Jagtar Singh
The Akal Takht, the supreme religio-political
institution of the Sikhs for prayer and politics, has confronted the design of the Rashtrya
Swayamsewak Sangh in Punjab, the next target after Jammu and Kashmir under its
homogenisation agenda.
Its acting Jathedar
Giani Harpreet Singh attacking this parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party at this juncture is multi-dimensional. He yesterday reiterated
that this Hindutva organisation is divisive.
He is the only leader of a powerful minority institution who
has directly confronted this organisation.
But then this attack is in consonance with the edict issued
from this institution against the RSS and its Sikh front Rashtriya Sikh Sangat
in 2004. The Akali Dal was then also in alliance with the BJP whose parent body
is RSS.
Technicalities might be different but the Akali Dal’s
alliance with the BJP violates the very spirit of the 2004 edict. Jathedar Harpreet
Singh, the researcher in religious studies who is now acting head of this
supreme Sikh institution for prayer and politics, has attacked the Hinduvta
mother organisation in the framework of that Hukamnama that calls upon the
Sikhs to boycott this ‘anti-Panthic’ organisation.
The efforts over the years by the RSS to get this edict
withdrawn have failed.
The Jathedar demanding a ban on the RSS while terming it as
divisive has not only triggered tremors in the religio-political circles but
has come at the time when this Hindutva organisation is virtually in
unchallenging role with the BJP government implementing its long cherished
agenda of homogenisation of India by turning it into Hindu Rashtra.
As per the reports, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal
refused to react to Akal Takht’s observation.
The 2004 Hukamnama was issued when the RSS had made
elaborate plans to celebrate 400th anniversary of installation of
Guru Granth Sahib (Parkash Purab) at
Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple).
The edict calling for boycott of RSS stated: “The anti-Panth
RSS/Rashtriya Sikh Sangat has been resorting to anti-Panthic activities
for some time. This body is misleading the Sikhs by claiming the support of
Sikh organisations and Akal Takht to implement its nefarious design. The Akal
Takht has neither extended support to this anti-Sikh organisation nor would be
given in future…The Sikh masses, Sikh organisations, Singh Sabhas, religious
ortanisations and societies and gurdwara managements are hereby cautioned to be
alert and not extend any support to it”.
This edict issued on July 23, 2004 was signed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani
Joginder Singh Vedanti, Darbar Sahib Granthi Giani Gurbachan Singh, Takht
Damdama Sahib Jathedat Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar
Giani Iqbal Singh and Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh.
At the political level, the timing of the renewed attack is
strategic.
The revocation of Article 370 is the most important decision
to implement the agenda of the RSS and has created euphoria in a major section
of the majority community in the country. Punjab is stated to be the next
target. Both Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab were the only two minority dominated
states in the country and one has been obliterated from the map by bifurcating
it and reducing it to two union territories.
The stand taken by Akal Takht describing RSS as divisive is
highly significant under the given situation when other religio-political
leaders have adopted the policy of wait and watch.
He has posed a challenge to the BJP that is determined to
make the next move in Punjab to emerge as a force in this border state.
His stand also assumes importance with the Sikh religio-political
matrix.
The Sikh institutions are perceived to be under total
control of the House of Badals ( Family of
5-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal). The previous Jathedar Giani
Gurbachan Singh went out in ignominy for being spineless, especially on the
issues relating to sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in which both Parkash Singh
Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal have been probed. The Akali Dal is still in the
process of being revived after the shocking
defeat in 2017 Assembly elections.
Both the RSS and the BJP would have to move cautiously.
The 2004 edict never impacted the Akali Dal-BJP alliance and
nor the present attack on RSS may make any difference.
However, it is an indication that the RSS can’t take the
situation for granted. Punjab is different.
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