He joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at a young age and was given party’s ticket from Ludhiana west constituency. He also remained state general secretary of the party and now is spokesperson of the party. 41-year-old Ahbaab Grewal, farmer-cum-politician, has a take on issues related to ongoing farmers’ agitation and also about political scenario in Ludhiana. He talks to TOI’s Shariq Majeed on various issues related to farmers’ agitation and about Ludhiana.
Q: How do you see things evolving in Punjab in view of the ongoing farmers’ agitation?
A: It is the habit of the government to shove everything down the people’s throats. The way they scared the CAA-NRC protesters and crushed them, they felt that they would do it here as well. Fortunately, that trick didn’t work here and their ploy to use polarisation as a tool also failed here badly. The ball is totally in their court now. They feel that they will not go back but the thing is that if they are trying to reform something without trying to talk to farmers (stakeholders) and no consultation is done with them, then how it can work. The way the movement has evolved, I don’t think that without getting their demands fulfilled they will return because for them it is do or die. Also, the way they (government) have put this offer of holding back the laws for some time, you will see that silently they will placate farmers in one or the other way.
Q: AAP had given a go ahead to one of these laws. What do you have to say on this?
A: It was not so. When the Centre passes some law, automatically it gets implemented in states as it had happened in Punjab. After that the state government in order to repeal it has to make a parallel separate law. That is what had happened and it was implemented in all states after they (Centre) passed the law. So, in order to get rid of that, the party had to bring new law in Delhi Assembly.
Q: Do you think political changes may happen because of the ongoing farm movement?
A: Any political party should not try to get benefit out of it. We need to unite. Our politics will go on, but it is a very big issue and it needs to be kept foremost. Our party’s stand is that in any case we are not in favour of politicizing this issue.
Q: Local bodies poll have been announced. Should these have been held at such a juncture when farmers agitation is going on?
A: Chief minister Amarinder Singh is trying to take full advantage of this issue by announcing such polls. As you know in such polls, there is full misuse of government machinery in their bid to win. Capt feels that he can cash in on this agitation as the wave is in their favour. I think it is important to leave politics out of such an issue.
Q: Do you think such polls should have been held at this point of time?
A: Now, that such polls have been announced, we will contest these elections because we are a political outfit. Ideally, it shouldn’t have been done. When such big part of your state is there and it is such a big issue which will have an impact on your future generations and you are trying to dilute it, then this is not right.
Q: How are things changing politically in Ludhiana?
A: Congress government has been thoroughly exposed and they haven’t done anything for the past three years. Their output is zero. I think people of the state, especially of Ludhiana, are so intelligent to realise that they have been fooled by voting for them. They will reply. We will expose them in future.
Q: What are the issues AAP will focus in Ludhiana in coming time?
A: They tried to make a smart city and central funds are being used for the same. But they are projecting it as if they are doing some big favour to people. It is misplaced utilization of funds and there is so much irregularities in it, which you cannot even imagine. There is no visible change in the area despite spending crores of rupees. There has been no change in people’s life and their lives have become difficult. You are taking credit for such a project which has failed and people can see that it is a sheer waste of tax payers’ money. The other issue is related to Buddha Nullah, for which a Rs 650-crore project was announced, and their seriousness is reflected in such a way that Amarinder didn’t come. Secondly, have you taken proposal from anyone and have they asked people what should be done. We had given them a very good proposal a long time ago before the elections for this project, which would have been implemented with less expenditure. But it is their habit of making big announcements, which we think will not make any difference. The maximum they will do is to get it covered, but it will remain filthy as before and store house of diseases, etc. and its condition will remain bad.
Q: What else you feel is going wrong in the city?
A: Illegal construction is openly going on. They were talking of making Malhar road a smart one, whereas 90% building don’t have parking. You have dug up that road. How can you make smart roads when there is not even space for parking vehicles and you are allowing construction of buildings. Not only this area, but you go to any area of Ludhiana and you will see similar things happening. The MC is being controlled by a cabal and openly irregularities are happening. People’s property is being usurped.
Q: Do you think the MC is taking care of civic issues?
A: I don’t think that they (government) have done much in three-and-a-half years. At the end of their tenure they are announcing a project of which nothing much will happen. Roads are not in proper shape and so is garbage collection. They have announced something for elite colonies. No one is questioning them, and if someone raises voice then they silence them, while others are not bothered. Despite being the biggest MC of state, Ludhiana MC is most mismanaged civic body of the state. Even former cabinet minister Navjot Sidhu had indicated that house tax was not coming, ad revenue was very less and he had asked them to correct it. He had raised issue of irregularity in advertisement of crores of rupees and he came up with a policy about it, but he left the cabinet and they reversed the policy.