Malvinder Singh Kang interview: ‘Sand mining an issue in Anandpur Sahib but AAP govt has controlled it’

Q: Your opponents are attacking you with the ‘outsider’ tag. The SAD candidate, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, attacked you, claiming you are a newcomer. How do you plan to counter these claims?

Malvinder Singh Kang: Yes, my family hails from Madhya Pradesh. But I have been in Punjab for the past 27 years. Approximately two years ago, my party appointed me as the in charge of the Anandpur Sahib constituency, and I have been working in the area ever since.

Regarding outsiders, I must emphasise that my three opponents – Prof Chandumajra, the Congress’s Vijay Inder Singla, and the BJP’s Dr Subash Sharma – are indeed outsiders. Prof Chandumajra has his own personal agenda as he seeks Assembly tickets for his sons. If he accuses me of being an outsider, he should also question Bikram Singh Majithia, who came to the state solely to contest elections.

Q. Illegal sand mining is a major issue in the Anandpur Sahib constituency. It has been two years that your government has been in power in the state, and SAD leader Bikram Majithia levelled serious allegations of illegal sand mining still going on. What is your response?

Malvinder Singh Kang: In 2007, the SAD government initiated illegal sand mining for personal gain. The SAD leaders were responsible for starting this illicit practice. While I acknowledge that it is an issue in my constituency, our government has shut down numerous illegal mining sites, and we plan to make the process more transparent in the future. The SAD introduced this practice, and the Congress government supported it. Our administration has made concerted efforts to address this problem, and we are beginning to see positive results.

Q. It has been two years that your party has been in power in the state. How are you approaching the people so that they vote for you?

Malvinder Singh Kang: I our government has done a great job in the past two years. We have created 43,000 jobs, and the important thing is that the jobs were awarded based on merit. No candidate received any special treatment.

Another major accomplishment of our government is the revival of the canal system for irrigation in the state. I have spoken with the farmers, and they have told me how they will benefit from this system. Additionally, we have provided free power. I have been sharing these achievements of our government with the people, and the response has been very positive.

Q. You talked about the development but the BJP candidate Dr Subash Sharma alleged that the condition of internal roads is deplorable in the constituency. What is your take on it?

Malvinder Singh Kang: Dr Sharma is new to the constituency and unfamiliar with the ground reality. He is spreading misinformation. We are already working to improve the road infrastructure in the area. Anandpur Sahib has great potential in the tourism industry, and we plan to enhance the road infrastructure soon.

Q. You say that you came to the constituency two years ago. What work did you initiate in the area during these two years?

Malvinder Singh Kang: We closed at least eight toll plazas in the area, which relieved commuters greatly. Previous governments had allowed these toll plazas to operate independently.

Q. What is your vision for the constituency?

Malvinder Singh Kang: I believe that Anandpur Sahib has excellent potential to become a tourist hub. To promote religious tourism, I want to create a specific circuit connecting all the religious places in the constituency. With the advantage of an airport in Mohali, I aim to put my constituency on the international map.

Additionally, I see potential in making Anandpur Sahib a water sports hub. Balachaur, which falls within my constituency, was once famous for volleyball, while Mahalpur is known for football. Unfortunately, past governments neglected these areas. I aim to establish national-level centres in these areas to promote these sports.

Q. There needs to be better channelisation of water bodies. How do you see it could be done?

Malvinder Singh Kang: We already have a plan, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is already working on it. We will achieve this goal by channelling water bodies and conserving water.