Q: What are the challenges ahead of you?
A: Revival of the economy and a grip on corruption. Both priorities will go hand in hand. The destruction of the fiscal health by the previous government is near total. Building the
economy may take some time, but our battle against corruption would begin from day one. I am soon going to set up a judicial commission to probe the corruption by Badal and his team.

Q: Wouldn't such a move be construed as a witch hunt against your political rivals?
A: We are not going to do any thing that will appear to be witch-hunting. That is not our objective. We want accountability - in fact every body wants it. If we turn our back on the rampant corruption that has taken place, what signal would I be sending ?
We will hold Badal accountable for all his ill-gotten wealth.

Q: How soon would this commission be set up?
A: I am not aware of the legal process. The moment we figure this out, the Government will approach the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to spare a sitting judge.

Q: Why aren't you utilising the Lokpal?
A: Well, the Lokpal is a good institution and it has its objectives. But unfortunately, the people have played around with it. We had to move the court to get the last Lokpal struck out
because of his closeness to Badal and the witch-hunting he was trying to do with Congressmen. The current Lokpal is a stamped BJP man.

Q: Surely you can appoint a new Lokpal?
A: We can. The only problem is that the Lokpal is only an investigating and not a punishing agency. If somebody is seen to be so thoroughly corrupt, justice must be seen to done---and
quickly. You cannot wait for the Lokpal to investigate for four years and then pursue it in the courts for another five years. By that time, the accused may even come back to power and close the whole case.

Q: Then to whom should public complaints against corruption be addressed to?
A: I am not saying the Lokpal is dead. The Lokpal can continue.

Q: You mean you want a judicial commission for the Opposition and a Lokpal for the ruling party?
A: We can find a new Lokpal but in this particular case (allegations against Badal), justice must be seen to done. Punjab has returned us on the issue of corruption because there has been a widespread belief that the Badal government was corrupt. If we do not take those people to task, it will amount to condoning what they had been doing.

Q: You had promised sops of Rs 1,200 crore before the elections. Where is the money going to come from?
A: This Rs 1,200 crore includes Rs 280 crore which the Akalis have already given as free power to the farmers. We are also going to bridge the gap of Rs 3,500 crore between revenue and expenditure. We are hoping to mobilise Rs 4,000 crore by cutting costs and
improving performance.

Q: Doesn't this sound too simplistic ?
A: Well, maybe. But you have to do your best. Take the power sector. The losses are so immense: 43 per cent in distribution and transmission alone. Normally, it should not be more than 24 per cent. If we put good technocrats in charge and give them powers
to function, you will see the difference. I am going to remove political pressure on technocrats and enforce autonomy and accountability.

Q: Will you roll back the fund-guzzling populist measures of the previous government?
A: I don't know exactly what sops they had given and what impact it has had on the economy. We will review everything. But we have gone about our pre-poll promises systematically. Our manifesto will be our mission statement.

Q: Are you contemplating hard measures to improve the state of finances?
A: Absolutely. We are going to take hard steps. We are going to have an austere government. Unnecessary spending will be out.

Q: So no new taxes?
A: That I cannot say. That is for the new finance minister to figure out. Taxing may be an option but we will first tighten belts.

Q: The NDA Government at the Centre may not be inclined to bail you out the way it did Badal?
A: I see it in a larger perspective. There are 13 states with Congress governments today. Four of them figured as top performers in a survey in your magazine. Now they too are dealing with the Centre. Why can't we deal with them? I know there are apprehensions on the procurement of foodgrains from Punjab. But that is a national commitment. How can the NDA Government turn its back on the farmers of Punjab? The Centre dare not discriminate
against us.

Q: Does the fact that you will facing a formidable opposition worry you?
A: I do not believe the Opposition is formidable. Shouting in the Vidhan Sabha is one thing but presenting your case is another matter.

Q: But the Akalis are very good at launching agitations?
A: They can do what they like. Their job is to just make a racket out of everything. I don't consider them or their utterances as a threat. We will deal with it them as the situation arises. We will give the state good and clean governance.

Q: How long will your truce with Rajinder Kaur Bhattal last?
A: I don't visualise a problem within the party. I am sure the Congress president will adjust Bhattal somewhere.

Q: Could it be the presidentship of PCC?
A: Well, I have no idea. The high command will decide if she fits the bill.

Q: How do you look at your Akali background? Is it an asset or an experience you want to forget?
A: My 14 years with the Akalis have made me aware of their mind and weaknesses. That's why I say they are no threat.

Q: Your opponents doubt your ability to put in hard work and accuse you of having a laidback lifestyle?
A: They have been doubting me for three-and-a-half years but see what hs happened.

Q: Do you feel that winning the elections is easier than governing the state?
A: Partly yes. We have taken over a bankrupt state. We will have to grapple with immense problems. There is no doubt about that. It's like starting from scratch.

Q: Yet you are persisting with populist measures?
A: That doesn't matter. Governments have certain responsibilities. Today, agriculture is sinking, people are committing suicides and clutching to last straws. How can you take away these straws? It is our business to find the money to meet their needs,. And that is why we kept our concessions to the bare minimum. You may call them sops but I think they are necessities.

Q: How do you reconcile you royal background and politics?
A: I take it easy. I have no hang ups about my royal lineage. I cannot change where I was born. But I have been in boarding schools since the age of four-and-a-half. I never came home till I was 27 when I left the army. I have seen life and have always roughed it out.

Q: How about the perception that you have a coterie which may call the shots?
A: I have a brain of my own. People are entitled to give me their inputs but the final decision is always mine. There is no coterie thing. We will not function the Badal way where you had two IAS officers and two IPS officers running the whole state. We will have a cabinet system with the best secretaries and police officers.

Q: But can you stop your family members from being extra centres of power?
A: I do not have that problem at all. Neither in private life nor in public has my family ever interfered in anything. Running the state is entirely my domain and be rest assured that is how it will remain.

Q: How would you sum up the difference between the Amarinder of Akali Dal five years ago from the one heading the Congress government today?
A: I don't know which way you will put it but Amarinder is a good chap.