ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Akalis caught in a propaganda war

Neena Chaudhry in Chandigarh

A new trend has emerged in the state of Punjab, which is being rocked by the struggle for supremacy among Sikh politicians. The trend, which can be referred to as "competitive religiosity", has added a new dimension to the state's politics.

The warring factions of the Shiromani Akali Dal have begun to present their leaders as the "real champions" of peace in Punjab.

The "competition" began with a statement by suspended Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, who, while dissociating himself from the demand for Khalistan, offered to personally stand up in defence of the minorities if terrorists attempt to target them in the state.

This was followed by a fiery defence of peace by Akali patriarch and president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who pledged to take the first bullet fired by any terrorist on his chest. He too has dissociated himself from the agenda of the hard-line elements, which resulted in an announcement by the radical Simranjit Singh Mann that his faction of the SAD would have no formal alliance with Tohra.

The statements of Ranjit Singh and Tohra are being seen as a counter to the propaganda war launched by the faction loyal to Punjab Chief Minister and SAD president Parkash Singh Badal.

Faced with extreme polarisation on the eve of the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa order, the Badal camp has been toiling to project Ranjit Singh and Tohra as villains who secretly support the terrorists.

The Badal camp lost no time in launching an attack on Ranjit Singh and Tohra when the head granthi (priest) of the Golden Temple, Giani Mohan Singh, rejected its offer to become acting jathedar of the Akal Takht.

The grapevine has it that Mohan Singh turned down the "offer" because of "threats" from pro-Khalistan terrorists based abroad to his son's life. Similar threats were reportedly issued to Giani Puran Singh, who ultimately became acting Akal Takht chief. Incidentally, Puran Singh is said to have been a close associate of the militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed in Operation Bluestar in 1984.

Simultaneously, reports began to trickle in about the increased threat perception to the lives of Badal, his son and Union minister of state Sukhbir Singh, and his main adviser, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, editor of the Jalandhar-based Punjabi daily Ajit, a leading newspaper of the state.

The militants are said to have offered a reward of Rs50 million to anyone who assassinates Badal before Baisakhi (April 14), when the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa begin.

The police have tightened the security ring around Badal. He has already been provided 'Z-plus' security. It is believed that his security advisers have made it mandatory for him to wear a bullet-proof vest in public.

On Sunday, addressing a function in connection with the platinum anniversary of the historic Jaito Morcha of the Akali Dal during the freedom struggle, Badal publicly said forces inimical to peace in Punjab had offered Rs40 million for his death.

Then, on Monday, he said, "I am prepared to give away my life, property and everything I own to ensure peace and prosperity in Punjab. I am prepared to make any sacrifice for the Sikh community, Punjab and the country."

In an indirect attack on the Tohra camp, which he accused of causing trouble, Badal said he would not allow peace in the state to be disturbed. He said Punjab is passing through a crucial period when the people have to decide which side they will support. Any faulty decision, he cautioned, could result in the return of the dark days of terrorism.

The Punjab police have confirmed the reports of a 'reward' on Badal through "special channels". A senior police officer said there are "unconfirmed" reports that a group of specially trained mercenaries is trying to cross over into India to try and kill the chief minister, members of his family, and Hamdard.

The terrorists have also launched a propaganda war, saying police raided the Golden Temple on Badal's orders. They also claim the government has placed Ranjit Singh under house arrest.

Actually, the police presence was beefed up around the Golden Temple complex before the meeting of the SGPC executive on February 10 at which Ranjit Singh was suspended. Police entered the SGPC's offices to "inspect" arrangements for the meeting.

The state government is more alarmed about reports that supporters of USA-based business tycoon Didar Singh Bains, who till recently was considered a Badal supporter, have also joined the pro-Khalistan camp against the two-year-old Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government.

Reports said effigies of Badal have been burnt and anti-Punjab government demonstrations staged in about two dozen places in the US, Canada and Europe over the last two weeks.

Bains, founder of the USA-based separatist World Sikh Organisation, was recently appointed chairman of the North American unit of the Akali Dal after a reported "change of heart".

The Punjab state page

Tell us what you think of this report