Kuldip Singh Wadala is a well-known Sikh leader of Doaba. Until a few years ago, he was associated with the group headed by S.G:P.C. chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra. But, of late, he has joined hands with Prakash Singh Badal against Tohra. These alignments and realignments were not based on any issue, much less on any ideology. However, Wadala is generally credited to be a thinking Sikh who is worried about the fate of the Sikh community in India. From time to time, Wadala has been speaking about the wide spread violations of human rights of Sikhs at the hands of the Indian state, He was the loudest in his condemnation of the abduction and possible murder of Khalra by the Indian authorities.
Wadala visited a number of western countries and spent several weeks interacting with rep resentatives of Sikhs settled abroad. On his return, he sprang a surprise by resigning from all posts he held in the Badal Akali Dal and then criticized the party leadership on several counts, His most important point is that the Akali Dal cannot afford to tum its back on the Sikh struggle for freedom and autonomy notwithstanding the mistakes commit ted in the course of the struggle or the distortions that crept into the movement. Secondly, he dis favors alliance with the BJP which he says is opposed to the demand for autonomy or other demands and rights of Punjab. Never the less, he does not overlook certain pro Sikh measures taken by the BJP governments in Rajasthan, Delhi and elsewhere. Thirdly, Wadala feels that the Akali Dal’s demand for greater autonomy for Punjab has been toned down. In fact, the Akali leader maintains, the Sikhs cannot expect any relief in the country. The Akali leader does not find much ray of hope in so far as the policies of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Akali Dal (Panthic) and would prefer to stay as an ordinary member of the Akali Dal (B) rather than floating a new party of his own.
Wadala’s criticism of Akali Dal (B) and its policies is entirely justified. Alliance with BJP is culmi nation of Badal faction’s anti Sikh policies. It has ceased to be serious about the Anandpur Sahib resolution and is content to raise dust on a little bit of more powers for states. Akali Dal (B) was never sympathetic towards the Sikh struggle much less being its leader or the champion of the cause of Sikh freedom and autonomy. Even on the limited issue of raising pro test over the violation of human rights of Sikhs by the Indian state, the Akali Dal (B) or its leader Prakash Singh Badal never raised their little finger. On the other hand, Badal received donations from police officers responsible for heinous crimes against Sikhs. Wadala’s criticism of other Akali groups has substance. The Akali Dal (Amritsar) is widely perceived to be Mann centric rather than based on Sikh issues, or Sikh principles of collective leader ship. The Panthic group, too, suffers from credibility.
Though what Wadala says is largely correct, he is not right in sitting back and watching the situation. He should carry forward his initiative and do his homework to provide an alternative set of leadership committed to the advancement of Sikh interests and programs. At least, the process of churning should be accelerated so that the Sikhs should stop patronizing the despicable traditions of Akalis and their hollow slogans mainly aimed at satisfying their hunger for personal power. The aim should be to resume the Sikh struggle for freedom prefer ably by democratic and peaceful means after analyzing all the failings and shortcomings of the recent phase. This is the call of the times and it cannot be postponed for long.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1996
