You are here: MaxAbout.com > Articles

Punjab Politics
By: Payal Jain, In Politics & Government
Updated: Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sponsored Links

Punjab is presently in the grip of financial crisis, declining tax revenue and small savings collections and there has been fall in the state’s growth rate and per capita income. There have been protests by some sections of employees against non-payment of salaries and poor wages. The state’s law and order is also deteriorating. Reports of ISI-trained militants becoming active in Punjab are also prevailing. The ruling Akali leadership like the SGPC is now playing a leading role in creating such an atmosphere. The Beant Singh government played a major role in suppression of terrorism and restoration of peace in the state. Even after the Parkash Singh Badal government which came to power in 1997, such instances continued to be reported though with lesser frequency.

However, events of the past few weeks show the situation is changing. Contradictions in the ruling Akali leadership's professions and actions are contributing to- the creation of atmosphere of religious extremism and fundamentalism. Ironically, all this is being justified under the cover of describing them as being the Sikhs religious issues. It started with the installation of Jamail Singh Bhindranwale’s portrait by the SGPC in the Golden Temple Museum and description of Bhindranwale by the SGPC and top Sikh clergy as martyr and greatest Sikh warrior of the 20th century who sacrificed his life for defending the sanctity of Harmandir Sahib. The controversy over the Bhindranwale portrait that reactivated fringe extremist and fundamentalist elements had hardly died down when the SGPC came out with another statement describing Indira Gandhi’s assassins as martyrs of the Sikh religion whom it would commemorate. All this lead to two disturbing developments:

  • Punjab DGP’s statement that the ISI-trained militants are back in action in Punjab. Ludhiana’s Shingaar cinema bomb blast a few weeks ago is claimed to be the handiwork of these militants.
  • Increasing media reports of religious intolerance and some minority religious communities being prevented from holding their religious congre¬gations. These reports speak about Hindu fundamentalist groups stopping Missionaries from holding religious congregations at some places under the pretext that the latter were trying to convert Hindus to Christianity.

On the other hand, there have been reports of permission being denied to Dera Sacha Sauda followers from holding their naam charcha congregations. The denial of permission to the Dera followers is being justified in the background of the controversy over the Dera Guru’s imitating Guru Gobind Singh which had hurt the Sikhs religious sentiments and created a serious law and order problem in the Malwa region. For his alleged blasphemous act, the Dera Guru is already facing court cases. Punjab’s emerging scenario raises serious questions about the danger of revival of terrorism and role of SGPC and religion in ensuring peace and stability. Both Congress and Akali dal had contributed to the growth of religious fundamenalism and extremism which had encouraged separatist and terrorist forces. Parties have used power to promote their politico-religious interests. National interests should be treated above the party’s interests.