The Tribune Interview: Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa claims that Gurdaspur would see major developments brought to the city

temperamental Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has become a more collected and serene person. He has a positive standing in Congress. Four-time MLA Sukhjinder discussed the difficulties ahead and his plans to improve living conditions in the parliamentary constituency with Ravi Dhaliwal. The passages:

The campaigns of the major party candidates have begun. Do you not believe that you are falling behind?

No horse in limping ever wins a race. Nothing except thoroughbreds do. My rivals are putting on mediocre performances. I have assembled a team to help me decide where, when, and how to run for office. My campaign will be a little more polished than the unprofessional displays my competitors are putting up. Give me a little time, and then watch to see which horse ends up winning the Derby.

What do you think your odds are of unseating the BJP for the seat?

Let’s examine each one separately. Sherry Kalsi, the AAP candidate and Batala MLA, is unknown outside of his Assembly constituency. He is naive and ignorant of the workings of politics. He is not taken seriously by anyone. Not even myself. The angry farmers are not letting BJP candidate Dinesh Singh Babbu reach rural regions. He is a terrible public speaker who has no rapport at all with the general public. Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, the SAD candidate, is a kind guy with excellent aspirations, but he still has a long way to go in politics. I would want to engage opponents on live television on the issues ailing this seat. People will then be able to choose for themselves who is more qualified to serve as an MP.

In the Hindu districts of Pathankot, Bhoa, and Sujanpur, how will you win over voters?

Consider the harm that BJP MP Sunny Deol has inflicted on his party. Leaders of the BJP are reluctant to interact with the public out of concern for the reaction of voters. I’ll make the most of this circumstance. During the period when the district had three Hindu seats, I presided over the Gurdaspur Congress Committee for almost ten years. This indicates that I am well-connected there. In a few weeks, I will speak at scheduled meetings and demonstrations organized by my people.

What are the Gurdaspur constituency’s primary issues?

The primary issue is Pakistan’s drone incursions. Large payloads of premium heroin are transported by these machines, which makes them risky. The border district itself is where a significant portion of this heroin is used. This plague will consume our future generations if nothing is done. It is a curse against the Gurdaspur community. There should be more drug treatment facilities established, especially close to the IB. Only by giving our kids work will we be able to wean them off heroin. I’ll introduce several high-profile private projects that have the potential to create jobs.

In Kalanaur, panchayat land spanning around 1,500 acres is lying fallow. What purpose do you have for it?

On panchayat property, I founded the cutting-edge Sugarcane Research Institute during my tenure as Co-ops Minister. We ought to have broad ideas. I’ll request that the Railway Ministry send a survey team to Kalanaur in order to determine if building a railway coach factory is feasible. This has the potential to revolutionize the game. There might be hundreds of jobs created. In order for the car units to establish their factories here, I will also speak with them. You can move mountains if you have the willpower.

The Gurdaspur-Mukerian road is badly maintained over a distance of 25 kilometers. Is there a way to address it?

The NHAI is the owner of the key. I’ll have one of their officers assess the area to determine whether it can be made into a four-lane roadway. As of right now, it is our only available option.

How are you going to reclaim the industrial units that were moved to J&K and HP from Batala?

This is a really significant problem. Since our region is bordering another, the government needs to provide incentives similar to those provided in J&K and HP. Take a look at the significant tax breaks the government is providing to entrepreneurs in these states. Why is it that the Union administration in Batala is unable to provide such concessions to industrialists?