CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: Political parties have
rarely bothered about a construct as abstract as scruples,
particularly when elections are around the corner. So the 500th
birth anniversary of a great human being, who had the privilege of
being blessed by six Sikh Gurus, is also now a subject to be
encashed politically. A man who led an ideal Sikh life for more than
a hundred years, and who was such a sage that he was called Baba
Budha Ji even when he was very young, is currently the subject of
politically volatile rallies being held by the Punjab politicians.
On October 24 and 25, the SGPC planned mega functions to mark the
500th birth anniversary of the great human being at Kathunangal in
Amritsar where Baba Ji was born to Bhai Sugha in 1506. Politics was
woven into the subtext.
Immediately, Akali Dal (Amritsar) president
Simranjit Singh Mann announced that he would definitely go to
Kathunangal. “If Prakash Singh Badal can address the sangat from the
SGPC stage, why can’t I?” he asked. No one in the Akali Dal has an
answer, but they have a task force. One only hopes the occasion does
not yield ugly scenes. On its part, Akalis will be turning the event
into triply filtered politics. The Kathunangal event, instead of
triggering humility, is a readymade occasion for show of some
strength for Bikramjit Singh Majithia, brother-in-law of Sukhbir
Singh Badal and and hopeful to make a debut in Punjab politics in
the coming elections. He expects to corner the Akali Dal ticket from
Majitha constituency this time and using Baba Budha ji’s birth
anniversary celebrations poses little scruple.
The ruling Congress, with the local leader S S
Kathunangal, currently an MLA in the Punjab Assembly, is planning
its own parallel show. Since the event is following close on the
heels of the Akali Dal rally in Chandigarh, a talk of the town event
because of the numbers it attracted, both sides will be trying to
make sure that the shows match. Badal has extended invitations to
Haryana’s former CM and his friend Om Prakash Chautala besides
cricketer-turned-politico Navjot Sidhu. The Akali Dal (Amritsar) has
alleged that SGPC funds were being used for religious functions
which were being virtually converted into political rallies for the
benefit of the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Badal. Amid this political
cacophony, what is likely to be lost are the lessons the Sikh nation
should be learning from the life of the great Baba Budha ji who was
always called upon during his lifetime whenever the Guruship was
passed on to the next successor.
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