Denying being soft on the Badals, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday asserted that he would not spare anyone found guilty, as per law, of any crime against the people of his State.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder made it clear that he was happy with Punjab and always wanted to remain in the state politics, while adding that he has no aspirations of becoming the Prime Minister.
“I don’t have any national aspirations, and have always wanted to remain in Punjab politics,” said Capt Amarinder while responded to a question received on his official Twitter handle and also directly from the people who had come to take part in the #TwitterChaupal organized in association with @TwitterIndia at Kharar.
“My only wish is that everyone in Punjab should be happy, the State should be free of drugs and unemployment, there should be prosperity. That is my ideal Punjab and if we get the time, we will ensure that this dream is achieved,” he said while pointing out that the two times he had become Member of Parliament, he had resigned in the interest of Punjab.
Sitting under a peepal tree in Kharar’s Chuahr Majra village about 20 kms from Chandigarh, Capt Amarinder also lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to destroy India’s unique strength of diversity with their divisive politics.
Expressing his anger and anguish at the remarks of BJP leader Sadhvi Pragya against a distinguished police officer like Hemant Karkare, Capt Amarinder also lashed out at the BJP for politicization of the armed forces, who are fighting for the nation as a neutral and united force.
On a query regarding action against the Badals, Capt Amarinder asserted, “Even if Prakash Singh Badal is found guilty, he will be punished. But, I would follow the due process of law, in accordance with Constitutional norms. They will have to face the consequences of their actions, if found responsible.”
“I believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, and am totally against politics of vendetta,” he declared, pointing out that even in his previous term, it was not he but the courts that had put Badal behind the bars.
Responding to an interesting question tweeted by his young party colleague Sachin Pilot, Capt Amarinder said that had he not been in politics, he would have remained in the Army and would by now have retired from there.
On whether he would contest again in 2022, the Chief Minister said that he hoped the ideal Punjab would have become a reality by the time his current term ends, and he would be able to hand the reins to the young generation, unless the State still needs him in three years.
Asked about the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the sacrilege cases following the Election Commission orders to shift out Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, the Chief Minister said that his Government had approached the poll panel for a review of its decision.
Normally, courts do not intervene in election matters, he said, explaining why the Government was not moving the court against the
EC orders.
His Government would welcome the film industry and extend to them all possible support if they wanted to set up studios in Punjab, he said in response to another question, patiently listening to every questioner.
