To save his tottering government, Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala resorted to the worst form of spoils system. In g climate of shifting loyalties, he has made a desperate ion by rewarding almost each and every Akali legislator. Besides twenty-nine Ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries, eight legislators have been appointed as Chairmen of. Various State Corporations. Out of a total of forty-five Akali M.L.A’s thirty-nine have been given privileged and lucrative positions. Promise of Cabinet expansion has been held out to the remaining six.
In the wretched game of political corruption, Mr. Barnala has surpassed the notorious deeds of his neighboring Chief Minister, Mr. Bhajan Lal, who had defected along with his entire cabinet from the Janata Party to join Congress (I) to avoid dissolution of the Assembly by Late Indira Gandhi. So far Mr. Bhajan Lal had the dubious distinction of ruling purely through corruption and bribery. Mr. Barnala has now established a new record by having an unadulterated band of mercenaries.
The disgusting drama being enacted by Barnala-Balwant Combine is a shameless exhibition of greed in which principles, ideological commitments, religious obligations, democratic trains or norms of elementary political morality stand reduced to irrelevant and out-dated aberrations.
Mr. Barnala’s ordering of Para-military troops into the Golden ‘Temple demonstrates his scant regard both for its sanctity and for the Sikh sentiments. It also confirms the prevalent impression that the June, 1984 Indian Army attack had the tacit approval of the Combine. They were, undoubtedly, privy to the conspiracy of physically eliminating Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Like a bird of prey, Delhi now is all poised to feast on the resources of Punjab to further impoverish its peasantry. First the river water sand hydro-electric power would be robbed under the cover of transferring Chandigarh to Punjab. Agricultural production would be the next causality; Barnala-Balwant Combine would play up the transfer of Chandigarh through the State controlled media to deceive the Sikh masses and to boost up their fading credibility.
Sikhs have suffered too long at the hands of scheming traitors. They must now learn to be less magnanimous towards all such degenerates. They must, in unmistakable terms, make it clear that the old game won’t work. That they mean business straight, down to earth business. That no dilatory trick or deceptive garb would be tolerated or condoned any more.
The dissidents led by S. Parkash Singh Badal have partially redeemed themselves by voicing their protest against the unpardonable sin committed by Barnala in sending forces into the Golden. ‘Temple. Their track-record, however, is not very complimentary. They will have to re-establish their credentials with the Sikh masses that have been pushed to a point of no return by Brahmin-Bania ‘Combine of Delhi. Chair-hungry self-seekers can ignore Operation Bluestar and November, 1984 Sikh massacre. Men of conscience can never reconcile with these outrageous in Sufis and indignities. Today no leader can hope to survive long who cannot march in step with Sikh aspirations. Sikhs are determined to shake off the cursed yoke and preserve their distinct identity whatever be the cost and howsoever long be the struggle. Mr. Badal and his colleagues must recognize this reality if they really wish to re-align themselves with the ongoing movement.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 16, 1986
