Acknowledging that he is a newcomer in politics, Bollywood actor and BJP's Lok Sabha candidate Sunny Deol has said he does not know much about issues like Balakot airstrikes or the India-Pak relations, NDTV reported on Tuesday, 7 May.
"I do not know much about issues like Balakot strikes or India's relations with Pakistan. I am here to serve people; if I win maybe I will have an opinion, right now I don't," Deol reportedly said.
Deol is pitted against sitting MP and Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur.
Responding to a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-years in power, the 62-year-old actor said, "In the last five years, Modiji has done a great job. I want him to continue with this good work ... after all to keep the nation together and take it forward are signs of a good leader."
‘Not Affected by Criticism of Opponents, Focused on Task Ahead'
Deol said he is focused on the task ahead and is not affected by his opponents dubbing him an "outsider", news agency PTI reported on Tuesday.
“People keep asking me this question (on rivals dubbing him an outsider) and I say, I am not here to reply to what all is being said. I have come here to work and serve the people, I have come here to do my job. My job is to understand my people, my constituency.”Sunny Deol, during his campaign trail in Gurdaspur
The son of veteran actor and former MP Dharmendra, Deol has been accused by the opposition of having no understanding about Punjab, and has been termed an "outsider" and a "parachute" candidate.
Waving at crowds from the sunroof of a Range Rover or from atop a mini-truck, Deol has been attracting a large number of people at his roadshows.
He said, if elected, he will never let the people down, and "never betray their trust”.
“The love they have shown towards me is just overwhelming. I am that kind of person who likes to take peoples' sorrows and make them happy, this is my nature,” the actor who is famous for films like 'Border', 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha', 'Ghayal' and 'Damini', said.
“I am a newcomer, but I am ‘Ziddi’ (stubborn) and I will go on to achieve what I set out for.”Sunny Deol
“I speak dialogues in films when I play a character in films, that is what I have been doing. In real life, I am what every person should be, which is truthful, hardworking and sincere in what one is doing. Rest, it is up to Waheguru,” he added.
When asked why he chose the BJP, Deol said: “I chose this party because I like Narendra Modi quite a lot, he has taken the nation forward during the past five years, our country has progressed." "India's global prestige has increased under this government. We need a strong leader,” he said. “My father had connected with (the then prime minister, late Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji and now, I got an opportunity to connect with Modi ji," Deol said.
The 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, including Gurdaspur, will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of polling on 19 May.
(With inputs from NDTV and PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)