People have seen through false narratives about SAD: Ghumman
The Ludhiana West bypoll is SAD candidate, advocate Parupkar Singh Ghumman's debut in electoral politics. Talking to Nidhi Bhardwaj, Ghumman discusses the shift from courtroom to constituency. Here are excerpts of the conversation.
Q: How are you positioning yourself before voters and what are your plans for the West constituency?
A: First, people should look at what the AAP government did for the past 3.5 years to judge what it will do in the remaining period. The AAP government has failed on each front, including education, health, law and order, trade, etc. AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora remained a Rajya Sabha member for more than three years but what are his achievements? As for the Congress, its tenure was also terrible. People realise that only Shiromani Akali Dal can handle Punjab and its issues. The BJP is not pro-Punjab, as even the Punjab BJP team has never asked for a special economic zone. I plan to raise my voice in the Punjab Assembly for development works in the West constituency. People who know me are aware of my passion for development and I will get the work done.
Q: You are totally new to electoral politics and are facing national parties and their top leaders. How are you holding up?
A: I don't think that's a big deal. Had they done anything for people, they would not need to bring bigwigs to the city for the campaign. Moreover, winning or losing any election depends on the candidate's credibility and powers of persuasion. By organising such grand shows, they are causing inconvenience to people, who get stuck in traffic jams. I would also have done such things, but we are avoiding public inconvenience.
Q: A few elections in the past did not go well for Shiromani Akali Dal. What do you think is the scope now?
A: The perception that only the ruling party can win a bypoll is not based on facts. No doubt Shiromani Akali Dal did not do well in the past few elections, but it was because a narrative had been peddled against us on issues like sacrilege, drugs, and farmers. Gradually, people have become aware of all the issues and the reality behind them. Farmers have also realised that an illusion was created against Shiromani Akali Dal by the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. People know that during the SAD government, there was communal harmony between Hindus and Sikhs.
Q: How will SAD, which is divided into several groups, especially the Ayali group, cope with infighting?
A: Where we have large families, small fights happen. Gradually things get resolved. As of now, there are two groups. MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali still counts himself as an Akali. My only message to him is that if he still admits that he belongs to Akali Dal, then he should come and join this election campaign like other leaders of the party. There is a need to give up ego and join hands for the welfare of Punjab and its people.
Q: What is your vision for the constituency and city?
A: I have travelled across the world and seen how countries are growing. If we look at Dubai, it has no resources but one man developed this country. Here in Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal has that vision. He can transform this state completely like he did in his previous tenure. In Ludhiana West and Ludhiana specifically, we have great scope for the industry. If given a chance, I will develop the city as a medical tourism hub. Then we have a natural stream, Sidhwan Canal. We can develop this canal as a tourist centre like foreign countries. I will work to resolve issues like Buddha Dariya and City Centre. Government employees will not be burdened.
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