|
Editorial
Waiting for next Sikh PM
 Seventy plus
Manmohan Singh, with his light blue turban, almost as a brand of his
middle of the road political management approach, looks destined to
take over the reigns of the country again. The Bharatiya Janta Party
is almost out of the race, even before it has actually begun. With
the burden of a Saffron agenda and with allies of its alliance in
the NDA falling apart like nine pins, it only has an ever willing
Akali Dal led by Parkash Singh Badal as its key supporter in the
build up to the countdown to become the rulers of the vast
sub-continent called Bharat by the natives and India by the world.
As we go further
in the year, our recall of the past becomes heavier and painful.
Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister is happy news for the Sikhs.
Almost. Manmohan Singh of the Congress party as the key leader of
the country does not instill enthusiasm even twenty five years after
June 1984 and November 1984. Even in the last five years, at the
country level the country may have much to boost, but the Sikhs do
not.
The immaculate
grace, unparalleled dignity, core honesty of Manmohan Singh and the
amazing low profile of his wife and all other members of the family
and the extended family are reasons to make Sikhs happy about
Manmohan Singh’s persona.
India
has not seen in the last sixty years of its existence a person like
him who carries no extra weight around him, literally and
figuratively. His management skills, his fiscal and financial
prowess, and his diplomatic coups –all deserve not only praise but
commendation from Sikhs and everyone else.
Somehow, the
Sikhs cannot go beyond this. The reality byte for Sikhs becomes
harsher on deep analysis. Manmohan Singh is honest, et al is fine.
Does being honest and non-corruptible mean that you have to continue
to make conscious attempts to hide your love, affection and
affiliation with people who consider you a little more on your side
than the average resident of the country? Does one have to always be
holier than thou? Will the Prime Minister in his second term still
be willing to hold on to his reputation sacrificing the interests of
the community he belongs to?
Notwithstanding
a Sikh Prime Minister in the form of Manmohan Singh, Chandigarh is
still not the capital of Punjab, the Rajasansi International Airport
at Amritsar is on the verge of closure as most airlines have flown
out, respect for human rights issues of the Sikhs and other
nationalities which should have been another feather on the turban
of the man the country adored when he was in hospital recently has
not even been touched in the last five years. Substantive issues of
discrimination against the state of Punjab on the waters front
continue. Justice of victims of the barbaric country-wide pogrom in
November 1984 is still a cry. Artefacts and heritage items looted by
the Indian army from Darbar Sahib in June 1984 lie in gunny bags in
some warehouse of the country as the present Defence Minister
retracts from what has been earlier stated in the Indian Parliament.
The French government continues to mock at the turban despite
defence deals and entente between the countries. Bollywood continues
to rattle the Sikhs ad nauseam.
At one level the
Sikhs may be happy to see the turban amongst the world leaders.
Decline of hatred against Sikhs will be another advantage. However,
deep down in its consciousness, Sikhs need to heed the warnings of
Sirdar Kapur Singh. The destiny of the Sikh nation cannot be wrested
from the Khalsa Panth by symbolism alone.
11
March 2009
|
Read Also