Superstition echoes in House

A resolution moved by BJP MLA Som Parkash, seeking the enactment of a law in Punjab on the pattern of Maharashtra to prevent exploitation of the masses due to superstition and black magic, opened a can of worms during the ongoing Budget session in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday. Cutting across party lines, the Vidhan Sabha members agreed that tough action should be taken against the charlatans who were propagating irrational beliefs and befooling mostly illiterate and poor people. However, they could not resist the temptation of revealing each other’s secrets in the House.

An Akali MLA took potshots at a minister for changing the direction of his houses on the advice of astrologers; he targeted another minister for holding havans. The ruling Congress, in turn, accused the rivals’ top brass of wearing rings studded with special stones for good luck. There was another verbal duel between legislators of the two parties over wearing amulets and consulting priests. The slanging match nipped in the bud what could have been a meaningful discussion on social evils. The urgency of formulating an action plan to deal with the menace was lost in the din.

It is common knowledge that the state’s politicians frequent deras, especially during election time, as these are perceived as major vote banks. The sect heads largely owe their clout to political patronage, even though their electoral influence has waxed and waned over the years. In 2017, Akal Takht had handed out tankha (religious punishment) to about 40 Sikh leaders of the SAD, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party for seeking the support of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda ahead of the Assembly elections. With another election coming up, it won’t be a surprise if desperate attempts are made again to woo various deras, though this might be done more discreetly than before. It’s unfortunate that some elected representatives have no qualms about going the superstitious way. They are sending out a wrong message by shunning a rational and progressive approach. There is no room for scientific temper under these circumstances, unless the leaders act responsibly and show the way to the masses.