What sort of democracy has Beant Singh brought back to Punjab? If the treatment meted Out to Arjun Singh by Congressmen at Ludhiana were to be taken as a sample, there is very little for ‘the people to be enthused about. “Only a month ago, the stale government prevented Parkash Singh Badal from organizing a meeting in Jalandhar. In the name of security, efforts by opposition groups {0 gather crowds are routinely thwarted. But Sunday’s incident “at Ludhiana is not a show of intolerance to the opposition but of Congressmen’s skill in stifling dissent within the party by brute force. Arjun Singh has long been identified as the principal dissident within the Congress and Beant Singh is one of the pillars of support to Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. What better way to show it off than to prevent Arjun Singh from even addressing a seminar which had nothing to do with the Congress party or the government’s policies? Obviously, there was a premeditated plan to disrupt the proceedings and hijack the platform. There were slogans supporting Beant Singh and condemning the dissident MP, Jagmeet Singh Brar. In the manner of a coup local Congress leaders and their followers occupied the venue of the seminar, filled the hall and Left no place for the organizers and the invitees. The police, as always under such circumstances, remained a passive observer.
Congressmen being Congressmen,, a crude show of aggressive intent against dissidence was to be expected. But the Ludhiana episode hints at connivance of the sauté’s top leadership at the disruptive activity, Beant Singh should unequivocally condemn the behavior of the party men and should apologize to Arjun Singh for the manner in which local Congressmen had insulted one of the party’s senior most leaders. What is even more worrisome is the clear exhibition of intolerance by the ruling party to opposition activity of any sort. This flies in the face of Beant Singh’s of repeated boast of having reactivated democratic institutions in Punjab. Yes, he has done this; but he continues to rely on police power. Instead of encouraging political forces to have free play to strengthen the atmosphere of freedom and democracy, Beant Singh seems to believe in rule by the police “danda”, He does not need it. The people of Punjab do look up to him as the head of a responsible and responsive government.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 14, 1993
