Page 18 - 15DEC2018E

CoverStory POLITICS

Congress and Pakistan’s ISI Akali Dal (SAD) is trying to revive Sikh politics with
The issue of the Behbal Kala firings came to domi- the help of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak
nate the Sikh religious-political discourse following Committee (SGPC). The Akali Dal has always reserved
the submission of Justice Ranjit Singh Commission the privilege of playing religion and politics together
report. With the general elections due next year, the by having the SGPC and their men as jathedars of the
SAD’s political fortunes may take a hit if things do not takhts. Post the bitter defeat in the Assembly polls,
go their way soon. SAD has been trying to stage a comeback. Trudg-
ing on the panthic route now, it is working closely
CONSPIRACY FEARED with the SGPC. As such, to throttle a revolt from ‘tak-
In a vain attempt to salvage its position, the Shiroma- sali’ veterans expelled for indulging in ‘anti-party’
ni Akali Dal has asked the Punjab Governor V.P. Singh activities, SAD tried to play proxy politics at the
Badnore to dismiss the Congress government for
allegedly conspiring with radical elements to desta-
bilise peace and communal harmony in the State.
The attack on followers of Nirankari sect where three Though Sukhbir Badal is
persons were killed and several injured has provided
fresh ammunition to SAD leaders to corner Congress credited with being good
and Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh.
In their memorandum to the Governor, Akali Dal manager of big shows
president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Congress
government was not just trying to muzzle the voice
of democracy but was also playing a dangerous game and pulling crowds at
to weaken the SAD and Sikh institutions like the
Sri Akal Takth and the Shiromani Gurdwara Par- public meetings, his
bandhak Committee in league with radical elements.
The BJP State president Shwait Malik also said peace old style needs change.
in the State had been destroyed once earlier in the
same manner by inciting communal passions. “We Even a young party like
cannot allow Punjab to slip into an era of darkness
again,” he said. AAP was able to pose
However, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh
has ridiculed Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal
for his “desperate attempts to divert public atten- threat to it in 2017 polls With the general elections due next year,
tion from the SIT investigation in the Kotkapura and the SAD’s political fortunes may take a
hit if things do not go their way soon
Behbal Kalan firing cases by claiming it to be politi-
cally motivated”.
Reacting to Badal’s statement that the SIT was
working under Chief Minister’s influence, Capt recent SGPC elections by including five members too, has tried to stake claim for the “coveted” position. go down well to re-connect with the voters. Once
Amarinder said the government’s job was over after from the Majha region and repeating the incum- Capt Amarinder Singh has struck the most lethal the connection is made, it will be easy for the party
it abided by the unanimous decision of the Vidhan bents for key posts. blow of all on his bête noire, Parkash Singh Badal, to highlight the anti-incumbency factor against the
Sabha to form the SIT. The SGPC, under former SAD MLA from Dhuri, Sukhbir and other political leaders of the Akali Dal. Congress regime, and better their poll prospects
Accusing Badal of playing the victim and indulg- Gobind Singh Longowal, has been toeing the party’s This blow came in shape of the report of the Com- before the 2019 General Election.
ing in theatrics by claiming that no democratically religious agenda. The SAD and SGPC have blessed the mission of Inquiry headed by Justice Ranjit Singh The SGPC as well as the Akali Dal are also going
elected CM had been ever called for questioning, the boundary between religion and politics earlier too. (retd), probing sacrilege cases. The CM did not hit the full throttle to make the 550th birth anniversary
CM said that under the SAD-BJP government, he was To rebuild its credibility, the SAD and the SGPC have Badals’ financial interests; he used the report to deal celebrations of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism,
summoned and questioned by the police on frivolous been preparing for a grand celebration of the 550th a blow that has made it difficult for the Akali Dal to in November 2019. The party will be using this occa-
charges at the Patiala circuit house. birth anniversary of Guru Nanak next year. The party get up and take control. sion to its political advantage. How far these attempts
In a statement, the Chief Minister said that the SIT is banking on yet another issue dear to the Sikhs: In a new twist, even though an apology has not succeed, only time will tell. The SAD is is in catch 22
comprises competent officers and they were free to the Kartarpur corridor. In the run up to the 2019 come from the Akali Dal for the sacrilege incidents situation because the Congress government, too,
summon and question anyone. The government had parliamentary polls, the Akalis have gone back to or the controversial granting of pardon to the dera is wooing the Sikh community with its own plans
no role whatsoever either in the ongoing investiga- panthic politics. chief, there has been a change in stand. The SGPC for the celebrations. However, will the current
tions or their outcome. Being the undisputed political representative of president and some senior Akali Dal leaders (Badal upheaval shape up for the SGPC and the SAD, only
the Sikh community is not the one-point agenda of loyalists) have been saying that the grant of pardon time will tell.
REVIVING SIKH POLITICS SAD leaders alone. Congress, especially under the to the dera head was a mistake. The spin doctors in
In a bid to make itself relevant again, the Shiromani leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, the party know that acceptance of mistake would LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

TEHELKA / 15 DECEMBER 2018 18 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 15 DECEMBER 2018 19 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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