‘We do farming of crops, but he did farming of politics’: Malwa farmers remember ex-Punjab CM Badal

For Rajinder Singh Sekhon, a farmer of the Balluana constituency of Fazilka district, the former CM was someone who knew the pulse of people. “…Someone grows cotton, a few others grow fruits or vegetables, wheat, paddy or anything else…but he did rajniti di kheti (politics of farming). He knew the pulse of people..how to interact with them ..what to talk and where to talk.. that’s why he could visit almost every house of Malwa and people would greet him as well,” Sekhon says.

Sekhon, a Congressman, recounts Senior Badal’s approach to dealing with the people. “If he was visiting a landlord’s house he would sit for a few minutes and leave. And if was visiting a Dalit person’s house, he would make sure to drink tea and that too in a big steel ‘katori’ which is called ‘baata’ in Punjab,” he says.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of BKU Ugrahan – Punjab’s largest farmer union – terms the senior Badal as a very clever and shrewd politician who knew his job well. “Farmer unions always keep governments on toes, and so was our relationship with him. However, Badal used to meet the farmers’ union leaders after thorough homework. He used to be very sweet with us, but at the same time he used to protect the rights of corporates more than farmers.”

Ugrahan recalls the incident in 2006 when the farmers were fighting against the land acquisition by Trident Group in Barnala district for industrial purposes. “It was the Captain’s government at that time. Senior Badal had promised farmers that he would give their land back if voted to power. However, once he came back to power in 2007, land was given to Trident. However, farmers got a 70 per cent hike in compensation for their land. That was the only favour he could do. It was a total of 375 acres of land,” he says and adds that in the end Badal protected corporates.

Ugrahan says that in 2011 the Badal government had to give 186 acres of land acquired for a thermal power plant back to farmers following a protest. “The remaining 700 acres which was acquired was never used for a thermal power plant project. Hence we used to keep the government on our toes but at the same time he tried to please everyone by addressing them as ‘kakaji’, ‘bibaji’ or ‘sardaar saab’. At the same time he used to stay intact with his political ideologies,” he says.

Prem Singh Bhangu, president of All India Kisan Federation, says the deceased leader had always stood for the Punjabis when it came to federal rights of states, river water share, etc. “Akali Dal was the only party in the country which had launched an agitation against Emergency in 1975 and the senior Badal had spent 19 months in jail. He approached the common man in a down-to-earth manner. However, Akali Dal as of now is standing on a tough path, and let’s see how they revive themselves,” Bhangu says.

He adds that the senior Badal happened to be five times CM, president of Akali Dal, and minister in the union government, saw the huge rise of his party and also its downfall. “He was politically clever but a few blunders did happen which are the result of the present situation of Akali Dal. Sacrilege incidents remained a big blot for them and the case is still going on,” Bhangu reminds.

Hakam Singh Sidhu, a retired government employee-turned-farmer in Vanawala Hanumanta village of Fazilka district, recalls how he got posted in the government sector as a junior engineer.

“In 1978, I did a diploma in civil engineering and yet I didn’t get a job in the sewerage board despite my merit. Without any influence, I went straight to the Secretariat in Chandigarh to meet CM Parkash Singh Badal and showed him my certificates. Within 30 minutes, I got an appointment letter as a junior engineer in the sewerage board. Now I am a retired SDO. Both my sons are engineers. That job changed my life!” explains Sidhu.

In 2019 Sidhu’s son, who has a BTech degree in food technology met Badal senior with his wife who is also Masters in food technology. “They wanted a milk processing unit in the village so as to stay back in India to work. Today my son and daughter-in-law are running that unit. Milk and dairy products are being sold in Fazilka and Ferozepur. That processing unit got sanctioned through Harsimrat Kaur Badal who was the then food processing minister. Hence, we do remember him for his foresightedness to keep youngsters back in the state,” Sidhu said.

There are plenty memories for the farmers. The issues of farmers will also remain. People remember him for his good deeds. But in polls they had shown him the doors as well. “So when a person is gone. Remember his good deeds only,” sums up Bhangu.

Talking about the demise of former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal BKU Dakaunda general secretary Jagmohan Singh Patiala said,”Being a farmer union leader, farmer unions have interacted with former CMs Parkash Singh Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh and the current CM Bhagwant Mann as well… but I found that Badal used to have the best grip over farming related subjects… they (SAD) were the regional party which tried to protect the interests of Punjab. However after their association with the BJP, Akali Dal tried to gain national status and that eventually became a negative point for them. Today the BJP is all set to target all regional parties. Hence, I feel that his alliance with the BJP was a political error which showed results decades later and now the party is struggling to revive.”

Zora Singh Nasrali, president of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union said, “We don’t have any fond memories with late Parkash Singh Badal. We found him as a ruler who tried his best not to let farm labourers’ unions strengthen in Punjab as he was more pro-corporate.”