LUDHIANA: Has the Union Minister of State for Home. Mr Subhodh Kant Sahay, been encouraged to contest the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency by a remote combination consisting on one hand the Congress (I) and on the other A.I.S.S.F (Manjit Singh)

Speculation is rife in political circles about the sudden plunge taken by the Union Minister in Punjab’s electoral politics. It may be recalled that the Akali Dal (Badal) had inducted Mr Devi Lal in the 1989 parliamentary election from the Ferozepore seat. The Haryana leader had, of course, suffered a humiliating defeat and had ranked fourth and the seat had gone to a non-party Sikh.

The Ludhiana seat provided a fresh opportunity to contestants following the killing of Akali Dal (Panthic) candidate Skattar Singh Pandori and Mr Sahay has suddenly come on the scene presumably because he has not done ‘well in his Ranchi constituency where the poll was held on May 19 but no counting of votes has taken place.

Mr Sahay’s decision appears to be linked to the secret talks the PM had with the so called coordination committee headed by former I.A.S officer Gurtej Singh “on resolving the Sikh and Punjab problem”. This initiative had the blessing of the A.I.S.S.F. (Manjit) and, perhaps, indirectly, even the Panthic committee associated with Baba Manochahal.

A dissident A.I.S.S.F, group had some time ago walked out of the parent body alleging that Bhai Manjit Singh was a government of India agent and that substantial money had passed hands in the process so much so that the group had even accused the official A.I.S.S.F leaders of travelling in a special plane with Mr Sahay.

Mr Sahay has now denied that the Centre had given Rs 2 crore to the A.I.S.S.F. (Manjit), an allegation also voiced some time ago by Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann,

Whatever the worth of these allegations and counter allegations the fact remains that the deal between the coordination committee and the Samajwadi Janata Party leadership included the reservation of a few Lok Sabha seats for the latter Mr Shekhar could not give effect to this aspect of the deal presumably because of the adverse reactions it is likely to lead to elsewhere in the country.

Now, it seem, in the changed circumstances thePrime Minster does not fear any adverse effect on the prospects of his candidates if Mr Sahay is fielded from Punjab.

The Ludhiana candidates already in the field include those belonging to Akali Dai (Mann), Akali Dal (Badal) and A.I.S.S.F. (Manjit), Also in the field is a candidate of the B.J.P. There is no Congress (I) candidate which is boycotting the election.

In view of the presence of a B.J.P man in the contest, it is obvious that the Union Minister is banking on the Sikh votes, more particularly those belonging to the Manjit group. It will become evident in the next few days to what extent is Mr Sahay’s dependence on the A.I.S.S.F justified. Will the Manjit candidate Mr Nirmal Singh be released from jail to make him ineffective in the eyes of the electorate is a question in the minds of many.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Punjab Human Rights Organisation said that Mr Sahay could expect.no support from the people of Punjab as he was instrumental in perpetuating Congress (I)’s oppressive Punjab policy. If anything spokesman added, the old policy had been run in a more subtle manner and there had been more per day killings of the Sikh youths during the Chander Shekhar regime than any other regime in the past. In fact, the day Mr Sahay filed his nomination papers he presented to the people of Punjab 21 Sikh dead bodies. Any vote for Mr Sahay, the PHRO said, would mean a vote to this man slaughter, a vote to false encounters and a vote to Brigadier Sinha whose utterances and actions were never disowned by Mr Sahay.

The PHRO asked the people of Ludhiana parliamentary constituency to ensure that Mr Sahay was not only defeated but his security was forfeited.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 31, 1991