By Nistula Hebbar, ET Bureau | 22 Jul, 2013, 05.31AM IST
CHANDIGARH: The head of Punjab's ruling party and one of the pillars of the BJP-led NDA has declared his unqualified support toNarendra Modi, while taking pot-shots at "reluctant", "disappearing" Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the deputy chief minister of Punjab and the president of the
Shiromani Akali Dal, one of the two remaining regional players in the NDA, told ET that his party had no quibble with whoever the BJP chose as its leader. "I can't comment on what the BJP feels internally about Narendra Modi. That is entirely their matter... We have no issues with whoever the BJP chooses as its leader," he said in a rare 45-minute interview.
Full InterviewBadal's comments will be music to the ears of the Gujarat chief minister, whose projection as the alliance's likely face for the next general elections has exposed deep fissures in the BJP and left its allies uneasy. Badal also backed Modi on some of his comments that have triggered an avalanche of criticism from political rivals and liberal groups.
Badal's caustic comments were reserved for Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He said Rahul Gandhi's behaviour showed that he was no leader. "It looks as if he has been forced into politics. How many times have you seen him in the country? He just spurts, once in a while comes out and then disappears again. He appears reluctant," said Badal.
The prime minister, he said, was a "great economist" and a "pioneer" of reforms, but now seemed powerless to push changes through. "Mostly I think it's because of the fact that there is too much interference from 10 Janpath (Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence) and other political considerations," Badal said, as he accused the UPA government of riding roughshod over Parliament.
Full Interview
What is wrong if Narendra Modi says he is a Hindu nationalist: Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister, Punjab
By Nistula Hebbar, ET Bureau | 22 Jul, 2013, 05.38AM IST
In an interview with ET, Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister of Punjab, dismisses Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as nobody and slams the government for pushing through the food security ordinance.Your party has supported Narendra Modiunreservedly. But do you agree with his recent comments that have generated much controversy?What has happened is, everyone is reading whatever they want into Narendra Modi's words. In that interview (with Reuters news agency), what did he say? He just said he's a human being and, as a human being, if you are driving and a puppy comes under your car, you feel bad. And a person who is that responsible, if such a big thing (2002 Gujarat riots) happens in a state, he feels hurt and sad. What is the context in which he said it? Does it mean that he called a certain section of people puppies? Now people and media are playing these things in whichever way they want. Look at the other things he's said. He said he is a Hindu, he is a nationalist.Now, what is wrong if he says he is a Hindu nationalist? Somebody can be a Christian nationalist, or a Punjabi nationalist. Has Modi said he is just a Hindu and not an Indian? Or that certain people are not nationalists? So many things people say which can be interpreted in different ways. For example, this glass of water, you could say it is half full, or half empty.Or, as Narendra Modi says, it's half full of water, half full of air... (Smiles) It's his interpretation. But seriously, the media's obsession with Narendra Modi is driving this discourse to ridiculous extremes.What about the JD (U)'s reservations over Modi? Do you think they were right in walking out of the alliance?We are sorry to see them go, but these are decisions each party takes for itself. I can't really comment.Even the BJP appeared a divided house over Modi...I can't comment on what the BJP feels internally about Narendra Modi. That is entirely their matter, but we are fully supportive of whatever the choice of the BJP is. We have no issues with whoever the BJP chooses for its leader.What do you make of the BJP's attempts to turn the next general elections into a contest between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi?I feel the media is getting obsessed with putting Modi at the centre of every discourse. He seems to be driving the TRPs (television rating points). In fact, I would suggest that the media pay him for keeping their TRPs high. He should be charging a fee for keeping media in business. On a serious note, there is a tendency to make this into a fight or a scenario where it looks like a direct contest between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi.Doesn't that upset leaders of a strong regional party such as yours?Why should I be upset? The media also looks at numbers. Do you see any national newspaper giving importance to news from Punjab, or Himachal, Uttarakhand or Manipur and the Northeast? It's full of even small events in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Andhra Pradesh, where the number of MPs is more. It's hardly worth getting upset over since the whole game in Indian politics is about numbers.How do you view Rahul Gandhi as a contestant in this two-way fight that you say is developing?I think he is not a leader at all. It looks as if he has been forced into politics. How many times have you seen him in the country? He just spurts, once in a while comes out and then disappears again. He appears reluctant, even after nine years. What do you make of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's handling of the economy in this term? Dr Manmohan Singh is a great economist and was a pioneer of reforms, but I think now he has no powers to push reforms through. The way the government has been sitting on a lot of decisions reflects that. It could be for many reasons, but mostly I think it's because of the fact that there is too much interference from 10 Janpath (Congress president Sonia Gandhi's residence) and other political considerations.Is your father, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, set to take over as the next convenor of the NDA, as is being speculated?He will not be doing so. He is not interested in leaving Punjab. He has made that quite plain to everyone and in every public forum, as have I.You have been saying that the food security ordinance mimics your government's atta-dal scheme. So, will your party support the food security bill in Parliament?It is our scheme on the basis of which the food security bill has been formulated. It's a scheme called the atta-dal scheme launched around five-seven years ago. I have never said we will vote against the food ordinance. We are not against providing food security to the poor. The modalities over how this can be done need to be looked at. We are not against it.What has happened is that without discussion, without consent, you cannot muzzle the opposition and push through with a bill with such ramifications. It shows that the government feels that there is no need for Parliament. You just need a Cabinet to endorse a decision and just go ahead with it. Let's not do this. Get a bill into Parliament, let people discuss it, and incorporate many new ideas into the bill.Do you agree, though, that the ordinance is a good thing for the country?You will make the poor more dependent on government largesse. Only the very needy need to be covered, but if you cover 60-70% of the population, it may not serve the purpose. There should be a clear differentiation on who deserves it and who doesn't. There is a thin line between welfare and dependence. You were once a votary of FDI in retail, but later you voted against it in Parliament.How do you view the recent relaxation in FDI norms in several sectors?We are not against FDI interventions; they are good. But you have to see which sector, what level of FDI is allowed. For example, in Punjab we have allowed FDI in wholesale. Walmart and Metro and others are here and are doing well. We are against indiscriminate invitations to FDI, without taking stakeholders into account. We still believe that FDI will be good in certain sectors. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/interviews/what-is-wrong-if-narendra-modi-says-he-is-a-hindu-nationalist-sukhbir-singh-badal-deputy-chief-minister-punjab/articleshow/21227569.cms?curpg=2
Readers' opinions (14)![]()
Dilipkumar P.S (Thiruvanathapuram)
2 Hours agoDefinitely commendable. As a true patriot son of India, you show the way as to how the patriotic & Nationalist forces in India unite and come under the Indian born Rastrapoojari Shri Narendra Modi to free India from the long and merciless looting under the Italian catholic Mrs Antonia Albina Maino and her family using the slave party, the Congress.
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3 Hours agoSilver: 2068![]()
With the way BJP is going it looks like Shiromani Akali Dal will get more seats than BJP. Who will vote for Faku Modi.
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3 Hours agoPlatinum: 57.6K![]()
He is like a no 11 batsman being asked to open the innings :-)
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4 Hours agoGold: 5691![]()
BJP-Akali alliance is a true symbol of Hindu-Sikh unity. I remember how wisely and bravely PSBadal Ji had steered Punjab out of Khalistan movement crisis. Badals deserve Kudos for what all they did for Punjab and the country.
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3 Hours agoSilver: 2068![]()
I agree Sikh are very smart. They don't want to support Modi. Because in case they get a better choice, they can be selective.
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5 Hours agoSilver: 2896![]()
Leader of India's most brave heart SIKHS has declared unflinching loyalty to BJP and it's choice, beloved of millions Shri Narendra Modi. Heartiest congratulations to Shromani Akali Dal and to every true HINDUSTANI. May God bless each and every soul of DESH PRAMEE.
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6 Hours agoSilver: 1706![]()
Sukhbir Singh is 100% RIGHT. He believes in plain politics & MORE WORK. Rahulbaba was enjoying his Birthday abroad while Utrakhand Tsunami SIKHs/Hindus should NEVER VOTE CONGRESS WHO SPONSORE MASSACRE OF SIKHs in 1984
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7 Hours agoGold: 21.5K![]()
He is absolutely right.The association be bring in further strength to NDA
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Akshay (Andhra Pradhesh)
7 Hours agoSukhbir Singh Badal ki Jai Ho! We are with the alliance!
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San (Hyderabad)
8 Hours agowell done mr. badal, you are trying to recreate the image about sikh's
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DEEPAK (Hyderabad)
8 Hours agoNARENDRA MODI IS BOON TO THIS NATION AND PEOPLE SHOULD UTILISE HIM, AND FOR MY MUSLIM FRIENDS DONT GO WITH WHAT CONGRESS SAY GO WITH WHAT RELIGION SAYS, AND RELIGION SAYS THAT WHO EVER TRULY FOLLOW THEIR OWN RELIGION IS NEVER WRONG AT ANY TIME AND ALL RELIGION SAY THAT CHEATING IS BAD WHICH CONGRESS ALWAYS DOES WITH ALL OF US INCLUDING BAD POLITICS RELATED TO MINORITIES..I VOTE FOR A HAPPY NATION..THANK YOU MR BADAL
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Leadershipcontradic (Us)
8 Hours agoWhat a big difference in top political parties at center. One has to stragle and prove within their party to come on top and in other one , just needs to be born/belong to in top family.
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8 Hours agoGold: 6153![]()
It is good that SAD chief has expressed unqualified support to Modi and this comes at a time when it is badly felt necessary with the approaching elections it is necessary for other political parties who were the constituents of the NDA also express their unqualified support to Modi in order that the country gets a new order.
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8 Hours agoSilver: 768![]()
Lion & Lion. Guru Poornima Greetings!
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