Manifestos should be legally binding, says Bhagwant Mann

Q. You are the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate. How do you look at the new responsibility?

My active political career may have started only seven years ago, but if you look at my old cassettes, CDs and [stage] shows, you will realise that most of my utterances were anti-establishment. I used to speak against the system and power. I said Bhagwant Mann’s humour was relevant only when people were able to light their stoves. I could see farmers committing suicide in front of me. Our youth were addicted to drugs, one could see syringes lying along with bodies. The coming generations would have asked me what I was doing when their uncles were dying. So I decided to leave my career and take a plunge into politics. I could not have gone with traditional parties. I had joined the Manpreet Singh Badal-led party in 2011, but when he joined the Congress, I had no choice. When the Aam Aadmi Party was formed, I decided to go there.

Q. How has been the experience so far?

I won the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 with the largest margin in Punjab. I have been among the most vocal MPs in Parliament. I was chosen again to contest the Lok Sabha polls. There were many ups and downs in the party, as it was a newly formed organisation. I became party chief in Punjab and took charge of things. Now, we are going to form the next government with a huge majority. The responsibility entrusted to me is to be the chief ministerial candidate. It was done after asking people about it. Over 21 lakh votes were cast (in an online survey) and 93 per cent of them chose my name. Now, when my responsibility has increased, my confidence has also increased. People of the state think that someone from among them is going to be chief minister. All other political leaders are distant and unapproachable. They live in palaces and seven-star hotels.

Q. Punjab has always witnessed bipolar contests.

In the 2017 elections, the Akali Dal finished third. It happened for the first time. We came second. We were a credible opposition. The people are fed up with the Congress and the Akali Dal. They don’t even want to talk about them. They want to choose the AAP.

Q. What are the key issues in this election?

The issues are the same. Unemployment, sacrilege incidents, inflation, poverty and mafia raj are the issues. Brain drain is another issue. Our children are going abroad after clearing IELTS. We have to stop them. We want to bring industry. Our schools and hospitals have to improve.

Q. The AAP campaign revolves around the good work done by the Delhi government. Will you implement the Delhi model in Punjab?

Education is an issue for the country. If Delhi has done well, we will learn from it. Improving hospitals is a national issue. If Delhi has been successful, we will learn from it. Delhi can take our agriculture and industry models, once we are successful. We will work together.

Q. This sometimes leads to the charge that the Punjab government could be remote-controlled from Delhi?

Who says this? The Congress. When Captain Amarinder Singh used to go to Delhi as chief minister, he had to wait at Kapurthala House for an audience with Sonia Gandhi. Sometimes he had to return without meeting her. It was an insult to 2.75 crore Punjabis. Charanjit Singh Channi was chief minister for 111 days. Every second day, there were headlines like Channi summoned to Delhi, or Navjot Singh Sidhu summoned, as if they were criminals. I have gone to [AAP chief Arvind] Kejriwal’s house only once in the past four months. He usually comes here. So which party or government is run from Delhi? It is the Congress and the BJP. The AAP works from Punjab.

Q. If you fall short of majority, from whom will you take support?

There will not be any need. These days people give absolute majorities. Narendra Modi got absolute majority. People vote for the winning combination. We will get a chance.

Q. What is your promise if elected to power?

Within six months, people will start seeing the unfolding of ‘Rangla (prosperous, happy and colourful) Punjab’. We are not making promises like curbing black money in 100 days. I have said in Parliament, too, that party manifestos should be made legally binding.

Q. What does ‘Rangla Punjab’ envision?

People will get employment, good schools will be made, industry will return, hospitals will provide efficient health care, the state will be corruption-free and good officers will come here. There will be faster delivery of services and people will not have to wait in queues for long.

Q. How will the farmers’ agitation impact the elections?

The farmers have won a historic victory. I congratulate them. The movement was not limited to a particular party or a leader. There was mass participation. I supported them and spoke in their favour in Parliament. They have formed their own party, I wish them good luck. But people vote for those who can win.

Q. Will you have a dalit deputy chief minister?

A dalit (Charanjit Singh Channi) became chief minister. It was a matter of pride for the community. But when the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at his relatives’ place, people had a heartbreak. No one can find 010 crore from a poor person’s house. We talk about 2.75 crore Punjabis, which include dalits. When schools improve, hospitals become efficient and electricity bills are free, then the poor will benefit. We will not do politics based on caste or religion.

Q. State governments often have run-ins with the Centre. Will you be able to avoid such problems?

Punjab is a border state, we will need the Centre even more. We will move forward after engaging with the Centre. For Punjab’s security, peace and prosperity, we will seek cooperation. Even if we have to bow before anyone or touch anyone’s feet, we will do it. But we will keep Punjab peaceful at all costs.