By Charandeep Singh
Whether it is a volcanic reaction against an oppressive regime or it is a political gamble gone kaput , the result is before you. Punjab is teetering on the precipice. It all started by orchestrating an Akal Takht stamped pardon for the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, which never went down well with the Sikh proletariat. The radicals were up in arms.The hara-kiri that followed the pardon, left everyone baffling. The edict pardoning the dera chief, was given on September 24th. Seeing the mass protests, the edict was revoked on 16th October.
When the Panj Pyaras, [the five beloved ones-who are entrusted with the job of baptizing the community] questioned the authority of Akal Takht to grant pardon to the dera chief when he never appeared before the high priests in person, they were placed under suspension. Taking signals from the aggressive demonstrations of the fringe who took on to the streets, they were reinstated.
Shiromani Akali Dal is a peculiar case where, the potent politico-religious combination has been the leitmotif of its survival, relevance and of self-servient machinations to be in power. Knowing this fully well, how the CM Badal who has perfected the art of “running with hares and hunting with hounds”, took a myopic view while the shenanigans of Sikhism were granting pardon to the dera chief has left every one flummoxed. One ham- handed decision of junior Badal, aimed at garnering the dera vote for ensuing elections has brought back the remembrances of dark days of the bye gone era. Ordinary Sikh is despising it. The credibility of Akal Takht, the supreme power of the Sikhs, has been eroded. Sikh historians say, that Akal Takht has become a pawn in the “kakistocracy” of Badals. The hymn, singer [raagis], while doing the morning prayers are calling them sinners [paapi’s]. The rural Sikh peasantry , which forms the core vote bank of Aakli Dal has deserted them. Publically the leaders of Akali Dal are getting hounded, villagers have put up banners prohibiting the entry of SGPC members in their villages. Political analysts say, that rather than coagulating the votes, first Akali Dal is facing hostility like never before and secondly it has ceded a lot of political space to the diminished and virtually oblivious Sant Samaj and hardliners of Punjab politics.
Compounding the issue further has been the desecration of , Guru Granth Sahib. Initially the police took it non-chalantly, but seeing the groundswell by the fringe and the radicals who were up in arms, cops responded by firing which killed two young protesters. Punjab burnt. It was arson all over. A few odd incidents like in Jalandhar and Phagwara the protests could have taken the colour of communal clashes, but for the timely intervention of local administration. Police claimed the theory of foreign hand , which was summarily debunked by one and all. The world cup kabaddi, got cancelled and thereafter there have been sporadic incidents of Bir desecration here and there. The graph of ruling regime has touched its nadir. Radical have emboldened, but quite surprising is the prolonged muteness of the alliance partner BJP, which has been a silent observer to all the incidents.
Though the trigger for these large scale protests were pardon and desecration of Bir’s, but over a period of time, these aggressive protests have become sulphorous and amorphous. Protests have acquired a rudderless flame. Protests are for what , we don’t know but against whom everyone is aware off. Multiple issues at hand. Crippling economy, agricultural crisis, non- responsive government machinary and the disproportionate prosperity of the ruling elite have all been contributing factors. Resentment of citizens who feel aggrieved is spilling out on streets.
Political analysts feel that “ Panthic Agenda” of Akali Dal which they tried to revive to masquerade over the administrative and economic failures of past nine years didn’t go according to script. Building of martys memorial in Golden Temple and getting Khalistani militants languishing in other jails, back to Punjab was a part of that agenda. All deft strokes. But one imperious move , all is back to square one. Dera Sacha Sauda chief continues to be an anathema for Sikhs , since his blasphemous act of impersonating the 10th guru. Seeing the unrest, AAP chief Kejriwal who sees himself as a serious contender for power in Punjab, promptly kicked up the dust by visiting the hinterland. Since Punjab is anybody’s game now. Badal can take a cue from Kejriwal himself, go before the electorate with folded hands and seek redemption by pleading, “galati hui hai –gunaah to nahi hua". But given his track record, doubts persist as to whether the the electorate would be generous.