CHANDIGARH: The elimination of some of the senior pro Khalistan militant leaders by the Indian security forces has come as a boon to traditional Akalis who are girding their loins to return to Indian national mainstream.
The joint front of six “Panthic organizations” which includes all traditional Akali and student federation 0n groups has already given a call for fighting the forthcoming municipal committee elections. All these parties had responded to militants call for the boycott of the February 1992 election to the State Assembly as well as to elect 13 members to the Indian Lok Sabha. The ground cited then was that the parties were in favor of Khalistan and that they were determined not to occupy officers under the present Constitution.
The so-called Panthic organizations recently passed a resolution favoring participation in the elections to the urban local bodies. Political parties in the past never put up their official candidates for the urban local bodies but the Akali decision suddenly evoked interest from the ruling party which said it was putting up its own candidates.
The Akali resolution sent a powerful message to the Indian authorities that left to themselves Akalis would rejoin the Indian mainstream. Parkash Singh Badal one of the most heavily guarded Akali politicians by the Indian security forces publicly said that the February boycott was a protest action and that the boycott was not for ever to be resorted to
At the moment almost all Akali groups are preparing the ground for anti-militant unity to break the barrier of boycott as and when the occasion arises for them to strike a bargain with Delhi. This necessarily means that no Akali group will respond to militants call for anti-India unity.
For instance in the recent past Bhai Daljit Singh had issued a call for unity of all student federation As soon as his initiative started bearing fruit the Indian authorities released Bhai Manjit Singh from jail who virtually lived up to the expectations of Delhi to frustrate Bhai Daljit Singhs unity proposals Initially Bhai Manjit Singh had shown his apparent willingness to unite with other groups but subsequently he reneged on the idea. All office bearers of the A.I.S.S.F had submitted their resignations Bhai Manjit Singh. But he refrained from dissolving the A.I.S.S.F. With the new proposal of launching a political party headed by Bhai Manjit Singh simultaneous maneuvers is on to keep the A.I.S.S.F. also intact to feed the party.
Meanwhile Jagdev Singh Talwandi has also revived his Akali Dal. He also talks of repression of Sikhs by the Indian government.
The emergence of Manjit Singh and Talwandi with their own Akali Dals and Parkash Singh Badals campaign to hold district level rallies of his party’s workers appear to be aimed at strengthening their bargaining power vis a vis the eventual proposal to float a new unified Akali Dal. Such an Akali Dal will mouth militant slogans but the core of its policy will be anti-militant This is the scenario that is emerging in Punjab The traditional Akali leaders are aware of the fact that militants find great acceptance among the masses because of their sacrifices. While they will raise pro-militant slogans the main thrust of the Akalis will be On returning to the Indian national mainstream.
The only unpredictable factor in the situation is the revival of militancy even on a reduced scale In that event the Akalis will be compelled to take time.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1992
