Newly-appointed Punjab Congress president and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh talks to Harpreet Bajwa about his priorities, alliances with other parties, jailing Akali leaders who persecuted Congress workers and Sarbat Khalsa.
On factionalism in the party.
There was a difference of opinion. But the entire rank and file of the party and its leadership are united.
On AAP being a threat.
I have never said that. It posed some challenge during the parliamentary elections, but it has fizzled out.
On pre- or post-poll tie-up with People’s Party of Punjab.
We are open to any alliance with like-minded parties.
On dealing with SAD.
Distributing money and liquor and financing rebels is not micro management. You can fool some people sometimes, but not everyone all the time. The Akalis may not even be able to find candidates.
On jailing Akali Dal leaders and the Badals who are allegedly persecuting Congress workers.
Yes. I stand by what I have committed. This includes police officials. It is not vendetta.
On controlling the drug trade.
There will be no state patronage. We will eradicate drugs and drug peddlers. They have destroyed an entire generation.
On radical groups re-grouping in the state.
They have always been on the fringe. The Akalis have done everything to provide them a fertile ground.
On Sarbat Khalsa held on November 10.
It was a show of anger against the Badals and their sins of omission and commission. Although radicals tried to exploit the situation, they did not succeed. Khalistan protagonist Simranjit Singh Mann was not allowed to speak.
On the accusation that the Congress is organising Sarbat Khalsa. They are suffering from a neurotic obsession and see Congress’s hand in everything that goes against them. People attended as it was a religious congregation of Sikhs. Some of our leaders went too. Nobody can stop them as they are Sikhs. They appealed for peace and brotherhood.
On the complaint that NRIs are being harassed by the state government.
They have been misusing police to target NRIs to extract money from them. Under Akalis, grabbing properties of NRIs is common. I’ll ensure that all wrongs against NRIs are undone and the guilty are punished.
On reforming SGPC.
It is not on Congress’s agenda. We will facilitate the SGPC to get rid of modern-day mahants led by their chief mahant Parkash Singh Badal.