Punjab in the grip of crisis

  IT is unfortunate that on the eve of the tercentenary of the Khalsa unsavoury controversies have engulfed the Akali Dal, the SGPC and Akal Takht. This unprecedented crisis has raised a few pertinent issues that call for a serious introspective look.

The story of SAD’s (Shiromani Akali Dal) recent performance is a sad drama enacted by erring politicians, the most disturbing phenomenon being the decline of the institutions. There has been glaring discrepancies and inconsistencies between the political ideals of the Akali Dal and the political practice of its leaders. They have sacrificed the vital interests of the Panth and the state for their own vested interests.

Once elected to power, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal completely overlooked the socio-political demands of the state and, under the influence of the BJP, did not fulfil his promise to look into the gross human rights violations and bloodshed perpetrated in the state in the name of restoring law and order. While the BJP leadership carried on with its aggressive agenda and failed to change its perception on Punjab, Mr Badal strained every nerve to toe the BJP line, even at the cost of vital interests.

The Akali-BJP government has failed on all fronts. The state is in the throes of a great financial crisis. The fortunes of the Punjab peasantry, supposed to be the backbone of the Akali Dal, are at the lowest ebb. There is acute disillusionment, disenchantment and cynicism in the Punjab countryside, as is evident from a large number of suicides committed by farmers, on account of rural indebtedness and lack of employment opportunities. It is a slur on the Akali Dal, which claims to represent the peasantry. There is growing alienation among the masses due to rampant corruption, nepotism, unemployment and non-governance. The tendency to promote dynastic rule has made matters still worse.

The foremost function of the SGPC should be to look after the religious affairs of the Panth and the management of the gurdwaras. The President of the SGPC should not hold any other office. But Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who has been at the helm of affairs of the SGPC for the last quarter of a century, has done more harm than good to the religious fibre of the Sikhs. The manner in which he uses religious platforms to settle his political scores with his rivals has caused much harm to the Sikh ethos.

At this grave juncture the Sikh intelligentsia should rise to the occasion, call a spade a spade and boost the morale of the Sikh community. It will be in the fitness of things if a 21- member Panthic Council consisting of intellectuals, religious personalities and representatives of the Sikh organisations from India and abroad could be formed to provide direction to the erring leadership. There is a desperate need to restore the pristine glory of Akal Takht, the SGPC and the Akali Dal as institutions are more important than individuals.

(Prof) G.S. DHILLON
Chandigarh

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Mishap: guilty identified

Apropos of the news-item captioned "Tempo rams into train: 2 killed", published on 12.12.98, the enquiry into the incident as mentioned has been completed on schedule, and the guilty has been identified. Departmental action has also been initiated against him. Compensation to the victims has been paid as per the rules.

CHANDRALEKHA MUKHERJEE
Chief PRO, Northern Railway,
New Delhi

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No end to Akali infighting

Much is said and read in the newspapers about the unending differences among Akali leaders. These are not new. In the past too "misls" also fought among themselves, and finally Maha Singh overpowered them and the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh came. An era of goodwill prevailed. After his death, there was mistrust among the Sikh generals and everything was lost.

Though religion and politics go jointly in Sikhism, religion should get precedence.

SHER SINGH
Ludhiana

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Justice Ahmadi's concern

Apropos of former Chief Justice of India A.M. Ahmadi's concern at not only deteriorating law and order but also the decline of values in everyday life (The Tribune Feb 1), I must say that every word that he has said has touched me. He has very rightly mentioned the unfortunate events, from destroying the cricket pitch to the burning of the missionary and his two sons in a jeep. And, all this is happening 50 years after we won the freedom for the country.

UJAGAR SINGH
Chandigarh