Punjab Moving to Centrestage of Indian Polity Ahead of 2024

Developments in the sensitive border state of Punjab over the last few days show that it is being pushed towards the centre stage of Indian politics. A large section of Punjabis are of the firm opinion that the narrative ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held next year will have Punjab at its core.

They point towards the chasing of radical leader Amritpal Singh by the law enforcing agencies being presented as a spectacle. It continues to be dished out on the television screens, amid planted news stories, and has masala that is needed to keep the Punjab story alive.

The people of the state have a cynical view of the ‘tamasha’ that continues around Amritpal as his audio and video messages emerge and are played up by television channels amid speculations and lots of kite flying. They point out the news reports of his whereabouts being reported almost on a daily basis, and yet the security agencies fail to nab him. Amritpal in a video has sought the convening of a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ on April 13 by the Akal Takht which is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs.

At the same time there is a lot of anger and resentment over the detaining of a large number of youth, that is giving fodder to the political forces operating in the state who leave no opportunity to score brownie points.

But the most interesting and positive aspect is that a large number of Punjabis are analysing developments without taking anything at the face value. They contend that the matters are not to be seen in black and white. They feel that there are various layers to the problems at hand. They see designs to target Punjab at various levels with some of them even pointing towards an ideological and psychological assault on Punjabis.

While the socio-economic scenario remains bleak in the state that continues to face agrarian crisis, industrial stagnation, menace of drugs, emigration of youth to foreign countries as a means to escape unemployment, and a host of other problems, there still is a large section of Punjabis that is thinking on countering the fresh set of assaults on them.

They are convinced that Punjab and Punjabis will come forward with a ‘democratic and secular’ reply to the attacks. They feel that the present phase is something that can be described as ‘dormant’ with various forces analysing and planning how to respond to things.

An interesting analysis of the scenario comes from Hoshiarpur-based Gurmandeep Singh who is presently teaching and has been active in several people’s movements in the past. “The farmers’ movement was a landmark for Punjab. It was well organised and disciplined. The government being forced to withdraw the three contentious farm laws sent a message to the people across the state that things can be achieved through patience, organisation and coming together for a common cause.

“It was a unique secular movement of its kind that India has seen after Independence. The confidence that it instilled in the people saw a whole lot of movements where people demanded their political and economic rights,” said Singh.

He pointed that the strength of an organised populace can be gauged from the fact that the state government lost no time in extending help to the farmers who have suffered losses on account of recent inclement weather conditions marked by unseasonal rains.

On Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed the officers to complete the work of special girdawari and disbursement of compensation to farmers affected by rain and hailstorm, in a time bound and result oriented manner. He said loss worth every single paisa should be ascertained so that aggrieved parties can be given compensation.

Mann said that in case the loss is more than 75% then the state government will compensate the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre. Likewise, if the loss was 33% to 75% then the farmers will get compensation worth Rs 6750 per acre. Similarly, Mann said that the labourers will get 10% as compensation. He also said that Rs 95100 will be paid as compensation to full house damage whereas Rs 5200 will be given for minor damage to houses.

Gurmandeep Singh went on to say, “but now there is a move to tarnish the image of Punjabis, particularly as Sikhs. Look at the manner in which the personality of Punjabis is being attacked by the majoritarian right wing.

“The aim is to attack the perception in the minds of the people of the country that Punjabis are upright, brave, patriotic and bold. Now you have narratives being spun and movies showing Sikhs running from law and presenting them as anti nationals. The aim is to destroy their image at a psychological level and also instil fear among the people.”

What he says holds credence in context of the morphed images of Amritpal that are doing the rounds on the social media. Some of the Right Wing elements known for their anti minority stance have been going overboard with such narratives.

A film director known for spewing venom against the minorities had recently put up a post asking every Punjabi to hoist the national Tricolour on their homes if they were patriotic. He got a befitting reply that said, “We see our sons coming home draped in the Tricolour. We do not have to prove our patriotism to anyone.”

Gurmandeep Singh scored another important point at the academic level. He said, “India is made up of many nations with each one having different aspirations. It is here that regional politics assumes a special place airing the sentiments of the people.

“This can be seen in the context of Tamil Nadu, North East, Kashmir and also Punjab raising their voice on different issues and also taking up anything that they feel is unjust. For example there is a complaint from various states on not getting their timely share of the goods and services tax (GST).”

Again his views saw an amplification coming from none other than Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday. In his interaction with the media in Jalandhar Mann slammed the Union Government for step motherly treatment meted out to the states.

He said that usurping of states’ legitimate rights by the Centre was weakening the federal structure of the country. He said that Governors appointed by the centre are acting as machines to suppress the voice of democratically elected governments.

The Chief Minister charged that funds worth Rs 30,000 crore under the rural development fund are still pending with the union government along with the state’s share of GST. He said that in another case the state was asked to get coal from its allotted mine via Sri Lanka which was not at all justified.

Coming back to the ongoing developments, observers feel that Punjab and the narratives around separatism with Amritpal as the face is in all likelihood going to be played up during the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by forces that want to capture total power.

They point at another interesting development that took place recently that has the potential to irk the powers that look at the principle of divide and rule.

“On the issue of Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners in jails for acts committed during the era of militancy) the radicals and the progressive farmer groups that are ideologically fiercely opposed to each other were on the same platform with the latter broadening the demand to release of all the political prisoners wrongfully put behind the bars.

“It is evident that the ideological difference between the two will continue but the move showed that the friction between the two can be diluted on common issues. Now this is something that sends out alarm bells to those who simply want power,” pointed an observer.

It is being felt that the whole issue is likely to be portrayed as farmer groups being pro separatist which is not the case at all.

The percent within the state is that Punjab is being targeted for standing up on issues of minority concerns and matters of federalism whether it was the move on Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC), abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir along with the lockdown that followed, moves to impose Hindi on non Hindi speaking states or the farm laws.

They also feel that the attention of the masses need to be diverted from the failures of the successive regimes to address the concerns of Punjab whether it is the claim to Chandigarh, its Riparian rights etc.

The state has in the last few days witnessed people expressing anger and resentment over the detention of a large number, reportedly around 360 of youngsters by the law and order enforcing agencies. At the same time there has been an outcry over the suspension of social media accounts and posts of those reporting the developments, mainly on social media platforms, since the crackdown against Amritpal.

The detentions of ‘innocent’ youth have drawn a sharp reaction from the opposition parties in the state. The politically cornered Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (Badal) was quick to announce free legal aid through its battery of lawyers to the youngsters detained by the Police.

Adding a twist to the matter, Giani Harpeet Singh, the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht served a day’s ultimatum to the government to release those arrested after the initiation of the crackdown against Amritpal.

This reportedly drew an angry reaction from Bhagwant Mann who pointed out how the post and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) have been used by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir. He also said that the Jathedar was ‘provoking’ the people through such an ultimatum.

The Jathedar had also reportedly echoed another common refrain among the people of Punjab as to why no cases were being registered against those demanding a Hindu Rashtra.

But experts like Vijay Bombeli who has been chronicling the political history of Punjab take an objective view of the Jathedar’s role. “Where was he when the Ajnala incident took place where Amritpal and his supporters had used Guru Granth Sahib as a shield when a radical mob had taken over the Police Station.

“His role has also been questionable when episodes of desecration of holy texts were being reported and when peaceful protestors were fired upon when the Akali government was in power,” he told this reporter.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir continues to keep the ante high against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state. In a series of tweets on Thursday he stated, “Puppet CM @BhagwantMann has sublet the State to outsiders and they are trying to destroy peace and communal harmony in Punjab.

“But it's my commitment to Punjabis that Shiromani Akali Dal will not allow the peace of the State to be destroyed at any cost. The puppet CM is trying to divert attention from the failures of the AAP government by resorting to the crackdown against innocent Sikh youth. But I am pleased to inform you that more than 100 youth have been freed at the instance of the @Akali_Dal_ alone.

“I warn @BhagwantMann not to take the state back into the erstwhile dark era. The Congress government had resorted to the politics of polarisation and drenched our soil with the blood of our brothers and sisters. Now the AAP government is becoming a party to the same politics of polarisation.”

There were reports of the government releasing around 350 detainees by Thursday night. Earlier Bhagwant Mann had issued clear directions that the Punjab Police should adopt a positive approach while screening persons arrested on account of apprehension of breach of peace or in substantive criminal offences. State’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav had stated that directions have been issued to all Senior Superintendents and Commissioners of Police to ensure that no innocent person is harassed or arrested.

The investigating officers and their supervisory officers should first examine the available evidence and satisfy themselves before undertaking any preventive arrest or arrest in substantive offences.

Mann has been stating that some people are trying to divide the state on sectarian lines for the sake of their own vested interests.

He said that such self proclaimed leaders of religion have nothing to do with the state and its people adding that these leaders just want to disturb the peace and amity in the state. He has asked Punjabis not to be swayed away by the ideas of such self proclaimed preachers who have no emotional bonding with the state and its people.

He has categorically stated that the state government is duty bound to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony in Punjab at all costs. He said that the present era is that of education and across the globe the people with knowledge and expertise are recognised due to which he is making strenuous efforts to promote education in Punjab.

Bombeli feels that Punjab will remain at the core of the political narrative in the run up to the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. He also believes, “Chaos is being allowed to fester in the state to achieve political goals and create a perception outside the state with the help of an embedded media.

“The message that is being tried to send out by those in power is that Sikhs are separatists and only we can save and protect the interests of the majority community. Having earlier polarised the people in the name of Muslims and presenting them as outsiders, the effort now is to polarise in the name of Sikhs whereas the fact remains that not even one percent of the Sikhs are separatists.

“Till now the majoritarian right wing was cautious while targeting the Sikhs. The continuity of chaos will also ensure that there are no protests on real issues by the people.”

He also said that what has been bothering the powers that be is the fact that the Punjabis have opposed all the black laws whether it was the CAA, the crackdown in Kashmir or the farm laws. At the same time they have stood firm in their fight for federal rights.

In his opinion people still see the Akalis and the Congress as power hungry forces that can even join hands to achieve common goals. “On the other hand the perception about AAP is that of being a new force with lack of experience in running a state like Punjab,” he added.

With a parliamentary by-poll scheduled for May 10 on Jalandhar seat, it would be interesting to see how the present developments play out in the political domain. The seat had fallen vacant because of the demise of Congress Lok Sabha member Santokh Singh Chaudhary while he was participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi. The Congress has decided to field his wife Karamjit Kaur in the electoral battle.