Chandigarh, September 11: Cornered over the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report, the SAD faces an uphill task in the forthcoming zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections.
The problem is more serious in Bathinda, Faridkot, Barnala, Moga and parts of Ferozepur areas that witnessed sacrilege incidents, protests and subsequent police action. Before 2015, this area was considered an Akali stronghold. The release of the report, just before the crucial elections at the grass-roots level, has fanned religious passions once again, and hit the decades-old Panthic image of the party.
What added to the problems of party patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and president Sukhbir Badal is the sudden “rebellion” within the party. With senior party leaders, including Tota Singh, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, having questioned Sukhbir’s decisions, mainly regarding the grant of pardon to the dera chief that preceded the sacrilege incidents, the party is facing a litmus test.
Even former SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and some SGPC members have openly expressed resentment against the party leadership.
Top party leaders now maintain that the crisis has been sorted out by Sukhbir and all leaders (barring Makkar, who had sour ties with the party for some time now) were present in the Abohar rally.
“The presence of senior party leaders in all districts for the filing of nomination papers of candidates is a proof that there is no dissent,” said Daljit Singh Cheema, senior vice-president.
Sukhbir too dismissed the rebellion talk, saying that the “huge response” the party got at the Abohar rally on Sunday had silenced his political detractors both within and outside the party. Sources say Sukhbir has held meetings with the kin of the dissident leaders and the issue had been resolved.
But the crisis is not as fickle as the grand old man in the party has been forced to come out of “semi retirement” and answer to the charges levelled against him. His coming out is seen in political circles as his effort to steer the party out of the worst-ever crises it has faced.
The stern language used by Badal at the rally and the large turnout there served two purposes — the senior party leaders have not only stopped picking on the party president by airing their views publically, but also some confidence has been restored among middle-rung leadership.
Various Akali leaders canvassing in the field for the election say voters understand that the report is a political document. And to further cement this in the minds of voters, the party leaders, believing that offence is the best defence, are raking up the sacrilege committed during Operation Bluestar.
Source Tribune India
