Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Member of Parliament Naresh Gujral, the party's most prominent face in Delhi, says extremism in Punjab could rear its ugly head again if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and SAD were to part ways. Gujral tells Archis Mohan that the BJP's allies are increasingly feeling neglected. Edited excerpts:
Did the Budget meet Punjab's expectations?
We are happy with the Budget. The finance minister has provided funds for the farm sector, micro-irrigation, cheap crop loans and monetary assistance for treating soil health. He has also committed an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and a post graduate horticulture institute for Punjab, and funds for Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
But the SAD has reservations on the government's land Bill?
Yes. Any land acquisition should not ignore the country's future needs on the food security front. We also believe the government should look at Punjab's land acquisition policy, which is a time-tested success story. We feel the 'social impact assessment' clause should be retained; that there should be no acquisition without the consent of a majority of landowners. And, the owners must be given the option of either accepting adequate monetary compensation as per the prevailing market rate plus the displace allowance, or become a shareholder in the proposed project on the land in question through the 'land-pooling policy' as followed in Punjab.
How often is the SAD consulted on key issues within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)?
This, I must say, is one fallout that should be addressed. The NDA used to meet often, now such meetings do not take place. This is something that the BJP needs to address. I have spoken to all the allies, they speak to me. And I am being very frank with you that all allies feel neglected. There is this feeling that since they (the BJP) got full majority, the allies are not consulted on key issues.
There are tensions between the SAD and the BJP in Punjab.
Tensions will be there at the local level. It is more a power struggle, ego hassles of leaders at local levels. But at the central level, the BJP national leadership is appreciative of the fact that we have been a key ally, that we have always stood by them and our support has been unconditional, unlike others.
I have brought to their notice the consequences if we (the SAD and the BJP) were to drift apart. There will be a risk of the Akalis getting radicalised, our fringe will become more powerful and our moderates will be sidelined. In short, we will go panthic.
And what is panthic - the first demand will be "please return Chandigarh" and second, that we will not share water downstream (with Haryana). You (the Centre) will have to dismiss the government on these two issues. The moment you would have done that, I hate to say it, but emotions would be surcharged, the army would be deployed and we would be back to the 1980s.
Tell me what then will happen to 'Make in India' or the India growth story? These will be history. A state that is feeding the country would be in tatters. It would be lose-lose for the Narendra Modi government as well as Punjab.
They (the BJP central leadership) understood this very quickly. Parkash Singh Badal's main contribution has been to make a party like SAD mainstream and align with a national party. He has ensured that the extremist agenda has been kept in check.
But isn't local BJP-SAD tension a poor portent?
Not at all. At the central level, they understand Hindu-Sikh bhaichara (amity) is the lifeblood of Punjab. We cannot afford to let that suffer. The Congress fractured it and it took a lifetime to restore. Under no circumstance any nationalist or patriot will play with that. The moment communal politics is played, that amity is gone. Badal restored that amity by aligning with the BJP in the 1990s.
But I also need to say that they have treated us well. We are just four MPs in the Lok Sabha but they have given us a Cabinet berth, and Badal's contribution was recognised when he was given the Padma Vibhushan, along with L K Advani. They gave us four Assembly seats to contest in Delhi.
Aren't some individuals like Bikram Majithia becoming a liability?
I have gone on record to say bring the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, or whichever agency. But don't do media trials. If he is guilty, I will demand the strictest punishment for him. Today, this is happening to him; tomorrow it could happen to you and me. This is also not fair, do a fair investigation.
What about the Sangh Parivar activity in Punjab, like its ghar wapsi campaigns?
Badal and I have a very firm stand on this issue. India's strength lies in its unity in diversity and that cannot be compromised at any cost. The fringe in the BJP must be controlled. These lunatics must be disciplined. By not doing so, the NDA has harmed itself. Modi has now spoken out. I hope, in future, if somebody does something, disciplinary action must be taken on them. We are a minority; we are very clear all minorities must enjoy not just respect but complete freedom and security.
How do you see the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s challenge in Punjab?
Nine months back, the Modi juggernaut was unstoppable. All it took was nine months for AAP to emerge. People are impatient, the system is the same. Let's see what they do in nine months. The problem is the media likes to make instant heroes. Today, (Arvind) Kejriwal is an instant hero. One year from now, we will see how much he has delivered.
What are the challenges as you prepare for the 2017 Assembly polls? You will face 10 years of anti-incumbency.
The challenges are huge. After 10 years people will want change in any democracy. We have to bring agents of change, ideas. We might even have to change a lot of our candidates. We are willing to do so. You will see that in the next two years.
Economic delivery has to be there. Social delivery has to be there. Look, you guys in Delhi demand that subsidies should be cut, that they are wasteful. But the poorest of the poor have to be looked after. How much can we deliver? How can we touch their life? This is the challenge before us in the next two years.
The Akali Dal wanted a ban on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Ram Rahim's film.
There are more babas (godmen) than dhabas (eateries) in Punjab.
I think all political parties should distance themselves from these babas. Their meddling in politics is not healthy for democracy. Not all babas are crooks, but by and large, they take the poor and illiterate for a ride. Society needs to ask itself why there is a mushrooming of these babas. Our social structures and support systems are crumbling. We have neglected the requirements of the Dalits and Mazhabi Sikhs in Punjab, and this is where these babas smelt a constituency vulnerable and ripe to pluck.
