Final Bow: Jasjit Singh Bunny greets Parkash Singh Badal during the bhog of
Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Photo: S. Chandan |
Chhat (Banur), April 5
Jasjit Singh Bunny chose to shun senior leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) by reiterating his decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Patiala as an Independent candidate.
His bombshell to dissociate his entire family from the SAD has shocked those who were hopeful that the “political package the Badals have proposed for assuaging the hurt feelings of Jasjit Singh Bunny would make him reconsider his Friday’s decision”.
But Bunny refused to budge and chose the bhog of his father to part ways with the party that his illustrious father remained associated with all his life.
Witness to his script of dissension were Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab BJP chief Rajinder Bhandari, Congress MP from Patiala Preneet Kaur, almost all members of the Punjab Council of Ministers, Speaker and most members of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, besides SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann, and leaders of other political parties.
The bhog ceremony, which was continuing till its fag end, free from politicking, suddenly garnered heat as Jasjit Singh Bunny rose to express his gratitude to those who stood by the family in its hour of grief.
Slogans eulogising Captain Kanwaljit Singh reverberated the specially raised tented township for the bhog continued as senior SAD, BJP and other political leaders started leaving after Bunny’s brief address.
Though the stage secretary repeatedly reminded speakers at the antim ardas to avoid talking either about the tragic accident or any plan or programme for the rehabilitation or adjustment of the family members of the late Cooperation Minister, oblique suggestions were made to Jasjit Singh Bunny to carry forward works left incomplete by his father.
Sukhbir Singh Badal not only described Capt Kanwaljit Singh a trusted soldier of the SAD as well as of Parkash Singh Badal, but also described Bunny as his younger brother for whom the party would do anything.
Bunny, who spoke immediately after SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal declared him “rightful heir to carry forward his righteous fathers’ legacy”, had the immediate endorsement of a massive gathering of mourners who raised their arms in approval of their support for him in the coming elections.
Parkash Singh Badal said he trusted Capt Kanwaljit Singh so much that in his death he had lost his right arm. He said before inducting Bunny into politics, he wanted to bless him as his “own son” in politics.
In a short span, Bunny, Badal said, had grasped things fast and was emerging as a new leader on the lines of his father. “We would give him important positions as he is very much part of our family,” he added.
Taking the praises showered upon his late father as unctuous, Bunny said he had chosen his path after careful considerations. “Being alone in my endeavour, I seek support of people of Patiala and Banur to fulfil dreams of my father,” he said.
Incidentally, when Bunny reiterated his decision, both Prem Singh Chandumajra and Preneet Kaur, official candidates of SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress, were on the dais.
Bunny said his decision announced on Friday was neither made in haste nor a mistake, but was based on a considerate opinion of all members of the family.
“My mother will contest the Assembly by-election from Banur as an Independent and I will walk from door to door to turn my late fathers’ dream into a reality,” Bunny said.
“My father had a dream and I would work to realise that dream, on my own, by seeking support of the people of our area. Patiala and Banur were his first love,” he said in his brief wrap-up note at the end of the ceremony that left Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, and Rajinder Bhandari, shocked and
bewildered.
It was Simranjit Singh Mann, who while paying tributes to the late minister, said it was now for the family of the late Captain to stand by its “convictions” while carrying forward his good work.
Other leaders, including Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala wanted Parkash Singh Badal to treat the family of Capt Kanwaljit Singh as his own and help shape political future of Bunny. Similarly, several other leaders, including Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh and Sangrur MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, also wanted Bunny to continue and carry forward good name of his late father in the Akali Dal and Punjab politics.
After ragi jatha of Bhai Ravinder Singh recited shlokas (hymns) from Guru Granth sahib for an hour, Bhai Surinder Singh, Head Granthi of Sri Darbar Sahib, performed the ardas. Siropas were presented to Bunny by Jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Kesgarh Sahib, SGPC, SAD, Punjab government, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, SAD (Amritsar), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Grewal Foundation, Punjabi University, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Youth Akali Dal, BJP, Namdharis and the Chhat gurdwara.
