Echoes of Punjab’s troubled past reappear

THE recent bomb blast on the Delhi-Amritsar freight corridor in the Shambhu-Rajpura area in Patiala district, allegedly by a radicalised pro-Khalistani module, along with recent attacks on police stations, signals troubling times ahead. Incidentally, the blast marks the 40th anniversary of the first time that “Khalistan” was declared. Punjab, once among India’s most prosperous and dynamic states, is again at a crossroads, facing a renewed phase of instability.The present situation is the result of the criminal neglect of ruling parties since 1992, when normalcy was restored in the state. Successive governments, including the present one, have failed to address the deep-rooted structural crises that emerged from the Green Revolution as well as terrorist violence from 1978 to 92. Together, these developments disrupted the state’s development trajectory because of the insensitive and irresponsible behaviour of successive governments.At the same time, the unresolved issues of undivided Punjab continued to expose underlying fault lines across political and social spheres, leading to volatile situations.After more than a decade of violence, which demolished the very spirit of Punjab, there was a glimmer of hope that the old glory of the state would be revived when normalcy returned in 1992-93.Punjab and its people have borne the brunt of prolonged instability — due to large-scale killings by both state and non-state actors, involuntary migrations, human rights violations, dysfunctional health, education and panchayati raj systems, flight of industry, draconian laws giving unlimited powers to security forces and bans on political activities for long periods, which paralysed the system as a whole.Ordinary people have suffered the most at the hands of both state and non-state actors. In the terrorism years, the popular reading was that security forces ruled the state during the day and non-state actors, that is, militants at night.The decline of terrorism raised hopes of a durable peace and heralded a new era of warmth and friendliness. Positive signs returned even as unwelcome fringe activities continued. We believed there would be lasting peace.More than 34 years have passed since elected governments have ruled with a clear mandate. But no government has been able to resolve the structural problems that have plagued the state since the 1980s. Though the Beant Singh government, which came to power in 1992, curbed militancy, it was at the cost of serious human rights concerns, corruption and excesses of security forces. When he was assassinated in August 1995, it signalled that peace in the state was fragile.The Assembly elections that followed, in 1997, saw a turnout of 69%. It was for the first time that a non-Congress government -- the SAD-BJP coalition -- completed its full term. The alliance government made many promises to the people. These included, providing justice to the victims of violence; a corruption-free and people-oriented government; and bringing the economy and polity back on track in the state. Instead, it shifted towards populist policies and indiscriminate distribution of freebies.This has become the norm for successive governments, including the present one. The impact of such policies has pushed Punjab to being one of the highest indebted states in India. According to one estimate, the debt liability of the state government is projected at Rs 4.75 lakh crore at the end of the current fiscal year as against Rs 4.17 lakh crore in March 2026. This would be a debt-to-GSDP ratio of over 45%. Such mounting debt severely constrains the state’s developmental capacity.In addition, whenever politics of populism faded, ruling parties have often invoked parochial and religious sentiments to divert public attention from core issues. Some other important features of state politics are: vendetta politics, extra-constitutional halqa in-charges, faction fighting within political parties, a lack of consensus on common issues, and fights over petty issues which often cause public disruptions in policy implementation and administration.The result of such politics has been worsening public distress, religious fanaticism and intolerance and a steady erosion of political credibility and leadership standards.In contrast, the major issues of people in the elections since 1997, as per the pre- and post-poll election studies done in the state by Lokniti, were: socio-economic development, employment, good governance, check on corruption and law and order. But governments have largely neglected these core governance priorities and, instead, brought religious and emotional issues to the centre of their politics.An indifferent education system and illiteracy are conducive factors for regressive forces. According to the 2011 Census, one-fourth of Punjab's population is illiterate; even among the literate, many lack the skills needed to meet contemporary economic challenges. The inability of successive governments to tackle the real issues, the overwhelming role of the bureaucracy, the stagnation and decline of agriculture, centralised party structures, religious issues taking central space in politics, etc, have steadily eroded public trust in institutions and governance.The post-1992 politics in the state led to a rise of religious radicalism and gangsterism, targeted killings, extortions, uncontrolled drug supply, human rights violations, law and order problem, unemployment, migration of youth, rising economic disparities, political vendetta and corruption.Now, the fear of the revival of religious radicalism and its nexus with gangsterism, with global implications, has created a sense of insecurity, particularly in the countryside. Life coming to a standstill after sunset in many rural areas is a reminder of the times of the 1980s and early 1990s.Now the big question is: Can Punjab come out of this vicious cycle of decline and uncertainty? The answer is yes if a pro-people leader / party displays genuine will to resolve the structural issues that have beset the state. Punjab has overcome grave crises before, but recovery now demands political will, not rhetoric.

Echoes of Punjab’s troubled past reappear

The failure to address structural issues has deepened instability over decades

Jagrup Singh Sekhon

Echoes of Punjab’s troubled past reappear

The failure to address structural issues has deepened instability over decades

Jagrup Singh Sekhon

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