CHANDIGARH: While India’s election commission has still to notify its poll plan for Punjab major Sikh groups program of boycott is expected to be a massive success according to political observers.
Almost all armed groups such as Panthic committees associated with Dr.Sohan Singh and Baba Wassan Singh and other militant groups are firmly in favour of the boy cot indications are that the committee associated with Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal 100 i inclined not to join the electoral fray. Indicative of this changed stand is the participation of A.I.S.S.F. chief Manjit Singh in the Akali leaders conclave at Chandigarh last week.
The only Akali group which has still to fall in line with the other factions on the boycott issue is the one headed by Kabul Singh. This group was earlier headed by Surjit Singh Barnala Kabul Singh’s group recently joined hands with Capt. Amarinder Singh to form a single entity. Delhi is reported to be encouraging this group to contest the election. It is even suggested that Congress (I) and tis Akali group will form a coalition government. Indian authorities aim at giving an impression of Sikh participation in “democratic process”
in Punjab by making either Amarinder Singh or Captain Kanwaljit Singh chief minister is believed that Captain Kanwaljit Singh and his colleagues are these days engaged in behind the scenes negotiations with the Center on sharing of seats and the possible shape of things after the election as also to settle the post poll political arrangements. In public an impression has been allowed to go that the erstwhile Longowal faction has still he finalize its attitude towards the election.
However militant groups are keeping a watch on the Longowal group’s moves.
The latter is also said to be under the influence of Parkash Singh Badal who told his friend’s recently that he could persuade the Barnala faction to boycott the poll. In their words it could be surmised that the Longowalmens decision to contest the election if taken may have Badals secret blessings.
According to militant circles they are in a position now to enforce the election boycott nearly successfully. They had decided in favour of boycotting the poll even in 1985 but that move had not succeeded. The militants then were a disunited lot.
There are now an organized force to reckon with The success of a bandh call on January 7 although on limited matter of civil rights of two Babbar Akali Dal workers is viewed as a testimony of the united force of the militants and Akalis. The bandh proved a big success in villages and small towns and a partial success in big cities. This was despite the presence of half million strong Indian army in Punjab.
The militants appear to be in no need to tolerate electioneering or voting and they made their intentions known when early this week they mowed down 20 Hindu workers at Kharar in Ropar district and Kupp Kalan in Sangrar district In addition a others were injured. A clear message seems to have been sent to the Hindu population that they would have to pay a heavy price for cooperation with India on the election issue.
According t0 calculations of Sikh groups the poll boycott will affect about 80% of the electorate 0 render the outcome shorn of legitimacy. But the Indian government appears equally determined to counter the militant moves and ensure an impressive turnout of voting on the polling . But India has still to cross hurdle that not so far notified the poll program.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1992
