Punjab – On the Edge Again?

There were sporadic incidents that took place in Punjab in the recent past including killing of an RSS leader. None of the opposition leaders spoke against Khalistani vandalism last 26th January. In fact, AAP had shown open support for these elements by glorifying them as farmers protesting against the Farm Laws.

NewsBharati    31-May-2022 17:27:02 PM   
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“AAP should be worried as propaganda alone cannot resolve the chronic issues of Punjab, nor can soft pedalling of serious threats to national issues solve themselves out, specially if those elements claim to have a hand in its victory. India cannot afford to see Punjab get roiled by fires of separatism lit much more easily with new tools of mass communication by a few people sitting outside India with even a limited support from a few locals. Even in earlier episode they never had a huge following. But a weak state can help them look more powerful than they are. Nation is worried. I hope my forebodings are misplaced.”- I wrote on 13th March 2022 after Punjab election results

I am sorry to say that my foreboding like many others’ seems to be coming true. Within a couple of months of AAP taking control of Punjab following major incidents took place –

  • A national-level kabaddi player is killed

  • Mohali police intelligence office witnesses blasts

  • Patiala sees open sloganeering in favor of Khalistan

  • Now a popular singer is killed in a violent incident

There were sporadic incidents in the recent past including killing of an RSS leader. None of the opposition leaders spoke against Khalistani vandalism last 26th January. In fact, AAP had shown open support for these elements by glorifying them as farmers protesting against the Farm Laws. They were well aware of the sharp polarisation in Punjab using these laws as a weapon but kept quiet, winking at the perpetrators hoping that this will help them in the elections.
 
Punjab – On the Edge Again? 

AAP did enjoy a windfall gain. But, its leadership was either unaware of the payback or just wished it away. Arvind Kejriwal being such a sharp and calculative mind would surely be aware of the dangers because he had tried to use the same elements even in earlier elections but last-minute mood-swing of voters due to his shenanigans cost him his victory.

Now is the payback time. Sidhu Moosewala’s murder may not be a political murder. But it shows the utter failure of the law and order machinery. The helplessness of the police for reasons unknown to most. This is a dangerous situation. It reminds me of the police force wringing their hands whenever such brazen killings took place in the last phase of militancy. Weak leadership saw Punjab Police itself being sitting duck for the terrorists as their families were targeted. They were killed with careless swagger.

By the time peace returned in Punjab in 1995 - 11,696 civilians, 8090 terrorists and 1746 security personnel had lost their lives. In this Akali Dal, Congress and Khalistanis all had their role. They were either part of the problem, when not the part of the problem; they were the victims. Have our political leaders forgotten the dark chapters so easily? Refusal to see the dangerous days looming ahead is a worrying sign.
 
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Reducing Moosewala murder to simple security guard protection is missing the wood for the tree. The state cannot provide individual security to all the citizens. It is the duty of the state that the atmosphere should be such that criminals dare not perpetrate heinous crimes. The brazen killings in recent times tell us that just like 1980s there is no fear of the law enforcing machinery. When the headquarters of the intelligence unit can be attacked, who is safe? More worrying than such attacks is the early denial of this looming danger by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party by denying that it was a terrorist incident and trying to cover it up. This is how Punjab rulers used to negate serious incidents in 1980s.

Social Media has made miscreants sitting outside Bharat and creating havoc here larger than life. This means the fight against lawlessness and separatism has become multi-dimensional and more difficult to tackle. Smallest incident can be blown out of proportion and create a poor impression of the government. Moosewala case is a case in point. Since he was a celebrity it has become a headline grabber, but national Kabaddi player’s killing didn’t create even a whimper. Bomb blast in Mohali died a natural death very fast. Patiala saw open sloganeering in favour of Khalistan but no serious action was taken, just like the earlier stages of 1980s era.

While serious issues worry any government, Punjab CM is worried about pets being kept by government servants without approval!! This is as bizarre as it gets, when the government is more worried about pets without authorisation rather than guns without authorisation.
 
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It is time Arvind Kejriwal wakes up from self-promotion ego trips and does a reality check. It is fine to rule a city without any responsibility, it is not fine to rule a sensitive border state in a flippant manner. Punjab and nation have paid a heavy price for political chicanery earlier. We can’t afford another round. Anarchy at city level worked but anarchy at a state level where anarchic party itself controls the police, can be very very dangerous. For the sake of his own dreams of becoming a national alternative to the BJP, Kejriwal needs to pull up his lost pants.

Ratan Sharda

Ratan Sharda has been awarded a PhD for his thesis on RSS. He is an author, columnist and renowned TV panelist. He has written 9 books of which 7 are on RSS, one on Guru Nanak Dev and one on Disaster Management; translated two books about RSS – The Incomparable Guruji Golwalkar and M S Golwalkar: His Vision and Mission, from Hindi to English; written by the foremost RSS thinker Shri Ranga Hari. He has edited/designed 12 books.

His most popular books on RSS are RSS360 degree, Sangh & Swaraj, RSS – Evolution from an Organisation to a Movement, Prof Rajendra Singh Ki Jeevan Yatra and Conflict Resolution: The RSS Way.

Ratan Sharda has travelled extensively in and outside Bharat. He was jailed during 1975-77 in the days of Emergency. He was an ERP consultant for two decades in addition to varied industrial experience of 2 decades. He was the founder secretary of Vishw Kendra (Centre for International Studies), Mumbai for eight years. He is an advisor to many educational institutions and voluntary organisations.