Khirkianwala (Muktsar), January 11
In this dusty village partially devastated by waterlogging, a wave of excitement runs through a crowd as it sees an SUV coming towards it. Young Arjun, People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal’s son, in an SUV stops near the crowd. Arjun is on the driver’s seat.
The lanky lad alights from the vehicle. Hands folded, he greets one and all as he moves towards the village stage. He touches the feet of the elderly and apologises profusely for being late.
He then goes on to explain to the people the purpose of his visit. He talks of what has gone wrong with Punjab and about his father’s mission to set things right. Never once does he utter a word against his father’s uncle, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Despite his tender age (17), Arjun does not look a novice in politics. On the contrary, he conducts himself as an astute politician. Fluent in the local Punjabi dialect, he delivers a carefully crafted speech regarding local issues.
In a conversation with The Tribune later, he says : “I am hurt to read in a section of the media that I have been badmouthing my grandfather (CM). This is untrue. I respect my grandfather today as much as I did when my father was with him.
“My sister and Sukhbir (Deputy CM) uncle’s daughter study in the same school, same class and interact with each other as before.”
However, he says his father has had serious ideological differences with the CM. “These differences will remain and there can be no compromise in this regard.”
“My father is fighting to bring about change while the CM is for status quo... My father’s struggle is not for power, but for a change in the system,” he adds.
Listening to him, it appears yet another from the Badal clan may opt for a larger role in politics.
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