Exclusive | India General Elections 2024: Artiste vs actor vs assassin’s son

Karamjit Anmol while campaigning in the constituency. Pic/Faisal Tandel

The Lok Sabha seat in Faridkot, Punjab, is witnessing an intense contest. The key candidates are Karamjit Anmol from the AAP, folk singer Hans Raj Hans from BJP, and independent candidate Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, son of one of the assassins of former PM Indira Gandhi. Anmol is leveraging his celebrity status and organising high-profile events with other celebrities. Hans is banking on the BJP's extensive network and his personal connections. While Sarabjit Singh emphasises the respect he claims martyrdom holds in Punjab.

Interestingly, the current MP, Mohammed Sadik from the Congress, was not given a ticket to run this time, adding another layer of unpredictability to the race. The outcome will indeed be intriguing, with the results set to be announced on June 4. Team mid-day caught up with Hans Raj Hans and Sarabjit Singh. Karamjit Anmol was busy campaigning. Hans Raj Hans is an Indian folk singer and the BJP MP from North West Delhi. He is a Padma Shri recipient.

Excerpts…

What do you have to say about getting a BJP ticket from Faridkot?
Party superiors including Prime Minister Modi gave me a chance to work in Punjab. I am happy, accept the challenge and will work dedicatedly for the masses. The Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency is huge and has around nine assembly constituencies and I am working hard to reach the masses.

Hans Raj Hans, BJP candidate

You are the MP of North West Delhi… why did you shift to Punjab?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told me that ‘Punjab needs you this time'. ‘Punjab ko aapki sakh zaroorat hai'. So I am contesting from the Faridkot seat.

Were you chosen as you opponent is a singer/artist?
No. I was declared as a contestant earlier. The BJP and Modi-ji have a fondness for Punjab. After seeing the present situation here, they asked me to contest.

What situation are you talking about?
The drugs menace in Punjab, with many youngsters getting addicted. Bringing employment is also essential so that youngsters get busy with work. Punjab has changed a lot. People here never used to sell milk to anyone. If anyone would come to purchase it they would give one or two litres just as good act. The villages would all provide milk for functions and marriages and also organize the entire event together. But now the situation is such that people have starting selling milk, which our ancestors opposed. Earlier the state was less polluted. The environment, air and water here were pure, natural. But a lot has changed and I think there is some conspiracy behind the change here.

What do you have to say about contesting against actor Karamjeet Anmol from AAP?
Firstly, we artists don't oppose or talk against each other. He is fighting his battle and I am fighting my own. Secondly, the BJP has their own mission and ideology. Our leader is Narendra Modi and his is Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Let see what public choose.

What about the independent Sarabjit Singh, son of Beant Singh who one of Indira Gandhi assassins?
No comment.

What was the controversy you faced regarding the farmers' protest?
I was going to attend a sabha of Narendra Modi who came to Patiala. The farmers' protest was going on at the toll naka. I don't know why but I am being target the most in Punjab. Among the total 13 seats there are four big parties and 52 candidates from different parties and many more. But I notice that I am the only one who is being targeted by them.

Isn't the farmers' fight for their rights and shouldn't the central government look into it?
Of course the farmers should be given their rights. The government is forming again and we will see that all their issues are resolved. ‘Nafrat khatam kar mohabbat zinda karni hai!'. I am a Sufi follower and speaker. And not biased to anyone.

You are born in Punjab and got a ticket from here…
Yes, I was born in Punjab and I'm a Punjabi. I am from Shafipur Village which believes in Sufism. I am a son of the soil and I happy that I got a chance to work for the citizens of Punjab who are family to me.

How many vote do you thing you'll win by?
‘Woh toh Allah aur Mailk ke haath hai'. I can't say anything.

BJP candidate and actor Sunny Deol won from Punjab the last time, but people claim he was not seen here and no work has been done…
I don't know about him. But soon after I was elected as an MP I left my business of attending shows. I got set up in Delhi. During the tenure I only visited Jalandhar five times in five years. ‘Maula Ali Ka call hai… mat soch ki aap kisi ko bewakuf banane me kamyaab huwe, balki ye socho unse aap par yakin kitna kiya hai' (when the creator has summoned you for a task, don't think who you succeeded in fooling, but instead think how much faith he has in you to have given you a chance). This is what I believe in.

AAP says ‘Ab ki baar zero par' and many are against BJP in Punjab. Your thoughts…
It's not like we have noticed there are fewer people who want BJP in Punjab. The is supporting. Every party is caught up in a web of lies and unkept promises, but I will appeal to citizens to save the state and choose Modi-ji. One can see the changes in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.