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Dera and The Indian State

As the hour of CBI charge-sheet was approaching, Sauda Dera’s activities too doubled up. A so-called open letter to Guru Gobind Singh was released to the media, its contents being largely a repeat of earlier press notes denying any wrong doing; but still apologizing in the interest of peace. The dera head, in an effort to win sympathy of masses and the court, complained that Sikhs were forcing Dalits and Hindus to commit acts of self-immolation. Gurmeet Ram Rahim has administered to thousands his Jaam-e-Insa concoction, yet only Aditya (Arora) Insaan is being projected as the finest specimen of his creation. He is a mouthpiece of Gurmeet Ram who is either expressing his master’s messages as he directly receives, or ineptly communicates to the media about Dera’s views. After four months of stand off between Sikhs and Dera, Aditya’s denial of placing an advertisement in the newspapers has come as a rude shock to all who were involved in conflict resolution. Who did place the advertisement then?  The enquiry may reveal the wider spectrum of secret deal (saudebaazi) with politicians of many shades.

The day Punjab Police performed its ritual of arresting and releasing the dera head in a highly conciliatory situation, there were more than 26,000 followers ready to follow the directions of their master. Dera’s militia did not allow the entire police team to enter the Gufa;  only few policemen were allowed.  It appears as if the dera head’s political links got jammed either due to exaggerated interest of media along with a highly charged campaign of Sikh bodies to arraign him or due to the pressure of UPA allies such as left parties.  On July 31, 2007, the CBI submitted its report of his involvement in rape of Saadhvis and murder cases of a former Dera manager and a journalist.  The dera chief has been directed to be present in the court on August 31.  Only time will tell how CBI will be able to withstand pressure of Congress leadership to indict Gurmeet Ram Rahim in double murder and rape cases.

Dera Sauda controversy was following the same route that was chalked out for it by the con artists, but it backfired; it happened mainly because the ‘information revolution’ at the outset of 21^st century is phenomenal.  Government’s control on media in the 70’s and 80’s deprived the people of the truth behind the scene. The course of the Nirankari confrontation with Sikhs in 1978 had derailed Jayaparkash Narayan’s vision of pluralistic strong India. The turning point in Indian politics lost its charm against staged-up campaign of terrorism and separatism. At the height of melodrama, major political parties rallied round nationalistic goals of defeating terrorism and anti-national activities. Indira Gandhi symbolized bulwark against sedition. Left parties gave up their commitment to uplift the downtrodden and came to the forefront to assist Indira Gandhi in teaching Punjab a lesson. BJP aided and abetted in suppressing the militancy in whatever manner it was possible, even though extrajudicial means had to be used. Splintered groups of old Janta Dal had no choice except to follow Indira Gandhi’s grand design. To the amusement of Congress(I), the Blue Star operation in 1984 had laid the foundation of Congress’s indispensability for two decades. The mutual opposition of all political parties had neutralized in the case of Punjab. Congress had secured secret mandate of all political parties to use torture and trauma to suppress the voice that sought justice within the perimeters of Indian constitution. The bloodshed of several thousand people on both sides of the fence weakened India of freedom fighters’ dreams. The perfidy against Punjab by some hind-sighted Pundits in government of India’s elite agency (Research and Analysis Wing) had demoralized and demonized Sikhs who had earlier defended its borders at times when most others chose to side with the aggressors. The same kind finds now it convenient to act patriotic and condemn Sikhs as separatists.

Dera Sauda controversy has been paying dividends in the manner of magnetizing estranged Hindus to the Congress nucleus.  BJP’s cautious warnings to the four months old Badal government is an expression of nervousness about its eroding base . Professor Rajinder Bhandari’s cries are simply to placate fears of Hindu community. The CPI(M)’s outcry that Badal government is violating the Premis’ right to worship is also to solidify and secure support among Dalits and downtrodden.  The BSP too has an eye on the same bastion. Siding with the Congress is a politically savvy choice of Mayawati to mainly stay in power in the most populated state of India. 

The political history of independent India is replete with glaring examples of irregularities in the electoral process. The indictment of Indira Grandhi by Allahabad High court judgment in 1975 had enraged her so much that she arbitrarily clamped Emergency without even taking her cabinet into confidence.  

In 60 years of independence. Vajpayee is the only non-Congress premier who could complete a five year term. Morarji Desai’s government collapsed in less than two and a half years while the rest of the non-Congress regimes at the Center could not complete even one year. In three years time, India saw six Prime Ministers who struggled to get the honorific by hook and crook.  The statistics prove that Congress specializes in turning the tide against political rivals and using them for ulterior motives. How far other political parties will allow Congress to make them instruments of its design will decide the future of this country. 

Post emergency Congress politics is heavily focused on Punjab. The bugbear of terrorism and Pakistan’s intrusion was the best bet for Indira Gandhi to regain lost power after the Emergency.  Morarji was installed as Prime Minister yet the bureaucracy was still devoted to Indira.  The machinations of intelligence and loyal bureaucrats had planted mines in Janta Dal’s foundation.  The explosion brought Morarji’s government down and the Congress extended unconditional support to Chaudary Charan Singh and his Lok Dal. A single stroke had knocked the JP’s revolution into smithereens.  

The speciality in engineering troubles in hot spots of political relations should be seen in this context: Dera Sauda vs Sikhs; Gujjar vs Mina clashes, and posters of politicians in guise of Hindu gods and goddesses. These may have some common connections to achieve the same goal. Mainstream Hindu and Dalit votes in favor of Congress will erode BJP and BSP base. The Congress Juggernaut has already botched the left movement mainly to West Bengal and Kerala.

When Congress used to have more than two third majority in Lok Sabha, the leader of the party imposed his/her will on the government, legislature and judiciary. The leader was able to justify his/her agenda by giving unilateral explanations. But in days of coalition politics, Pundits have proposed legislation to grant sweeping powers to the Central government to decimate any elected government in states.  If that happens, we will see another phase of undeclared Emergency in the country.  The Commission on Center-State Relations under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India MM Punchi is to reduce states virtually as colonies of the Hindu state.The writ of the Center will run through bureaucrats. The staged up terrorism and sedition will again escalate the fears of 1 billion population.  A radical leader is bound to emerge in such circumstances. The Congress will try to gain popularity by eliminating such a leader and then by enacting itself as the Savior of India. How far this will go? The treacherous design may not succeed always. The change is bound to come that will replace the decadent and degenerated structure with the one that will provide space for all to relish life.

1 August, 2007
 

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