Chandigarh: BJP national executive member and former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday voiced his resentment at the appointment of his former Congress colleague Kewal Singh Dhillon as Punjab BJP president. On Dhillon being projected as BJP's Jat Sikh face, Amarinder told TOI that it was time to move past castes, and expressed his doubt that Dhillon was up for the job.
Amarinder feels 'foolish' over ignored advice
Amarinder, who joined BJP in September 2022 (the same year as Dhillon) by merging his Punjab Lok Congress, said he felt 'foolish' as BJP did not take his advice despite his 60 years of experience in Punjab politics, including over nine years as chief minister and 12 years as Punjab Congress chief.
"It is entirely a party decision. My advice was not taken. I told the BJP people who matter in Punjab that I feel the party should have thought more deeply. If you don't want to, don't take our opinion. But at least find out the reality," Singh told TOI.
"They should have just asked me. I would not have said that you do exactly what I say... but you should have asked my views. I learnt about it through the news. I felt foolish. I have been in politics for 60 years and nobody thinks I am fit enough for the job. I don't want this job. I am not looking for this job, anyway. I have done enough. I was chief minister for nine and a half years and PCC president for about 12 years. But, I do have my views," he asserted.
Questioning Dhillon's capabilities
Mentioning his long political association with Dhillon, he said: "In fact, I am the one who got him party tickets. He lost the MP election, lost the MLA elections twice and won twice. I said I have done my best for the man. But you are looking at something much bigger, something which can make a contribution in developing the party in the state, and I do not believe this person has the ability to do that."
Asked about Dhillon being projected as his confidante, Singh said: "That's people making up stories so that they can sell a product... He may be close to me. He may be a good friend... But my job is not to say yes because I have to say yes. I must say yes if I think it is correct."
Call to end casteism
On the strategy behind a Jat Sikh being made the state party chief ahead of elections, Singh said: "Punjab is already a very small state. Whether you are a Jat Sikh or a non-Jat Sikh, or a Saini, how does it matter? I am a Jat Sikh, so what? Jat Sikh is not an answer for this. You got to see the ability of a person also. Let's end casteism for god's sake. The tenth Sikh Guru gave an order for this (to end casteism), but unfortunately so many hundred years later, we are still carrying on with this. I am not for this Jat Sikh business and all that."
Navjeevan Gopal, based in Punjab with journalistic experience of over two decades, is a senior journalist reporting on crucial issues such as drugs, crime, gangsters, terror and other security issues in the border state. The Punjab Police is one of his core beats. Currently an assistant editor with The Times of India in Punjab Bureau, he comes with vast experience of over 18 years in The Indian Express. Gopal also covers Punjab's politics with his area of interests being the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
