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Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Interview with Charanjit Singh Channi: ‘If I could reform one thing, it would be to ensure Oppn's voice is respected'
For the first time in 16 years, an MP from Punjab has been selected for the Sansad Ratna award for outstanding performance in Parliament. Among the 17 MPs being honoured is former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who won the Jalandhar seat with a resounding majority and heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Channi is one of the only two parliamentary standing committee chairpersons chosen for the award this year. In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Channi reflects on what the award means to him, how he views this recognition as a milestone for Punjab, and what his future goals are for the people he represents. Excerpts: Q: How did you feel when you first heard that you've been selected for the Sansad Ratna award? What does this recognition mean to you personally, and how do you see it reflecting on the people of Punjab? Charanjit Singh Channi: It's a great encouragement. Out of nearly 788 parliamentarians—including 543 from the Lok Sabha and 245 from the Rajya Sabha—being among the 17 selected is a matter of pride and responsibility. This award isn't just about me; it's for the people of Punjab who have reposed their faith in me time and again—right from the municipal committee elections, Vidhan Sabha, and now in the Lok Sabha. I also deeply value the love and respect I received as Punjab's first Dalit chief minister. This recognition motivates me to work relentlessly for the people of the state. I believe that this award is for Punjab and Punjabiayt. Q: This is the first time in 16 years a Punjab MP has received this award. Why do you think this gap existed, and how does your win break that pattern? Charanjit Singh Channi: This award is based purely on merit and performance—it's not the fault of the selectors that no one from Punjab was recognised earlier. Whosoever works genuinely for the betterment of their people, their state, and the overall governance of the country will be recognised eventually. My focus has always been to improve governance and uplift Punjab. This award is a validation of that path. People elect us with huge hopes and it's our duty to represent them truly in Parliament. In less than a year, I've raised 68 issues in Parliament. I'll keep raising issues. My key goal is to amplify Punjab's voice and ensure development with equity. Q: If you could reform one thing in Parliament, what would it be? Charanjit Singh Channi: If I could reform one thing, it would be to ensure the Opposition's voice is respected. A government often suppresses dissent, but Parliament must function for the people—not to score political points. Also, every second of Parliament sessions or discussions must be utilised by answering the questions transparently and fixing accountability. Q: You recommended renaming the Ministry of Agriculture as the Farmers and Workers Welfare Ministry. What inspired this proposal, and how would it change the ministry's role? What is your broader vision for transforming Punjab's rural economy and improving the lives of farm workers? Charanjit Singh Channi: I recommended that this ministry must include farm labourers along with farmer welfare in both its name and policy. Farming isn't complete without farm workers, yet their welfare is often overlooked. By renaming the ministry, any welfare policy meant for farmers would also extend to labourers. I also suggested a fixed basic salary for them—how can one justify a whole day's work of a farm labourer with just a fodder bale? As chairperson of the standing committee, my recommendations are officially recorded. Even if the current government doesn't act, future governments will have to consider them. My vision is that both state and central governments must step up with financial and technical assistance to the farmers. Farm labourers must be given dignity through better wages, housing, and recognition. Punjab's rural economy can be revitalised through better pricing, value-addition in agriculture, and robust rural infrastructure. Apart from this, I am working on the issue of milk adulteration, which is a major concern. I proposed setting up milk testing facilities at every milk booth so people can verify purity before buying. For example, a survey in Barnala found that 45,000 litres of milk are purchased daily by Haryana—but Barnala doesn't even produce more than this. So where's the milk for local people coming from? Once adulteration stops, milk prices will naturally rise, improving farmers' economic condition. Q: Can you elaborate on your MSP-related proposals, including the Rs 100 per quintal incentive to manage stubble burning and the government's reaction to that? Charanjit Singh Channi: Punjab has fed the nation for decades. Now, when our farmers need support to diversify and save water, we must step up. I recommended an additional Rs 100 per quintal of paddy on top of the MSP—this would translate to about Rs 3,000 per acre, which farmers can use for stubble management. If stubble is burned even after this aid, legal action can follow and farmers' unions should not support such actions. I also urged the government to give legal status to the MSP, securing farmers' incomes. Our committee's recommendations have weight—the government must submit an Action-Taken Report. Q: You also speak about the cow shelter reforms. Charanjit Singh Channi: On cow shelters, I proposed a legally mandated minimum space for gaushalas. Many, like the one in Kharar, are overcrowded and in poor condition. I also suggested incentivising people to care for unproductive cows instead of abandoning them when they stop giving milk. Every cow should be registered to ensure accountability. Q: You often speak about working without fear or discrimination. What does that mean to you in today's political climate? Also, you often refer to Punjabiyat. How do you define it, and how does it shape your role as a national leader? Charanjit Singh Channi: Working without fear means standing up for truth, even if it invites personal hardship. Today, dissent is often suppressed, but I believe leadership demands courage. I've faced significant pushback while doing this. Even though our Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, those who speak out often face suppression. I've personally faced multiple inquiries—income tax notices, ED cases…—but I stand firm. My voice is not just mine; it belongs to the people I represent. If we don't raise issues out of fear, we risk the erosion of democracy. As for Punjabiyat—it's a blend of culture, identity, hard work, and resilience. It's about preserving our language, traditions, and pride. As a national leader, Punjabiyat inspires me to speak up for justice and inclusivity and to represent the distinct ethos of Punjab at every level. Q: The Punjab government has taken a strong stance of not sharing river water with Haryana. Yet records show Punjab's successive governments have not fully utilised its share of water from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). How do you explain this contradiction? Charanjit Singh Channi: This is all political posturing. Our chief minister is toeing the line of Arvind Kejriwal, who is originally from Haryana, instead of challenging the Dam Safety Act, which was made for the safety of big dams, giving the Centre the upper hand over the big dams like Bhakra. Under central control, Punjab's rights may not be protected. Also, this Act gives the centre an upper hand in the management and distribution of Punjab's river water. In such a situation, the Punjab government has simply formed a committee on this rather than passing a resolution nullifying or challenging it. Q: The state recently launched the Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign. How effective do you think these symbolic anti-drug marches are in tackling Punjab's drug crisis? And what message would you give to the youth of Punjab? Charanjit Singh Channi: These marches are more about optics than results. Government funds are being misused for PR exercises, while the root causes remain untouched. Unless the political and police patronage of drug lords ends, nothing will change. Just look at the recent hooch deaths in Amritsar—these happened under the full protection of some corrupt police officials and politicians. The nexus must be broken. To the youth of Punjab, I say, 'Punjab is known for hard work, dedication, and patriotism. Stay away from drugs, uphold our traditions, and rise above those who exploit you for petty gains.' Q: How do you assess the performance of the current Punjab government? This government has failed on all fronts—governance, crime control, unemployment, and drug eradication. Arvind Kejriwal, unelected in Punjab, is acting like its dictator chief minister, while Bhagwant Mann behaves like an elected dictator. They've misused the majority given to them. Take illegal sand mining, for instance—where is the Rs 20,000 crore they promised by legalising sand supply? There is land, sand and liquor mafia. Crime is at its peak. This is one of the worst governments Punjab has seen, with Delhi leaders looting the state's resources while the government turns a blind eye.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sansad Ratna Awards 2025: Maharashtra leads with 7 MPs among 17 awardees
Seven Members of Parliament (MPs) from Maharashtra are among the top 17 MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha who have been nominated to receive the prestigious Sansad Ratna Awards 2025. Two parliamentary committees have also been nominated for the award. Supriya Sule, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP from Baramati Lok Sabha constituency; Shrirang Barne, three-time MP from Pune's Maval Lok Sabha Constituency; Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni; Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad; Smita Uday Wagh (BJP); Arvind Ganpat Sawant (Shiv Sena UBT); and Naresh Ganpat Mhaske (Shiv Sena), are the awardees from Maharashtra. The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010 by Prime Point Foundation and the eMagazine PreSense, following the suggestion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Dr Kalam also inaugurated the first award ceremony in Chennai in May 2010. Hansraj Gangaram Ahir was the first recipient of the award. As of 2024, 125 awards have been presented across 14 award ceremonies, recognising individual parliamentarians and parliamentary standing committees. This year, 17 individual awards will be conferred. Under the Individual category, Maharashtra has bagged seven awards; Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan have won two awards each; whereas Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam have bagged one award each. There are four special awards by the Chairman of the Jury Committee, recognising 'Outstanding and Consistent Contribution to Parliamentary Democracy'. Sule, Barne, Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJP, Odisha), and N K Premachandran (RSP, Kerala) will receive special awards for their contribution to parliamentary democracy. These four MPs were top performers during the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha terms and have continued their top performance in the 18th Lok Sabha also. The nominations were made by the Jury Committee, chaired by Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). The Awards will be presented during the 15th edition of the Sansad Ratna Awards ceremony, scheduled for the last week of July in New Delhi. K Srinivasan, Founder and Chairman, Prime Point Foundation, told The Indian Express that the Jury Committee – comprising distinguished Award-winning parliamentarians and representatives of civil society – nominates the awardees based on performance data. 'This data is sourced from the official records of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats, as well as PRS Legislative Research. Performance indicators include the number of initiated debates, private members' bills introduced, and questions raised,' Srinivasan said. He also observed that it was remarkable that there was a high number of MPs from Maharashtra. 'Though they belong to different political parties, what stands out and commands respect is their unified voice when it comes to the progress of Maharashtra. Almost every year, the contingent from Maharashtra is the largest among the Sansad Ratna awardees,' Srinivasan said. Priyadharshni Rahul, Chairperson, Sansad Ratna Awards Committee, said that for the past 15 years, they have been presenting the awards and are committed to the belief that the parliamentary system is the best form of governance. 'We continue to stand firmly by it. When we conduct our analysis and see the emergence of new and promising members, it strengthens our faith that the nation is in good hands,' Priyadharshni said. 'In fact, it is a moment of pride that all the women MPs nominated this time are from Maharashtra, and for the first time, a woman MP, Smita Uday Wagh, has won for the overall performance across the country,' she added. When contacted, three-time MP Shrirang Barne from Pune's Maval Lok Sabha constituency attributed his nomination for the Sansad Ratna award to the love and support he has received from people. 'I have been able to raise important questions in Parliament and have maintained a 95 per cent attendance while fulfilling my responsibilities. I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been nominated for this recognition,' Barne told The Indian Express. Praveen Patel and Ravindra Kishan Shukla alias Ravi Kishan (both BJP) from Uttar Pradesh, Dr Nishikant Dubey and Bidyut Baran Mahato (both BJP) from Jharkhand, P P Chaudhary and Madan Rathore (both BJP) from Rajasthan, C N Annadurai (DMK) from Tamil Nadu, and Dilip Saikia (BJP, Assam) are among the other awardees. Two standing committees have also been chosen for their performance based on their reports presented to Parliament. This includes the Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJP, Odisha), and Standing Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Dr Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress, Punjab). When contacted, Dr Channi said that 'this was a very good initiative, and serves as an important source of motivation and encouragement for our Members of Parliament.'
