‘If they feel threatened by me, it’s not my problem’

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Have I ever challenged him (Capt Amarinder)? Have I ever said I will not do this or that? This feud is being created for political convenience. Capt Amarinder Singh is like my father.

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The CM did not go to Pakistan for his own reasons. If he does not want to go, it doesn’t mean others should not go, pilgrims shouldn’t go. I respect his opinion, he is an elder.

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has hogged the national limelight since his visit to Pakistan in August for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan. His role in the Kartarpur corridor has led to a controversy both in the Punjab government and with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the national stage. In a conversation with Chetan Chauhan, Sidhu talked about his rapport with Imran Khan, and why he left the BJP to join the Congress, and whether he has chief ministerial ambitions. Excerpts:

You described the Kartarpur corridor as a ‘corridor of infinite possibilities’? What are those possibilities?

The possibility is of people-to-people contact. When you lose connect, doubt arises and in that trust is lost. The best way to build trust is people-to-people contact. When you go as a pilgrim, you become a better person, a better friend and a better neighbour. The moment people-to-people connect starts, economic prosperity begins. Over 12 crore pilgrims will go there in a year — see the magnitude.

What will be its impact on Punjab?

There are huge possibilities for trade. Punjab has suffered because one-third of the original state was left with India and remaining went to Pakistan. Punjab is the land of five rivers, and Lahore was the core, and biggest market was in Amritsar. Where are these old routes and those industries? The corridor opens several such business opportunities. There is possibility of each access to visas also. Most people in Delhi don’t understand our issues. We have to travel 250km to get a visa to visit Lahore just 20km away.

You have been criticised over how you handled the Kartarpur corridor issue.

I have left an income of ₹30 crore. I have given wings to my aspiration all my life. I am living on ₹1 lakh today. The problem with the (central) government is that when somebody does not walk with them, and tells them you have become puppets of rich industrialists, they tend to finish that person; they try to end the legitimacy of that person’s questions.

Why did you quit the BJP and joined the Congress?

They (BJP leaders) wanted me to leave Amritsar and contest from Kurukshetra..., they wanted me to campaign for Akalis. I refused. They asked me to become a minister, take Rajya Sabha. (Narendra) Modi sahib announced my name. I told him that I will not take anything that takes me away from Punjab. Tell me, one person who leaves Rajya Sabha and a ministerial post. I stood with the Congress, got 78 seats.

Chief minister Amarinder Singh decided not to go to Pakistan for the Kartarpur ceremony and also advised you not to go.

He did not go to Pakistan for his own reasons. Others in the Congress such as (former Uttarakhand CM) Harish Rawat, Sunil Jakhar (Punjab chief) and (chief spokesperson) Randeep Surjewala sahib stood by me. If he (Amarinder) does not want to go, it doesn’t mean others should not go, pilgrims should not go. I respect his opinion, he is an elder. That does not mean that if I have given a word and my friend (Imran Khan), I will not go.

Is there a feud between you and the CM?

This is absolute nonsense. Have I ever challenged him? Have I ever said: ‘I will not do this or that’? This feud is being created for political convenience.

Four ministers in Punjab have demanded your resignation over the Kartarpur controversy.

This is politics. I am accountable to my conscience. I’m here for Punjab. I have utmost respect for my chief minister. What I said was that Rahul Gandhi is my captain —is there something wrong in it? Let anybody deny that Rahul Gandhi is not our captain. Let him (Amarinder) deny that Rahul Gandhi is not his captain.

You and Imran share a tremendous chemistry. What is behind this personal rapport?

I grew up watching him playing cricket the way he did. It was so pure, he was a team man. In politics, one needs to understand that if you play like a team, everything will be easy. Here, it is a red ocean where people are cutting each other. There is just blood, blood, blood. I want to swim in a blue ocean where there is peace.

How is the Imran government different from previous regimes?

It is simple thing — they took the initiative, they want peace, they know peace will get them prosperity, they want talks. Who else wanted it? You (India) moved one hand, he opened his arms. You said we are ready for the corridor, next day he said I will do ground-breaking in two days. If you have to change ties, we need to change our thoughts towards our neighbour.

Can the corridor solve India-Pakistan tensions?

If not, then close down the embassies in the two countries. Stop exchanging sweets and stop cricket diplomacy. Bring the ambassadors back. We need to ask, has the war and bloodshed brought a solution in 71 years? Imran said we are an atomic power, war cannot happen. The only way forward is talks, peace and prosperity. This is Baba Nanak’s philosophy also.

There is a perception that you are a prospective chief ministerial candidate.

That is decided by the party president. If you feel threatened, that is not my problem. I have never been insecure. If the difficulty is that of being good, how can I avoid it? I have never asked for anything. The same Congress said become deputy (chief minister), but I didn’t take anything.

You went to Pakistan on the 10th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Was it bad optics?

What do you mean? Why would you say that? Why can’t you look at it from other angle also. I didn’t remember that (26/11 anniversary). I went there on positive note. Positive something is better than negative nothing. Is joining 12-crore Sikhs to their Mecca a taboo? In which religious textbook it is written that a person can be denied opportunity to visit the supreme leader of his religion. For 71 years, you stopped us from going to Mecca of your religion. That is why I say don’t see religion with prism of politics. Nanak Shah Fakir was guru of Hindus and pir of Muslims.

You met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Did not you tell her about Pakistan initiative?

I did not have to tell her. By that time, statements of Shah Mehmood Qureshi (foreign minister) and Imran (Khan) had come. The Indian government had to write to them (Pakistan authorities). I and MS Gill (former sports minister) met Sushmaji. She said the draft is readied.

Which draft are you talking about?

Draft for sending a letter to Pakistan that we are ready for talks. Three months went off and nothing happened, and talk initiative lost steam. India said no we are not having talks in the UN (United Nations). They (Pakistan) said we are ready to announce the corridor in the UN, where Sikh leaders were also present. India refused. I was disappointed like millions of other Sikhs. But, out of the blue, one day they announced (the corridor). Very next day Imran Khan said he will do the groundbreaking ceremony in two days. Then they (central government) announced the inauguration on November 26.

You said Rahul Gandhi gave you a go ahead to visit Pakistan?

No, I never said that. It has become a fashion these days to distort things.

Was it your personal decision to go to Pakistan?

Don’t you know who invited me? Doesn’t the world know? Imran came in front of everyone and invited me. So why this nonsense?

There are apprehensions in certain quarters that Pakistan may use the corridor as a platform to stoke pro-Khalistan sentiments among the Sikhs?

All this is something which is non-existent.

There was a recent grenade attack on Nirankari bhawan in Amritsar. Doesn’t it indicate rise of fundamentalist forces?

How do such things happen only close to elections? Nothing happened for the last two years. Election came the blast took place. People understand politics of these blasts.

Same BJP leaders are saying you are a traitor. What is your response?

Didn’t the PM (Narendra Modi) go to Pakistan? Didn’t he hug then prime minister Nawaz Sharif? His hug is right and mine is wrong. What a logic. Didn’t Vajpayee Sahib go to Pakistan? When Modi went there, Pathankot (intrusion at Air Force base) happened, when Vajpayee Sahib went, Kargil war took place and when I went, Kartarpur corridor happened. See the difference. It is a crime to seek peace? I want to ask the BJP leaders.

Do you consider yourself as a peace messenger between India and Pakistan?

Absolutely not. I did my duty. I told them I am a goodwill ambassador. Now, what is happening is for all of you to see.

Akalis had said that you should ask your friend Imran to stop drug supply to Punjab?

(Laughs) Ask them (Akalis), who is behind drugs. Don’t you know who is Niranjan Singh, Bikram Majithia, Bhola. This is like “ulta chor kotwal ko dante” (a thief cannot point finger at a policeman).

Whose foreign policy approach towards Pakistan was better, UPA’s or NDA’s?

I have not gone there for foreign policy. I want there as friend and asked why Guru Nanak’s followers are not allowed to go to their Mecca. I don’t want to comment on diplomacy.

Since this government has come, has India-Pakistan relation has deteriorated?

It is for them (India and Pakistan) to decide. Let them say what they have to and let them reap the harvest. Let people decide. I went there for pilgrimage. My dream is to unite two Punjabs, which is not a taboo my friend. Your division has hurt both Punjabs (in India and Pakistan).

Is this (Indo-Pak tension) being done for 2019 elections?

This happens only before elections, everyone knows. People will give befitting reply when polling happens.

You are most sought after campaigner for the Congress. What was the response?

Amazing response to the Congress rallies I have seen in all poll-bound states. In Chhattisgarh, Congress will win 90% seats. You can see winds of change everyone. You can see people want change. The tall promises of BJP have fallen flat.

Do you think Modi wave is still there?

The PM’s aura is no longer there. The wave of 2013 and 2014 has become a bane of poor and boon for rich. All the government money is going to these big industries. The insurancebased schemes are benefitting big companies and not people, farmers are suffering.

Is the Congress campaign clicking with people?

You will come to know. They (BJP) cannot give Ram Mandir date, jobs to two-crore people and skills to the youth. Goods and Service Tax (GST) has killed farmers and industry. Through demonetisation, they turned black money into purple (colour of ₹2000 note). You (BJP) broke backbone of poor person. Over 100 poor people died during demonetisation, no rich died. Wait for December 11 and you will see winds of change.