The shooting comes at a time when the spotlight is on the Shiromani Akali Dal, amidst interventions by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs.
Dec 6, 2024 04:30 IST First published on: Dec 6, 2024 at 04:30 IST
The assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal by a former militant, who had crossed over to Pakistan during the height of unrest in Punjab, has rekindled memories of the state’s darkest days. Strikingly, the incident occurred at the very spot where a deputy inspector general of the Punjab Police was killed in 1983. While today’s ground reality is vastly different, with scarcely any popular support for separatist elements, the need for caution cannot be understated. Unfortunately, the incident has fuelled conspiracy theories, with both the Opposition and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party indulging in blame games. What is urgently required is an impartial investigation. Political parties must resist the temptation to exploit this moment of reckoning for the state for narrow gains.
The shooting comes at a time when the spotlight is on the Shiromani Akali Dal, amidst interventions by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs. India’s oldest party, which historically served as a moderating force in panthic politics, finds itself on the back foot. Its diminishing influence was evident in the Lok Sabha elections, when two candidates with extremist leanings were elected to Parliament. While optimists see promise in the Akal Takht’s efforts to reform the party, the path to revival is fraught with challenges. Sukhbir Singh Badal’s admission of guilt in response to the Akal Takht jathedar’s pointed questions on sacrilege and controversial police appointments may have satisfied some people but it also seems to have emboldened hardliners.
Once a leader in economic performance, Punjab has slid badly over the past two decades. A sense of hopelessness among its youth has triggered a massive exodus out of the state. The agrarian crisis culminated in one of the longest farmers’ agitations at Delhi’s borders, and another agitation looms. Adding to these woes are unresolved emotive issues, such as the division of river waters and the demand for a separate capital — issues central to the Dharam Yudh Morcha once spearheaded by the Akalis before it was hijacked by the extremist forces. These unresolved matters, often co-opted by radical elements, continue to reopen old wounds. Other sensitive matters, such as the release of Sikh political prisoners and control over Sikh shrines, further inflame tensions and provide fodder for hardliners. Punjab’s many fault lines demand not just acknowledgement but closure. While well-wishers hope for the Akali Dal to reclaim a moderate space in panthic politics, both the state and the Centre must set aside politicking to address the state’s sensitive issues with care. The focus must shift towards fostering industrial growth, creating jobs and enabling farmers to adopt sustainable and profitable agricultural practices. Though ambitious, these goals are achievable with concerted effort. Both the state and the Centre must remember that Punjab cannot afford a relapse into extremism.
