Fearlessness and clarity of thought and vision are traits of good political leadership. In times of crisis, they are much needed. Indian National Congress (INC) parliamentarian from Ludhiana in Punjab, Ravneet Singh Bittu, has given an outstanding demonstration of these qualities in recent weeks, bringing great relief in an atmosphere of fear and confusion prevailing in Punjab.
The state has been in political turmoil for nearly three years, firstly, because the Khalistanis sitting abroad tried to give a religious colour to the year-long farmers’ agitation in 2020-2021, and started physical attacks on Hindu legislators behind the facade of farmers’ protest. Secondly, because of the Waris Punjab De upstarts, Deep Siddhu, who died in a road accident, and his successor Amritpal Singh posing as a religious activist, stoking hate and violence in the name of religion. The know-nothings puppets of Khalistanis, encouraged by Akali Dal (Amritsar) parliamentarian Simranjit Singh Mann, were polluting the air of Punjab like a noxious gas.
At times like these, it is very important for public confidence to have a mass leader articulate their concerns. Ravneet, who has received personal threats from Amritpal and associates, has nevertheless been giving no-holds-barred interviews, not only dispelling the myths about and fear of the Khalistanis, but also providing food for thought to the analysts and policy-makers. As the grandson of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was tragically assassinated (on August 31, 1995) by a Khalistani terrorist, politics is in his genes.
Experience in electoral politics as a three-time MP has endowed Ravneet with political insights that need to be factored into finding a solution to the current problem. While Ravneet’s barbs against Amritpal and associates have been entertaining, his observations about the hopes and fears of the Sikh community call for serious attention of the government. Ravneet’s understanding of the political scene in the state and that of Sikh affairs can be very useful to the intelligence and security agencies. The following is a summary of the television interviews Ravneet gave in Punjabi:
The long rope given to Amritpal and the delayed action against him were costly. With his open call for Khalistan, resolve to break Punjab away from India and threats of assassination of political leaders, he had become a serious threat to public peace. His activities had vitiated the social and political atmosphere in the state and common people were feeling jittery about their security. Businesses in Punjab were shaky, and not just Hindus, but even Sikhs started shifting to the neighbouring Haryana. Property buyers began to invest in Panchkula in Haryana rather than Mohali in Punjab, both of which are the fastest developing towns close to Chandigarh.
As a political leader in touch with the common Sikhs all over the country, Ravneet said, he had been hearing loud alarm bells, and had been campaigning for action against Amritpal and gang. The Khalistani activities in Punjab over the last two years had renewed the fears of Sikhs outside the state about facing communal trouble and social stigma. Having endured that in the wake of Khalistani terrorism in the 1980s, they dreaded a repeat. Otherwise, Sikhs outside Punjab, he said, have no complaints about any discrimination against them. In fact, they enjoy great respect and admiration.
According to Ravneet’s information, inside Punjab, there are about three to four thousand hard core Khalistanis, backed and funded by those sitting abroad; they are ever ready to foment trouble through menacing words and deeds. Their strength comes from being a mob and this is the category of people who attacked the Ajnala police station in Amritsar (on February 23). There are also between two and three lakh passive supporters of Khalistan. Although they are not even one percent of the Sikh population, according to Ravneet, they are prone to the propaganda that Sikhs face discrimination in India. The administration needs to address their grievances, especially those of farmers and unemployed rural folk, who are also gullible. The economic issues facing them should be resolved to wean them away from the Khalistanis.
The lawyers of Amritpal wasted no time in approaching the high court. The extraordinary response of the court, the MP said, alone puts paid to the sham Khalistani propaganda that Sikhs face discrimination in India. The judge heard the petition on a Sunday night at his residence and ordered the police to give a report within a couple of days, demonstrating the rule of law and equality of all before the law, even those who do not believe in India and want to break it.
The Khalistanis, especially abroad, are all empty drums that beat loud. They only have paid agents in India, no ground support at all. If they are convinced about their cause and ready to sacrifice for it as per their tall public claims, why did they not come by the plane loads to show solidarity with Amritpal? Where are all the thousands here who promised mass protests in Amritpal’s support? They made bogus claims, they stand thoroughly exposed and the people of Punjab, the MP said, are not going to be fooled by the Khalistanis.
The National Security Act (NSA) is justified against people who were building an army against the Indian state, amassing weapons, equipping themselves with bullet proof jackets, generating terror with their attack on a police station and police officers, threatening a repeat performance at a much larger scale and secured the release of an associate with brute power. However, those who just got swayed by the false talk of Amritpal and had no role in the violence at Ajnala should be treated softly and let off.
The religious garb, the kirpan and brave words the Khalistanis speak in public are just a facade. Underneath it, they are fickle in their beliefs, and cowardly. The first lot of Amritpal’s associates arrested by the police was very scared. They thought that they were being taken by air only to be killed and thrown in the sea–like Osama bin laden. When the Punjab police officers told them to change their dresses and part with their kirpans, they resisted, putting up a front that it was their religious right. However, they did not waste a moment when the Assam officials ordered them to do so. (The kirpan, even if it is a religious symbol, cannot be allowed in jail as a precaution against the prisoners injuring themselves or others.)
Finally, the current crisis is a lesson for the future. The government should not be complacent in dealing with the trouble-makers and should nip them in the bud. A combination of hard and soft measures is needed to counter the Khlistanis. The politicians, across party lines, should avoid ranting against the centre. The bogey that those ruling in Delhi are the enemies of Punjab is isolating for the state’s people, and it gives a handle to the Khalistanis, who start exploiting this sentiment for their nefarious designs against the country.
(The author is a Delhi-based journalist)
Discussion about this post