DEBT WAIVER NOT THE SOLUTION, IT’S JUST AN ASSISTANCE: AMARINDER
The Punjab chief minister says Congress will win Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh but expects the trend to change in the runup to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls
CHANDIGARH:In the backdrop of dwindling electoral fortunes of the Congress since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Captain Amarinder Singh led the party’s spectacular comeback in Punjab on March 11 last year — that also happened to be his 75th birthday. But the euphoria wore thin rather quickly.
A year into his second term at the helm of the border state, the erstwhile Patiala royal has been in a firefighting mode. The implementation of a raft of promises — debt waiver, unemployment allowance, free smartphones, hiked social pensions, and what not — made in the election manifesto has become a daunting challenge for his fund-crunched government. A watered-down scheme for farm loan waiver has already led to disaffection. As a number of states head for polls this year, his role becomes all the more significant as the Congress needs to showcase its performance in states where it is in power. And there aren’t many. In an interview with executive editor
and senior assistant editor Amarinder acknowledged the challenges that he faces while exuding a sense of optimism on stabilising the state’s evershakier finances. Excerpts:
Ramesh Vinayak Navneet Sharma, How do you look back on your first year?
It’s been a tough one because we took over a sinking ship. There was no money and the debt was overflowing. Salaries were delayed. The treasury only had bills. Recovering from a debt of ₹2.08 lakh crore is not easy. Look at the interest on that.
What is the way forward?
We are raising revenue and cutting costs. In my last tenure (2002-07), there was surplus. After giving each MLA ₹100 crore for their constituencies before the assembly elections in 2007, we left a surplus of ₹1,600 crore in the state treasury.
You were upbeat about GST. Did it help?
No, it hasn’t to the extent we expected though there has been an increase in collection. That is because of the lacunae in implementation. The situation has been aggravated by delays in the release of the state’s share. I still maintain that the idea of GST, originally mooted by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, is sound. Its execution needs a relook.
Do you feel burdened by the expectations and promises that you made?
We are trying to fulfil promises. Today, I released ₹160-odd crore for debt waiver to 30,000 farmers. We started with Mansa. We will give the waiver to 50,000 farmers in Gurdaspur next week. We have another problem. Farmers are passing on debt. If someone has 40 acres, he will give two to his son and claim the debt in his name. That’s what SDMs are checking. This fraud can’t go on. That’s why we are going slow. For this, we have ₹4,000 crore.
You are committed to farmers. Is debt waiver the solution?
No, it is not. It is only assistance. The only solution is to raise income. We have been feeding the country for 50 years. Today, India hopes to grow at 7.4%. Our growth is 5.6%. Agriculture is not the solution. We make efforts to bring industry. We are now giving power at ₹5 a unit. We have to change the cropping pattern. I’ve been talking about diversification since 1985.
How come nothing has changed?
These fellows (the Akalis) don’t do it. The moment they come to power, they halt it. Cases are slapped. No officer has the courage to take it up. Last time, we had the farm-to-fork project with Reliance Group. It was stopped. They later went back to Mukesh (Ambani) to ask him to return but he refused.
Is diversification possible without the Centre’s assistance or logistical support?
The private sector has grown strong. When I met Mukesh recently, I spoke to him to look at it again. He promised a second look. We hope to rope in others too. We are counting on private investment. There is no other way.
Will you bite the bullet on free power?
No, it is difficult. It will become a political crisis. The farmers have been suffering. Of 17 lakh farming families, 10.25 lakh are small farmers. There is already one suicide a day. If free power is cut, they will be in a worse situation. I am trying to do something else. There are 13.5 lakh tubewells. We have chosen 900 in six villages to install meters to gauge consumption. The Akalis have started creating a ruckus. The object is not to save power, but water. We are heading for a crisis. If this continues, Punjab will become a desert. Subsoil water has gone down to 1,200 feet in Sangrur, Patiala and Bathinda, where it used to be available at 80 feet.
What do you make of the Niti Aayog’s plainspeak when they told Punjab to forget about food security?
They weren’t so blunt. They talked about diversification. We’ve been saying the same thing. I told them to support us. They asked for a proposal. They give support to wheat and paddy. I sought price support for potatoes and mustard seeds. There was nothing negative at that meeting. We had similar thoughts on diversification.
You appealed to big farmers but not many came forward. Why shouldn’t your party leaders show the way?
It’s just selfishness. Why can’t farmers who have income coming from other sources give up power subsidy? What is their problem? Manpreet Singh Badal, Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Sunil Jakhar have given it up.
There has been a controversy over illegal mining and goonda tax. Has this dented your government’s image?
I admit these controversies have hurt the government’s image to an extent. But we have tightened screws. I flew down to Nakodar on Wednesday and checked if there was any illegal mining there. There was not a single machine. Now, there are allegations being levelled against (minister) Charanjit Singh Channi. If an uncle or nephew is doing something, you can’t blame the minister. I have only read the allegations in newspapers.
The Congress is having its plenary session. What is your recipe for its revival?
Look where we are in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh today. These are ups and downs. Those in the government today had just one seat at one point of time. I don’t think we need to worry. We are an old party with an established base. We are winning Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Who knows what will happen in 2019? The trend is changing.
The Modi government has been criticised for snubbing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. What is your view?
That is for the government to say. I can’t be expected to comment on their behalf. In Punjab, Trudeau was accorded due welcome, as per protocol, and I had a useful meeting with him. He came out with a categorical assurance that no pro-Khalistani elements or sympathisers were being encouraged, in any way, by his government.
You have maintained that the Congress needs to strengthen its regional leaders.
There is no interference from Delhi. The Congress president has given me a free hand to function. When I have to induct any minister, I consult the leadership. The last time I made my cabinet, no one interfered.
What is your equation with Modi?
There are two aspects. As a politician, we are different parties. We have our own stands on issues. When (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji was there, I had no trouble with the government. We got their full support. The same thing was done by Manmohan Singh. If you recall once in the assembly, Mrs (Rajinder Kaur) Bhattal told (Parkash Singh) Badal saab, “If you have any problem with Delhi, tell us.” He said, “Bibi ji tussi dur hi raho, sannu twadi lod nahin hai (you stay away, we don’t need you), we are managing fine.” Now also, whether it is Mr Modi, Gadkari, Jaitley, Uma Bharti, or whoever I have met, I haven’t had any problem.
Anything that you expect from the Modi government?
They have to function within the framework. Whatever we have gone for or asked them to expedite, they have helped. For instance, they went out of their way on CCL (cash credit limit).
Can you tell us three things you would like to do in your second year?
State finance is the number one priority and then, of course, jobs, industry, and agriculture. These job ‘melas’ we are doing, hopefully we will finish the year with about three lakh jobs. The third thing is to keep peace. I am going to be tough on all gangster, drugs business. You can see the change already.
In one year, you will be facing Lok Sabha elections. Which party will be your main opponent in Punjab?
There are three parties — the Congress, AAP, and Akalis. The AAP is on the verge of collapse because there is no support left for them. The Akalis are trying to put their act together but they won’t gel. If we play our cards right, we will be fine. We have to focus on development. Last time, we didn’t do it. In 2002, we won only three of the 13 seats. My understanding with (then finance secretary KR) Lakhanpal was that as finances were bad, don’t take any finances for one or two years and after that whatever you want. We stuck to it. In that one year, we could not build a road. The backlash came in the parliamentary polls. This time, we are not doing that. I have just announced projects worth ₹123 crore for Shahkot.
Your party MLAs expect you to act against the previous Badal govt but you refrained.
That’s a primary sort of demand. I have told them there is a law in this land. I can’t just catch hold and shove them behind bars. Give me facts and we will look into them. We are looking into their transport business. But they are clever. They have gone off to Himachal. We have to have facts. I’m not going to do what they did to me. After 13 years, both cases against me are still in court. People don’t seem to know that.