‘My agenda is tough,not suited to electoral policy. I’d like to prick conscience of Punjabis’

You had taken up cudgels in the past too but had retracted when things got hot.
Yes I have been accused in the past of lacking the guts and courage to take the plunge but I had always clung to a slender thread of hope that somehow I shall be able to convince my party colleagues. I am heartbroken now and appeared to have reached a dead-end after losing the confidence of the Chief Minister.

But as a partyman,why have you declined to present yourself before the disciplinary committee?
The party’s disciplinary committee cannot question any minister. All ministers are answerable to the Chief Minister and the Cabinet and not the party,which can seek explanation if say,one disregards a whip or indulges in indiscipline. As the FM,I had to advise the party that we can’t sustain with the state running a revenue deficit of over Rs 5,000 crore.

It appears you deliberately attracted party action by speaking outside the party fora.
I have been raising the issues at all available fora in the party,but no one appeared to be listening. I have that kisan logic — that let me suffer and sacrifice but my next generation should be comfortable. I wanted the same logic to be applied to the state so that the generation next in Punjab gets to be debt-free and to live with honour.

Are you open to joining hands with other parties,including the Congress?
I don’t think I have that option open to me. I can’t predict my future. My agenda is tough and not suited to electoral policy,but I would like to prick the conscience of Punjabis… I would knock on every available door to explain the agenda for generation next. Let me gauge the public reaction to the current developments before I make up my mind.

Do you see any hope in the given circumstances?
I am an optimistic and I believe it shall need only 10 years to turn the state around. I think the younger leaders in the Akali Dal as well as the Congress are in a re-thinking mode and they need a charismatic leader to show them the way. The leaders shall have to prepare a roadmap to revive the state’s economy.

What is likely to be the outcome of the Assembly elections?
It is subject to several imponderables and circumstances,but I think much would depend on who leads the different parties. The SAD stands a good chance only if the Chief Minister himself leads the party in the elections.

Are you against subsidies per se?
No. I am in favour of giving more subsidies provided we have the funds and generate resources. People will have to be convinced that only resource mobilisation can lead to a better standard of living. Take the example of Gujarat. It has privatised power generation and distribution and the power availability is among the best in the country.

What do you do when faced with difficult questions?
I go over to the neighbouring Chandigarh War Memorial to ponder over these questions. I ask myself whether the sacrifices made by thousands of our soldiers and officers should go in vain and who am I to take any wrong decision that does not go in favour of the citizens.