Sirsa dera vote bank drew netas in droves

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 26

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s huge following has been attracting political parties in Punjab over the past over a decade, be it the SAD, BJP, the Congress or AAP. Politicians keep making a beeline to the dera to tap the 4-5 crore-strong vote bank.

The Sirsa-based dera, founded in 1948, stayed apolitical for over half a century. However, in the 2002 Assembly polls, its covert support helped the Congress return to power. The sect then launched a 45-member Political Affairs Wing (PAW) to “advise” followers on their political and electoral choices.

In the 2007 Assembly elections, the dera openly backed the Congress. Its sizeable vote bank in at least 40 of Malwa’s 69 segments played a key role as the party won 37 seats in the region against 29 bagged by the SAD-BJP alliance. However, the Congress failed to retain power as it was virtually routed in Doaba and Majha.

A couple of months after the SAD-BJP government took over,  Ram Rahim kicked up a row when he allegedly imitated Guru Gobind Singh during a congregation at the Salabatpura centre in Bathinda on May 13, 2007. The controversy sparked violence between Premis and Sikhs, prompting the Akal Takht to pass a ‘hukumnama’ (edict) against the dera. In a Panthic move, the then ruling SAD launched a tirade against Ram Rahim.

Political exigency forced the SAD to mend fences with the dera in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Its mediators convinced the sect management to extend support to SAD candidates Harsimrat Badal  and Paramjit Gulshan. The dera’s PAW shrewdly played it safe by backing Congress candidates as well. 

During the 2012 Assembly polls, the sect again walked a tightrope by supporting select candidates instead of political parties.

Sources said the dera supported the BJP in the 2014 Haryana polls after a “bargain” that the SAD would secure pardon for Ram Rahim from the Akal Takht. The Sikh clergy pardoned the dera chief in 2015, but the backlash from the community forced it to revoke the decision.

Prior to this year’s Assembly elections, Akali and Congress leaders wooed the dera for votes. AAP candidates were no different as Malkeet Thind and Narinder Sandha paid a visit to the dera.

The sect decided to back the SAD-BJP alliance, but it didn’t make much difference as the Congress recorded a thumping victory, bagging 77 seats out of 117.

It’s for the party high command to decide on seeking votes from deras. Considering the prevailing scenario, the day is not far when parties will avoid reaching out to the deras. As the CM, I won’t allow violence by any sect in the state

Capt Amarinder Singh, CM

It’s wrong to blame the state govt for the mayhem. Dera followers are blind in their faith, so the situation needed tactful handling. Faith is a very sensitive issue. There are many decisions taken by the govt that are never made public.

Kamal Sharma, former state BJP chief

I make a fervent appeal to the people of Punjab and other states to maintain peace at all costs. No religion preaches violence and all gurus and prophets have sent out a message of peace and communal harmony. 

Parkash Singh Badal, EX-CM

I remained associated with the dera for about two decades, but stopped going there over a year ago after I opposed the activities of the sect’s political wing. I had questioned why this supposedly religious place had such a wing. 

Master Baldev Singh, AAP MLA