New party should result from people’s movement,says Manpreet Badal

And the idea that such an acceptance should precede formation of any new political front has come from examples in Punjab’s politics. He cites instances of former Union minister SS Ramoowalia,who floated his Lok Bhalai Party in 1999. “I cannot start a party like Ramoowalia and ask people to join it. I have to first set an agenda and see if there are any takers for it. And my

people’s movement is about awakening people about all that ails Punjab and then seek direction and feedback on the radical reforms I have proposed in my agenda,” he says while countering the criticism that the said reforms are utopian.

“They are radical but not utopian. Is achieving a rate of growth of 10 per cent per annum by 2017 or eliminating VIP culture from Punjab utopian? Seeing the alarming increase in drug addiction among Punjab’s youth,should liquor vends still be allowed within the periphery of a village? Should not the ones who have been in power for two terms of a government make way for younger,fresh ideas? The problem is nobody is setting an agenda for Punjab. The Congress too is just talking about avenging the so-called atrocities on its workers. Who is talking about Punjab which needs a cleaning of its entire system right from social,economic to political,” adds Badal.

And his month-long public rallies have only added to his conviction that Punjab needs a change and its people are looking for one. “I have realised the youth power of Punjab and they are willing to work towards a radical change,” he adds.

But does not one of his proposed radical reforms – no blood relation in the same cabinet – smell of doublespeak after his having been a minister in the government of his uncle Parkash Singh Badal? But here,he says it’s precisely from his experience as a minister that he feels they were too many of them in the cabinet from the family,and it was a great disservice to the people of Punjab.

On the other charge,Congress getting the numbers for the rebel Badal,he levels a counter allegation. “In fact,I should be the one accusing the Akalis of aligning with the Congress and being more vindictive towards me. There were no attempts to disrupt any of the recent rallies of the Congress and they are even withdrawing cases against Congress leaders.”

He also denies getting any feelers from the Badals to return to the party fold saying,“They had made up their mind to get rid of me.”