your take?
The greatest danger to democracy is a PM who believes he is an emperor, bullies the judiciary and media, destroys institutions, puts down dissent with force, prioritises monopolists in policy-making and weakens Parliament. I would like to respectfully ask him why he has taken practically all Congress dynasts and given them plum positions? If he’s so averse to political families why do so many such families flourish in the BJP?
AAP says it stands for common man and development in Punjab.
It’s a hollow claim. AAP leadership has zero experience in governance. It runs a government that can’t pass a single file without the Centre’s permission. It hasn’t built a single hospital or educational institution.
What makes you think AAP emerged from RSS?
Their movement was backed by the RSS. They were the first to notify the farm laws. Kejriwal ji stayed at the home of a known separatist during the previous Punjab elections, not to mention latest revelations by some founding members of his party. They can hardly claim to provide security to Punjab.
‘Punjab needs govt run from within state’
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