Akalis at crossroads over citizenship Act

Debate on within party as Takht calls for inclusion of Muslims

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

The Akali Dal finds caught between the devil and the blue sea on the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

While the party had voted in favour of the Bill in both houses, with an advice that Muslims should be included in the provisions for citizenship, intense deliberations are on in the party to take a stronger stand now in support of the secular image of the country.

A renewed stand by the party looks possible since Akal Takht Jathedar Harpreet Singh also criticised the Act, calling for inclusion of Muslims.

The party wants to maintain its stance that it stands for communal harmony in the country. Party patriarch Parkash Singh Badal has claimed many times in the past that maintaining communal harmony in Punjab during his tenure as chief minister was his main achievement.

Party insiders said the Act was the subject of discussion at the formal and informal meetings, besides the Whatsapp group where majority of the leaders are asking for taking a stand against the Act.

It is argued that though the party had supported the Act as Afghan Sikh migrants settled in Punjab would be the beneficiaries, it was now deliberating to sacrifice own interests for the sake of secularism in the country.

“Party president Sukhbir Badal spoke in Parliament for inclusion of the Muslims. We are looking at the issue in the backdrop of violent protests and alienation felt by Muslims,” a top leader said.

Party spokesperson Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema explained that the Act would benefit nearly 70,000 Sikhs, who had migrated mainly from Afghanistan, besides Pakistan and Bangladesh. We want inclusion of Muslims like the Ahmadiyyas who have faced religious prosecution in Pakistan,” he said, adding that the party would remain part of the NDA, but would raise the issue again.

Prem Singh Chandumajra said there was no harm in including Muslims as the number would in any case be very small. “How many Muslims do you think would have left the three Muslim-majority countries?” he asked

Leaders privy to the deliberations said the party’s stand was crucial as its image was affected due to sacrilege incidents, rebellion by Taksali leaders and party’s failure to stand up against the alliance partner. It is being discussed that whether the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Cabinet in favour of a secular India would be a right decision at this juncture.