Punjab LoP Bajwa: ‘The only difference between NDA, INDIA is Nitish … Modi ji will not prevail as he is not at ease running an alliance govt’

Excerpts:

* What is the message of the voters?

People want a change at the national level. As for Punjab, people have clearly indicated they want a change here too. From 42% in 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party’s vote share in the state has almost halved to 26%. The votes they have polled are merely because they are in power (in the state). The AAP government does not hold the panchayat, municipal council, or corporation polls. There are many contenders who want to remain on the right side of the government. After the elections, there will be further erosion in their ranks. As for the BJP, I have been saying from day one that their vote share may increase, but they will not win any seats.

* How would you rate the performance of the Congress in the state?

The Congress’s resurgence at a time when it was at the receiving end of both the state and the Centre is praiseworthy. The message of the Punjabis is simple — In the coming years, they want the Congress back in power in the state. People are looking for mature leadership, not for immature upstarts.

* How would you rate the performance of the INDIA bloc at the Centre?

At the national level, I feel deeply let down by the media because it perpetuated the narrative that there was no possibility of change. Even two days ago, the Prime Minister and others were speaking of a barrage of support in the form of 400-plus seats, and the media was peddling this message.

Had Nitish Kumar not joined hands with the BJP, the INDIA bloc would have been victorious. The only difference between the NDA and INDIA is Nitish. BJP also got Chandrababu Naidu in their camp. But I still feel Modi ji will not be able to sustain his popularity because he is not at ease running an alliance government.

* What will happen to the cases registered by the AAP government in Punjab against Congress leaders. Both of you are now part of the INDIA bloc?

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is not with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP will try to cut the Congress to size in Punjab through the AAP government.

* The BJP has got more votes than the Akali Dal. What do you make of this?

It is a bad omen for Punjab. Sikhs, who are a majority in the state, and Hindus have maintained a very close relationship, even at the height of militancy. The ordinary Sikh has always stood by his Hindu brethren. It is only the fringe that indulges in hate crimes.

* How do you see the victory of pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, the son of one of Indira Gandhi’s assassins?

The BJP has polarised people with one particular slogan and sentiment. It is only natural that there will be reverse polarisation. My fear is that the sane voices will be snubbed. I also feel these individuals are the creations of Central agencies. This bodes ill for Punjab…

* Now that most of the big guns in the party have been elected to Parliament, is the path to the CM’s chair should the Congress win clear for you?

Not at all, forget about it. We have a long struggle ahead. I am more worried about the future of Punjab. Our economy is in the doldrums. We have an inimical Central government which hasn’t been able to get a single MP from the state. The Centre’s intentions are not clean. It has already denied us rural development funds. It’s not allowing us to operate our only dry port, which has existed for thousands of years. We are a landlocked state, and no new industry is allowed to come in.