Bhagwant Mann interview: ‘These Lok Sabha polls are very important. If people miss this time, India will be like Russia, Putin, and there won’t be any Oppn’

For Punjab Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Lok Sabha elections are doubly important. Firstly, he believes they are a litmus test for the future of democracy in the country. And, secondly, he thinks it would be a reality check for his two-year-old government. In a freewheeling interview with The Indian Express, CM Mann speaks on a range of issues, including the AAP’s plans to overcome the arrest of party supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the Opposition INDIA bloc’s face-off with the BJP. Excerpts:

How important are these Lok Sabha elections?

This election is not about winning or losing, it’s an election to save democracy and Constitution. Two-three top leaders have said, whether by mistake or intentionally, that give us 400 seats and we will change the Constitution. How dare they? As it is, they don’t follow the Constitution. Supreme Court is supreme, but they don’t obey its directions. The apex court ruled in favour of Kejriwal 5-0, but they brought an ordinance at 6 pm and changed the ruling. They don’t listen to the Election Commission either. CBI, and Enforcement Directorate are their ‘kamaoo bete’ (earning sons). First conduct an ED raid and then get the company to buy electoral bonds.

How come the Governors of only the non-BJP states ask so many questions. They are troubling Mamata didi, Stalin, Hemant Soren, Naveen ji. Dilli mein LG ne keher hi macha rakhha tha (In Delhi it was the LG’s high-handedness). In my case, the Governor refused to let me summon the budget session till I approached the Supreme Court. The BJP policy is that where you are not elected, you get the selected to trouble the elected.

These polls are very important. Agar log chook gaye, to Russia ki