Capt Amarinder Singh rescuing Modi govt on issue of BSF jurisdiction goes against his popular image of being assertive pro-Punjab leader

 

 

Defending Modi govt decision, Capt Amarinder on wrong side of popular perception

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

 

Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh was expected to announce formation of new political party formally at his much hyped media interaction today but he remained short of that while reiterating his intention to go ahead with it. This, however, was not his main concern today.

His main focus was on defending the indefensible decision of the Narendra Modi government to extend jurisdiction of the Border Security Force from the existing 15 km to 50 km depth in the border states that covers virtually half of Punjab giving unbridled powers to make searches relating to the areas specified under the act concerned. This decision has united the entire non-BJP political parties in the state and the Congress government headed by Charanjit Singh Channi has decided to convene special session of Vidhan Sabha on November 8 to adopt a resolution to annul this decision imposed without consulting the border states.

The argument that it was applicable to 80 km depth in Gujrat makes no sense in the context of topography of the border area in that state. The border area in Punjab has villages right upto Zero line with fields touching Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here till the border fence was erected, farmers from the adjoining fields separated by the Radcliffe Line would at time share even lunch.

The popular perception in Punjab is against this decision.

It was in this perspective context that a reporter asked him a question in the historical context of Patiala Royal  going against the popular sentiment in the state. The historical  context was regarding the founder of Patiala state submitting to Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali and becoming his nominee as governor. Abdali, also known as Durrani, had blasted the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) too in confrontation with the Sikhs.

However, the stock of Capt Amartinder Singh had gone up among the Sikhs following his resignation from the Lok Sabha and the Congress in protest against the army attack code named Operation Bluestar in June 1984 on the Golden Temple.

He was the leader who as the chief minister in 2004 took the historic decision to annul all the river water awards and accords relating to apportionment of Punjab river waters among the neighbouring states incurring the wrath of his party’s central leadership.

However, intriguingly in his second term beginning 2017, he has repeatedly been coming to the rescue of the Modi government on critical issues and the latest case is that of the extension of the jurisdiction of the BSF.

Of course, he  has also been raising the issue of  threat from Pakistan all this time.

However, the geographical border has no meaning in the context of modern warfare as target can be hit hundreds of miles away from the border. He talks of  drones coming from Pakistani side to deliver weapons.

But arms and drugs have been smuggled to this side from Pakistan for decades. Liquor used to be smuggled from the Indian side for years. At one time, it used to be said that smuggling was the cottage industry in the border villages on both the sides.

And this illicit traffic has continued even after the fencing came up. Capt Amarinder Singh himself earlier used to talk of BSF-smugglers nexus. It may be mentioned that during Punjab militancy, the “boys” used to move across the border as part of this nexus. At the time when Chandra Shekhar was the Prime Minister, the crossing of some of the radical leaders was facilitated by the deep agency with the help of the BSF.

And it is not for the first time that Capt Amarinder Singh has come to the rescue of the Modi government. He might be doing it out of his conviction but the issue is that of perception.

He is the only leader who has the history of taking tough decision going against his party and it was for this very reason that he has emerged as a hero especially in the Sikh religio-political matrix. His present stand on so called national issue is contrary to his earlier  place that he had earned in Punjab history.

He also announced that his party would have seat adjustment with the BJP and Akali faction headed by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for which he  is still to initiate formal talks.

This has to be seen in the context of the ongoing farmers struggle for survival.

The BJP won’t gain any foothold in Punjab even if the Modi government opts for settlement as the credit would go to the struggle itself.

This is the struggle that is unprecedented in the contemporary history of the world and now no political party or personality outside this struggle would be able to take any credit.

This is the struggle of the farmers and  the credit too would go to them.

Moreover, Capt Amarinder Singh should have taken the initiative at the earlier stage when he was the chief minister. A resolution adopted in the state Assembly had authorised him to lead all-party delegation to the Prime Minister on this issue. He  did not take the initiative.

However, he opted for a different life style at that time.

Significantly, not a single MLA, including from his inner coterie was present at his media interaction at a 5-star hotel.

Is that the reason that he did not launch his party formally today rather than the Election Commission formality?