Speaking at an election rally in Tamil Nadu, Rajiv Gandhi very emphatically declared that he was determined to seek early resolution of the ticklish Punjab problem. Election rally statements are seldom taken seriously. It is recognized that in their anxiety to capture the popular imagination, even well-intentioned leaders are sometimes swayed to play to the gallery and make wild promises. Political analysts invariably dismiss such pronouncements as attractive fireworks that momentarily blaze across the skies, and then, disappear into oblivion. Rajiv Gandhi’s statement, in the context of his reputation, is being treated as another hollow gas balloon. His credibility with the Sikhs was seriously fractured when he had ordered the general massacre of the Sikhs immediately after assuming the reigns of power on October 31, 1984. It was permanently damaged when the whole truth came to light that his accord with Longowal was a big hoax, a practical prank played to further humiliate the Sikhs.

Whatever Rajiv Gandhi may say or do now, he will not anymore be able to deceive anybody about his deep-seated hatred for the Sikhs. Each of his moves is motivated by an overwhelming passion for vendetta. He has never been serious about solving the Punjab problem. He successfully used it for promoting his electoral prospects and intends to use it again for the same purpose. But he is not sure if his old trick will produce the desired results. Some of his advisors have suggested to him a different approach. They believe that an all-out suppression of the Sikhs may recoil and may also accelerate dismemberment of the Punjab from the Indian Union.

They want him to stop thinking in terms of manipulating Congress (I) government in the Punjab. They argue that, in the given situation, such a step would straight away push even these called moderate leadership into the lap of the freedom fighters and Delhi would find itself incapable of meeting the challenge of this formidable combine.

They seem to have persuaded Rajiv to hand over power to pliable Akalis who can be used to neutralize the freedom fighters. The old strategy of dividing the Akalis has proved counterproductive; they are therefore, trying to bring different Akali factions together. They have realized that divisions among the Akalis only serve to strengthen the freedom fighters.

The recent developments in the Punjab and the frantic efforts by all shades of Akalis to forge unity among them clearly show that Rajiv has taken some Akali leaders into confidence and assured them that he will hold elections in Punjab sometimes in MayJune this year provided all the Akalis join together on one platform. He feels that a united Akali party will emerge as an acceptable alternative to the present remote-control rule from Delhi and the Sikh masses will throng to vote for it as they did in September 1985.

His advisors calculate that establishment of a popular government in Punjab will ‘considerably boost Rajiv’s chances of winning the next general elections. His visits to China and Pakistan are being projected by the government controlled media as masterstrokes of his foreign policy. A comparative peace in the Punjab, which they anticipate will follow the formation of Akali government, will be interpreted as a remarkable example of his competence and statesmanship. It will be said that he saved the country from sure disintegration. This is the drama that Rajiv is planning to enact. He is conscious of one serious snag in the script. He does not know how the freedom fighters will respond to this strategy. He would like them to boycott the election as it would pave the way for an easy Akali victory.

Every conceivable mean will be used to reenact the 1985 story. It is a situation which requires a tremendous political finesse to keep the Sikh movement on the right track. The farsightedness shown by the freedom fighters in dealing with the attempt to hold panchayat elections is something over which Delhi is both worried and nervous. It is also worried on account of the broad unity that has emerged among the major freedom fighting organizations. Unlike Akalis, the freedom fighters have no selfish axe to grind and are prepared of stake their lives for the liberation of the Sikh nation. The freedom fighters now need to develop a strong political nucleus headed by an effective leadership that can thwart the insidious moves of Delhi and its pawns in Punjab.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 27, 1989