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The Dera and the Indian State
Dr Amrik
Singh Sacramento
As
the hour of CBI charge-sheet was approaching, Sauda Dera’s
activities too doubled up. A so-called open letter to Guru Gobind
Singh was released to the media, its contents being largely a repeat
of earlier press notes denying any wrong doing; but still
apologizing in the interest of peace. The dera head, in an effort to
win sympathy of masses and the court, complained that Sikhs were
forcing Dalits and Hindus to commit acts of self-immolation. Gurmeet
Ram Rahim has administered to thousands his Jaam-e-Insa concoction,
yet only Aditya (Arora) Insaan is being projected as the finest
specimen of his creation. He is a mouthpiece of Gurmeet Ram who is
either expressing his master’s messages as he directly receives, or
ineptly communicates to the media about Dera’s views. After four
months of stand off between Sikhs and Dera, Aditya’s denial of
placing an advertisement in the newspapers has come as a rude shock
to all who were involved in conflict resolution. Who did place the
advertisement then? The enquiry may reveal the wider spectrum of
secret deal (saudebaazi) with politicians of many shades.
The
day Punjab Police performed its ritual of arresting and releasing
the dera head in a highly conciliatory situation, there were more
than 26,000 followers ready to follow the directions of their
master. Dera’s militia did not allow the entire police team to enter
the Gufa; only few policemen were allowed. It appears as if the
dera head’s political links got jammed either due to exaggerated
interest of media along with a highly charged campaign of Sikh
bodies to arraign him or due to the pressure of UPA allies such as
left parties. On July 31, 2007, the CBI submitted its report of his
involvement in rape of Saadhvis and murder cases of a former Dera
manager and a journalist. The dera chief has been directed to be
present in the court on August 31. Only time will tell how CBI will
be able to withstand pressure of Congress leadership to indict
Gurmeet Ram Rahim in double murder and rape cases.
Dera Sauda controversy was following the same route that was chalked
out for it by the con artists, but it backfired; it happened mainly
because the ‘information revolution’ at the outset of 21st
century is phenomenal. Government’s control on media in the 70’s
and 80’s deprived the people of the truth behind the scene. The
course of the Nirankari confrontation with Sikhs in 1978 had
derailed Jayaparkash Narayan’s vision of pluralistic strong India.
The turning point in Indian politics lost its charm against
staged-up campaign of terrorism and separatism. At the height of
melodrama, major political parties rallied round nationalistic goals
of defeating terrorism and anti-national activities. Indira Gandhi
symbolized bulwark against sedition. Left parties gave up their
commitment to uplift the downtrodden and came to the forefront to
assist Indira Gandhi in teaching Punjab a lesson. BJP aided and
abetted in suppressing the militancy in whatever manner it was
possible, even though extrajudicial means had to be used.
Splintered
groups of old Janta Dal had no choice except to follow Indira
Gandhi’s grand design. To the amusement of Congress(I), the Blue
Star operation in 1984 had laid the foundation of Congress’s
indispensability for two decades. The mutual opposition of all
political parties had neutralized in the case of Punjab. Congress
had secured secret mandate of all political parties to use torture
and trauma to suppress the voice that sought justice within the
perimeters of Indian constitution. The bloodshed of several thousand
people on both sides of the fence weakened India of freedom
fighters’ dreams. The perfidy against Punjab by some hind-sighted
Pundits in government of India’s elite agency (Research and Analysis
Wing) had demoralized and demonized Sikhs who had earlier defended
its borders at times when most others chose to side with the
aggressors. The same kind finds now it convenient to act patriotic
and condemn Sikhs as separatists.
Dera Sauda controversy has been paying dividends in the manner of
magnetizing estranged Hindus to the Congress nucleus. BJP’s
cautious warnings to the four months old Badal government is an
expression of nervousness about its eroding base . Professor
Rajinder Bhandari’s cries are simply to placate fears of Hindu
community. The CPI(M)’s outcry that Badal government is violating
the Premis’ right to worship is also to solidify and secure
support among Dalits and downtrodden. The BSP too has an eye on the
same bastion. Siding with the Congress is a politically savvy choice
of Mayawati to mainly stay in power in the most populated state of
India.
The
political history of independent India is replete with glaring
examples of irregularities in the electoral process. The indictment
of Indira Grandhi by Allahabad High court judgment in 1975 had
enraged her so much that she arbitrarily clamped Emergency without
even taking her cabinet into confidence.
In
60 years of independence. Vajpayee is the only non-Congress premier
who could complete a five year term. Morarji Desai’s government
collapsed in less than two and a half years while the rest of the
non-Congress regimes at the Center could not complete even one year.
In three years time, India saw six Prime Ministers who struggled to
get the honorific by hook and crook. The statistics prove that
Congress specializes in turning the tide against political rivals
and using them for ulterior motives. How far other political parties
will allow Congress to make them instruments of its design will
decide the future of this country.
Post emergency Congress politics is heavily focused on Punjab. The
bugbear of terrorism and Pakistan’s intrusion was the best bet for
Indira Gandhi to regain lost power after the Emergency. Morarji was
installed as Prime Minister yet the bureaucracy was still devoted to
Indira. The machinations of intelligence and loyal bureaucrats had
planted mines in Janta Dal’s foundation. The explosion brought
Morarji’s government down and the Congress extended unconditional
support to Chaudary Charan Singh and his Lok Dal. A single stroke
had knocked the JP’s revolution into smithereens.
The
speciality in engineering troubles in hot spots of political
relations should be seen in this context: Dera Sauda vs Sikhs;
Gujjar vs Mina clashes, and posters of politicians in guise of Hindu
gods and goddesses. These may have some common connections to
achieve the same goal. Mainstream Hindu and Dalit votes in favor of
Congress will erode BJP and BSP base. The Congress Juggernaut has
already botched the left movement mainly to West Bengal and Kerala.
When Congress used to have more than two third majority in Lok Sabha,
the leader of the party imposed his/her will on the government,
legislature and judiciary. The leader was able to justify his/her
agenda by giving unilateral explanations. But in days of coalition
politics, Pundits have proposed legislation to grant sweeping powers
to the Central government to decimate any elected government in
states. If that happens, we will see another phase of undeclared
Emergency in the country. The Commission on Center-State Relations
under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India MM Punchi is
to reduce states virtually as colonies of the Hindu state.The writ
of the Center will run through bureaucrats. The staged up terrorism
and sedition will again escalate the fears of 1 billion population.
A radical leader is bound to emerge in such circumstances. The
Congress will try to gain popularity by eliminating such a leader
and then by enacting itself as the Savior of India. How far this
will go? The treacherous design may not succeed always. The change
is bound to come that will replace the decadent and degenerated
structure with the one that will provide space for all to relish
life.
1 August, 2007
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