VIEWPOINT
AMITABH SHUKLA
Better sense and wisdom finally
prevailed, though it’s temporary, in the standoff between the rival factions of
Sikh leaders in Punjab and Haryana over the
controversial bifurcation of management of gurdwaras in the two States. The
intervention of the Akal Takht has brought in a temporary truce even though no
one for sure knows how the events will unfold if both the warring parties
insist on holding on to their turf.
The needless controversy started
after Haryana thought that it could play the Sikh card to woo the 7-8 per cent
Sikh population in the State ahead of the Assembly polls, barely three months
away. Shattered by the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls where it was practically
wiped away from the State and fearing a repetition in Assembly polls, Bhupinder
Singh Hooda Government came down to crass opportunism and did not hesitate even
for a moment when it dumped its secular credentials.
The series of events starting
from a political meeting in Kaithal on July 6, session of the Haryana Assembly
on July 11 where the controversial Bill carving out separate Haryana Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) was passed to the hurry which the
Governor Jagannath Pahadia showed in giving his assent on July 14, clearly
suggested that it was a political game rather than a well thought out
administrative move for welfare of the Sikh community in Haryana. Then it took
only a few hours to publish a gazette notification, something quite unusual as
far as making laws are concerned. I am sure, never in the 48-year-old history
of Haryana, such hurry had been shown in passing any Bill and making it a law.
Ironically, Congress Government
in Haryana has been citing the “will of the Sikhs” in the State as a reason for
the undue hurry in which the entire legislative drama was enacted. Come on,
people are wiser to accept such a logic. Less than two years ago when SGPC (the
mini-parliament of Sikh religious affairs) elections for 11 seats of Haryana
was held, those favouring a separate panel for management of gurdwara,
including the newly appointed ad-hoc president of HSGMC, Jagdish Singh Jhinda,
lost the polls. There was an overwhelming support to keep the management of
Gurdwaras under SGPPC as the Shiromani Akali Dal had swept the polls. The will
of Haryana Sikhs was clear. They wanted their gurdwaras to function under the
control of Amritsar-based SGPC.
The entire episode exposed the
politics of Congress which Punjab ’s Shiromani Akali Dal
dubbed as divide and rule. Congress’ avowed politics is to keep away from
religious politics lest it affects its secular-Left ideology. But this is only
theoretical and in practice, the grand old party interferes in religious
affairs through parties which it supports directly or indirectly.
In Haryana, Congress extended
support to the factions of Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalwi and helped all those
who were and are opposed to the Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal-led
Shiromani Akali Dal. In Delhi ,
where there is a separate Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC),
Congress always supported the Sarna brothers — Paramjit Singh Sarna and
Harvinder Singh Sarna, who ran the show through their Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi ).
The Sarna brothers got continuous support from the Congress all through only
because they were opposed to the Badal led party in Punjab .
In fact, many considered the SAD (Delhi )
as a frontal organisation of the Congress as the Sarna brothers took all policy
decision only after getting the nod of the party.
So the entire premise that
Congress has a “hands off” approach to parties based on religion and drawing
strength from religious institutions is based on a false premise. In the SGPC
elections of 2012, the Congress of course did not contest but indirectly supported
the group which was opposed to Punjab ’s ruling party.
The Sarna brothers, particularly Paramjit Singh Sarna, played a crucial role in
the entire exercise. No wonder, Sarna was present in the meeting in Kurukshetra
in Haryana where Jhinda was elected President of the ad-hoc body of Haryana
SGPC.
When the Akal Takht Jathedar
Gurbachan Singh advised both Punjab and Haryana leaders
to cancel their conventions, there was a de-escalation of tension to a great
extent. The truce may be temporary but a way has been shown. A presidential
reference and the courts can only find a solution to the vexed issue beside
mutual dialogue. The Akal Takht Jathedar, who commands wide respect in the
community across the globe, has indicated that the Akal Takht will call a
meeting of Sikh high priests and senior Sikh leaders to resolve the issue over
the creation of the HSGPC in Haryana. The sooner it’s done, the better it is
for all stakeholders.
Another build up is happening in
around 50 Gurdwaras of Haryana and tension brewing which could escalate to
violence if immediate steps are not taken. In all the prominent Gurdwaras of
Haryana, SGPC (Amritsar ) has its
control and it is backed by the ruling SAD in Punjab .
Armed Nihangs and other Sikh volunteers, sent by the SGPC from Amritsar ,
have complete control on the religious institutions as of now. The Jhinda led
ad-hoc committee might have been empowered by law to take control of the
gurdwaras but in practice, it is simply impossible at this juncture unless it
takes help from the security forces and police. But taking help of police in
taking control of gurdwaras could lead to a crisis of unparalleled magnitude,
something which should be avoided at all costs. Again, I fail to understand why
the Government of Haryana was in a tearing hurry to form an Ad-hoc committee
and appoint Jhinda as president and Nalwi as vice president when it knows that
attempt to take control of the Gurdwaras in Haryana at this juncture could be a
flashpoint.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal has hinted at stepping down, repeatedly warned of an agitation over
the issue and said that this could disturb peace in the region. He has met all
concerned, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, to impress upon
them the necessity of rolling back the bifurcation of SGPC. He termed it a
constitutional crisis and a “brazen interference in Sikh religious affairs”.
The stand of Badal shows how strong he and his supporters feel at this point
and the need to assuage their sentiments.
Haryana claims that it is well
within its rights to make a law for its State. Absolutely fine. But when such
right and law affects broader peace of the region, affects two States, inflames
communal passions and is provocative in nature, then it has to be exercised with
due caution. There is right to free speech in the Constitution but it does not
mean that it is unrestricted and you can speak anything against anyone. One has
to exercise due caution. This is where Haryana failed. The law it made was a
fit case for reference to Parliament, Home Ministry and the President as due
caution was not taken. People would expect the entire process to be reversed
now. If it goes through the due process of law once again after crossing the
litmus test of due caution, consensus and dialogue, no one would have any
objection. (July 28, 2014)
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/sgpc-row-dialogue-consensus-and-court-intervention-needed.html
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