DEAR EDITOR:
PRESIDENT’S RULE IN PUNJAB & HARYANA ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
Notwithstanding the Sikhs generally were neither surprised nor particularly dismayed over the President’s current rule in Punjab, the Hindu majority may have been much disappointed that the killing rate has subsequently not eased at all; and the Rajiv government must have been greatly aggrieved that the sole purpose for which the duly elected puppet Barnala government was dislodged, has been totally defeated in recent Haryana Assembly elections. Incidentally, the main purpose of the President’s direct rule was:
- to make room for Military/Police Rule. b. to announce the Eradi Commision report, favoring Haryana and c. synchronizing killing of fence ‘less Muslims in Maliana (Meerut) with the help of PAC palatoon, in the name of communal settlement, in connection with the Babari Masjidall to win over appreciation of the Hindu Janata. Happily, however, the majority masses seem to have begun learning politicians’ gimmicks aimed at buying their votes with empty slogans and false promises.
The crux of the matter is that Punjab problem being essentially political; it is being wrongly recognized by Rajiv like his mother, as a “communal” crisis and is being ipso facto tackled as merely “Law and Order” issue purposely to delay the settlement in order to gain time to serve their term, simply for their selfish gains. Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, by not honoring even an iota of Longowal/Rajiv accord has deprived himself of the much needed public confidence; and earned “Discred it” for himself and the Congress by yielding to the pressure of the “Fundamentalist” Arya Smajists and allied Hindus. The “Secularistic character of the “constitution” is now only on paper than in practice. As against less than a dozen “Communal Organizations” in the country, in 1951, there are over 500 today, with an active membership exceeding many millions, including Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, retired judges, Ex L.P.S. ILA.S. and army officers. Many politicians, businessmen and notorious “criminals” are amongst those who are proudly enjoying the leadership and respectability nationwide. The “Secularism” in the country has, in effect, been completely replaced by Hindu chauvinism, and the whole governmental system, oblivious to the actual needs of a multicultural and multi religious country, has plunged in to a complete chaos and disarray. Although “insolvency” of sincere and capable leadership all over the country is an indisputable fact, for a long time, it is appalling that they can stoop down to the meanest level of causing genocide, carnage and massacre in the name of “communal upheaval, to win public confidence and sympathy to stabilize their “Seats of Power”, necessitating Public Griminal prosecution, if ever possible, “Mr. Clean” should now better be named “Mr. Soiled”.
Mr. J. Ribeiro might bring in peace, by dint of superior gun power, momentarily; but to usher durable amity, any solution bereft of “fair play” and political ingredients is destined to end up in utter failure. Careless, wrong diagnosis, and prolonged maltreatment is fraught with fatal consequences and “Khalistan” may eventually become inevitability.
Narendra Singh
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1987
