Preneet Kaur: ‘In Punjab, it is farmers versus BJP… They don’t allow us to campaign… don’t confront other parties’

Do you have regrets about joining the BJP?

I don’t have any regrets about joining the BJP. The circumstances happened that our cherished relationship with Congress top leadership came to an end on a bitter note. We could not have done anything.

Preneet Kaur takes part in a rally and road show during the filing the nomination for Patiala MP seat ahead of Lok Sabha Elections (Express Photo by Harmeet Sodhi)

How do you look at the Congress’s treatment of Amarinder Singh?

It is a forgotten story now. It is over and done with. There is a way to do things. You cannot humiliate a person (Amarinder) who made your party stand in the region. He is a leader, who has a national appeal. He helped in building Congress image nationally too. When the party was at the lowest ebb, and won only 52 seats in Lok Sabha (in 2019 polls), eight MPs were from Punjab while the entire northern region did not have enough MPs. It was only Punjab, under the then CM Amarinder Singh, which gave Congress legitimacy in India. And is this what you (Congress) do to him?

Amarinder’s politics was centred around farmers. And now they heckle you, hold protests against you. What is your response?

Captain Sahib (Amarinder) has always done so much for the farmers. They should have faith that he will keep their demands as top priority. They also have to understand that farmers have a predominant role in Punjab. But in other states there are other communities. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji is not against them. The government will do whatever is possible for them. The PM apologised to them, withdrew the contentious farm laws. But they do not allow us to campaign. We have every right to take our campaign forward. They do not allow it. They threaten voters. The right to vote cannot be curtailed by force. In any case, it is farmers versus the BJP here. They do not say anything to any other party’s candidates. Other parties are supporting them to oppose BJP. I went to each farmer’s family who lost their member during the andolan (farmers’ movement) and got hurt. I also helped them financially. No other leader went to them.

Which party is in direct fight with you?

There is no direct contest here. The SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) and BJP are contesting separately for the first time. The AAP and Congress, too, do not have an alliance here. Then there is BSP and Simranjit Singh Mann’s candidate also. Everybody will take votes of their share. This time it is a very different election. There is a multi-cornered contest.

You have been canvassing alone. How are you coping with Amarinder’s absence from the campaign trail?

I miss Captain Sahib. He is a source of great strength. He has been keeping unwell. We hope he will soon join the campaign. We have been working hard in the BJP. My son Raninder Singh covered 80 villages in last four days. These farmers went and threatened him also. Their agitation is now troubling the common man. That is why Barnala traders have given them an ultimatum now.

Is the Ram Mandir issue going to help you?

The Ram Mandir issue has brought in positivity in several segments of Patiala. Its every village took out a shobha yatra and everyone participated. That vote would go to Modi ji. He is going to help me with his visit to Patiala on Thursday. He is the tallest leader in India. His rally will whip up our campaign further.

How do you view your rival parties’ prospects in Patiala?

Congress is not going to form the government at the Centre. People are not voting for them. The AAP has a pattern in coming to power. They make extensive use of media and social media to show that they are working. Otherwise, there is nothing on the ground. Corruption is at an all-time high (in the state under the AAP rule). They just keep making false claims. Akalis have no presence.