CHANDIGARH: Though Punjab and Haryana were bifurcated almost three decades back on November 1,
1966, the Governments of both the slates still share the same building as their respective secretariat. It was the human bomb” by virtue of which, the division between the two states is now complete.
Even now, though both the Governments are operating from the same building, yet the entry of the Punjab Secretariat employees to the corridors of Haryana Secretariat is banned.
One may find it easy to cross over to Pakistan from India or vice versa, but no one can dare walk towards the Haryana side of the building from the Punjab side.
High-profile Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal is feeling insecure, perhaps because of the Punjabi wrath he earned for his controversial role in stopping the Punjabis from participating in the 1982 Asiad or during the October/November 1984 riots, in which hundreds of innocent Punjabis — especially Sikhs —were butchered and humiliated.
The “human bomb” has added a new dimension to the political scenario in the country, with the warning that militants can liquidate their targets at will as was done in the Beant Singh case.
What is causing serious concern to Mr. Bhajan Lal and his security setup is the infiltration made by various outfits in the rank and file of the Punjab Police. Lending credibility to ‘the Haryana Chief Minister’s belief are reports by intelligence agencies that the militants used the umbrage of police personnel to execute an operation which took the entire security setup of the country by surprise. For the Haryana police personnel, every employee of the Punjab Government, especially belonging to the Police Department is a “Militant.” The sufferings of the employees of Punjab and’ Haryana Secretariats is the same. Both have to traverse some distance to enter the Secretariat. Entry from the front side is restricted and only VIPs and top bureaucrats are allowed an honorable passage from the gate. Others, including newspersons, have to enter from the back gates.
Punjab Police chief K.P.S. Gill has stopped attending his often in the Civil Secretariat, Meanwhile, layers of visible and invisible security cover have created a gap between the people and their representatives.
The “human bomb” has proved to be a blessing in disguise for the security personnel of the VIPs.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1995
