People identify more with a leader than a party, says Amarinder Singh

Former Punjab Chief Minister dismisses any electoral challenge to his recent alliance with the BJP from either the Congress or AAP

Ahead of Assembly polls a little more than a month away, former Chief Minister and chief of the nascent Punjab Lok Congress , who has allied with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt), is confident the people of Punjab will vote for his alliance because people identify more with the leader than with the party. “It is the leader who has to own up whatever it is, success or failure,” he says, dismissing any challenge from the Congress, SAD or AAP. Excerpts:

I have already spelt out that national security and revival of Punjab’s economy will be our top most priorities. Punjab is a border State, bordering a perpetually hostile neighbour, Pakistan. Pakistan and its deep state will never rest and they are in continuous pursuit of creating trouble and turmoil in Punjab. They are sending across the weapons using sophisticated technology. Recently our security personnel found a Pakistani boat in the Satluj river. These are all ominous signs. Plus, there are anti-India propagandists being supported and patronized by the ISI.

Second, the economy. Punjab has a cumulative debt burden of about ₹5 lakh crore. How will you repay that? It is a vicious cycle we will have to get out of and it is a tall order. And for all this, we need complete peace, as peace is the prerequisite for progress and prosperity.