‘Banking on credibility’

Banking on his performance and credibility of two years, Amritsar sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla is in the fray again. He never belonged to any particular group nor made his own coterie and carried on despite facing criticism from local party MLAs. In an interview with The Tribune reporter GS Paul, Aujla  lists his achievements.   

How do you see your poll prospects? 

Today’s voter cannot be enticed by sops, they consider what have you delivered in your tenure. I believe people will support me keeping in view my contribution and credibility in my brief stint as an MP. I am all set to carry on the tradition of Congress’ stronghold on Amritsar Lok Sabha seat. I had won the by-poll by a margin of nearly 2 lakh votes. Contrary to the tradition of not fielding a sitting MP again, my high command had shown faith in me again. 

How do you see Hardeep Puri as a competitor? 

With due respect to Puri Saheb for his intellectual and diplomatic aura, instead of ‘mazboot’ I see him as a ‘majboor’ candidate. BJP could not find anyone here, so he was fielded. I am not academically as sound as he is, but I have ample experience as a worker at the grass-roots level. 

What change you intend to bring to Amritsar, if elected? 

I had raised the issue of international flights that were shifted from here due to Delhi lobby’s dominance and was successful in retrieving them to a large extent. I believe that the health, education and industry sectors need attention. The medical tourism circuit could be exploited, keeping in view the infrastructure and talent available. I used my funds to introduce equipment and ambulances for Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. Besides, much needs to be done for the uplift of the border belt. We have failed to exploit the facilities of Integrated Check Post at Attari, which has immense potential for bilateral trade. I also intend to revive the Special Economic Zone package allotted during the tenure of the previous UPA government for border area. 

You had adopted Mudhal village but it has remained far from development?

This was again a negative propaganda by the BJP against me. Despite the fact that no extra funds are given for the adopted village, I released Rs 30 lakh from my MPLAD quota. Puri Saheb made a guest appearance there under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and executed a couple of works at the fag end of the Central Government’s tenure and is now trying to gain political mileage. 

How do you rate the Modi government at the Centre? 

Zero. The petrol and diesel prices shot up, Indian rupee’s value fell in the international market and crises erupted due to the wrong implementation of GST and demonetisation, which broke the backbone of a common citizen. Loan of corporate houses were waived off but the same was not done for peasants, who took the extreme step of committing suicide as a last resort to get relieved from the burden.