Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Jalalabad/Fazilka
It’s 2 pm in the afternoon. Next to a Sewa Kendra in Chak Janesar village, a crowd is eagerly waiting for SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who arrives dot on time. Not wasting time on accepting greetings from party workers, he reaches out to the people, freely mingling with them.
Dalbir Kaur looks surprised. “(Sukhbir) Badal sahab tan ik do ghante late chalde si. Par hun tan time te aan lag paye (Sukhbir, who would invariably be late by a couple of hours, is now punctual),” she observes as she jostles with cops to get near him. She complains against the local police. Sukhbir promises to look into the matter. She returns, smiling.
No more barricades separating him and the people, Sukhbir shakes hands, greets the elderly with Sat Sri Akal and poses for selfies. “Raje di sarkar has denied you the benefits that were provided by the SAD- BJP government. I got colleges and schools built and village roads re-carpeted. Now when I tour various Assembly segments in Ferozepur constituency, people say they will vote for me, if I give them the same facilities as given to the people of Jalalabad. You must ensure I get a lead of at least 60,000 votes in Jalalabad itself,” he tells the crowds, who break into an applause.
As we get into his SUV, we stop for a good 15 minutes to oblige some youngsters with selfies. He then heads for the next village. “People here are full of josh,” he remarks. “They have seen us work for them and are eager to see me represent them in Parliament. Also, they have realised the difference between our government and the Congress government which promised the moon, but did nothing.
“Their (Congress) graph will undoubtedly decline these elections because of non-performance and anti-incumbency, whereas ours will go up,” he claims, as his security team signals they are approaching the next stop. As he alights at the venue in Thalliwali village, which is dominated by Rai Sikhs, Sukhbir greets one and all with warmth and humility. He goes amidst the people, who shower rose petals. Instructing the cops and his security personnel not to stand between him and the voters, he thunders: “Tussi dekheya main Ghubaye (his opponent Sher Singh Ghubaya) nu farsh to arsh tak pahunchaya, par usne mere naal te tuhade sareyan naal gaddari kiti. Ki tussi usno maaf karonge (You all saw how I elevated Ghubaya, but he betrayed me. He also betrayed you. Will you forgive this betrayal,” he asks. “If as Deputy CM, I got so much done for you. Think what would happen in 2022? There will be twice as much development,” he tells the crowds, hinting he would return as CM in the next Assembly elections.
Asked to elaborate, he laughs it off, saying he was only playing to the gallery. “How can I let him (his father Parkash Singh Badal) hang his boots like this?” he adds, hinting he would make sure his father stayed in public memory as a winner, not loser. “He can’t be as active as he was a decade ago. But a contest always brings out the fighter in him,” says Sukhbir, as he opens a parantha roll given to him by party leaders in Chak Janesar.
At the next two rallies, he tells party workers: “Saddi jitt nischit hai (We are certain to win).” They complain against the local administration. Back in his Land Cruiser, we ask him if Bathinda will be as comfortable a win for the party as Ferozepur seems to be. “Of course, we are very comfortable in Bathinda too. Everyone there calls Harsimrat saddi biba. She has done a lot of work in the constituency,” he responds.
At Congress’ Sher Singh Ghubaya’s native village, the turnout is rather impressive. “I have come to seek your blessings. Will you support me and bless me,” he asks. The response is positive. He dwells on Ghubaya having acquired “immense wealth” and being a traitor.
Back home in Badal village after three more rallies, it is late in the night. Sukhbir walks towards MLAs who have been waiting for him. As they chalk out the schedule for the following day, we decide to head back.
