EXCLUSIVE: Interview with SAD (Amritsar) General Secretary Amrik Singh Ballowal About Future of Once Dignified Sikh Political Outfit

PHAGWARA—After witnessing severe crisis in its vote bank in the recently concluded assembly polls in Punjab, the pro-Khalistan Sikh outfit Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has started making major shuffling among party ranks. The SAD (Amritsar) is in attempt to bring Youth faces forward to establish mass contact in the wake of upcoming Parliament elections of 2019.

S. Amrik Singh Ballowal, who was party’s unit President in Bahrain, has been recently appointed as General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). He is renowned for his excellent communication skills and grip on Sikh issues among party ranks.

He was interviewed by Sikh24 on May 10 about the future plans of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) to tackle nationalistic political outfits during polls in Punjab. Conversation with him is being presented briefly for the Sikh24 audience.

Question: How did you get appointed as General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)?

Answer: I was a resident of Bahrain and was serving as a President of party unit there. In the start of this year, I was told by the party’s high command to return back to India to serve for the Sikh cause. Even after a month of arriving in India, I was not told about the responsibilities that the party was going to put on my shoulders. In the end of last month, I was informed that I have been appointed as General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and that was surprising for me.

Question: So, you have bet your career for the sake of Sikh cause. Do you think your decision was right in view of your and your family’s future as for now you will be on target of Indian agencies?

Answer: Yes, I had to face sharp reaction of my known ones for quitting my job in Bahrain but for me Sikhi is primary responsiblity. The Almighty Waheguru had given employment to me in Bahrain and now it’s also his order for me to serve for the high spirit of Sikhism.  

Question: SAD (Amritsar) was voted by only 49,260 voters due to which your party had to face sharp criticism of those pro-Khalistan Sikh outfits who don’t believe to take part in elections. What would you say about it?

Answer: SAD (Amritsar) is the sole party in India contesting elections openly for the establishment of sovereign Sikh state. And it’s not strange at all for us that our vote bank has declined to a noticeable low as we are aware of the fact that the Indian agencies have psychologically white washed our Punjab masses. But it’s still a matter of pride for us that 49,260 voters in Punjab still want Punjab as a sovereign Sikh state.

Those pro-freedom Sikh outfits who don’t believe in contesting polls posses the right to exercise their way to achieve sovereign Sikh state and we have never criticised them for their no yield. But if they don’t like our way of reaching common masses in Punjab then it’s their problem not ours as our party is plaintiff of maintaining the democratic values from the very first day of its establishment.

Question: What’s the future plan of your party to boost up the vote bank for upcoming Parliament polls of 2019?

Answer: I have been assigned the duty by respectable party President S. Simranjit Singh Mann to erect party units in Majha and Doaba zones. We are also going to open party membership at village level and we will actively interfere in the issues of common masses at ground level to save them from falling victim of state excesses.

Question: In its poll manifesto, the Congress had claimed to wipe out Drug menace in Punjab within four weeks of formation of government in Punjab. Do you think the Drug menace in Punjab has been controlled by Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government?

Answer: By registering cases against ground level Drug sellers, the Congress led Punjab government had tried to give impression that the Drug menace in Punjab has been controlled. But in reality, there is a minor declination in the sale of drugs in Punjab because the Punjab government has failed to reach the manufacturers and kingpins of Drug mafia. These kingpins have now erected new Drug sellers at ground level and ultimately the Congress has failed in controlling Drug menace Punjab. 

Question: What would be your party’s approach to tackle Drug menace in Punjab?

Answer: As we are not in power so it’s not possible for us to unearth the kingpins of Punjab and bring them to justice. But we won’t refrain from raising voice against kingpins of Drug mafia wherever needed and will definitely help the families victim of Drug menace. We are also planning to start a helpline number for the common masses of Punjab so that they can share their problems directly with us.