Pro-Badal Akali leaders at Moga: wooing non-SikhsElectoral compulsions can spur many a moment of truth in politics. And no one knows it better than the Akalis who, having burnt their fingers flirting with extremism, are now charting a new agenda.This new face of Akali politics was unveiled last fortnight at two public gatherings - first a political conference at Moga to mark the 75th anniversary of the Akali Dal, and then the Holla Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib. The two gatherings saw the Akali Dal headed by Parkash Singh Badal make a complete break from the past to buttress its moderate credentials.The Moga conclave, by far the biggest-ever show of political strength by the fractious Akalis, marked a watershed of sorts in Akali politics. In an unambiguous shift in its political priorities, not only did the dominant Akali faction declare peace as its new theme song in place of the time-old 'panth-in-peril' war cry, it also slammed its doors on the radical brand of politics represented by Simranjit Singh Mann at the other extreme of the Akali spectrum. Clearly, the Akalis have come full circle. Says noted Sikh scholar J.S. Ahluwalia: "Having steered away from political extremism, Akali politics is back to its moorings." More significantly, in its political resolution the Shiromani Akali Dal refrained from harping on the controversial Anandpur Sahib resolution. Instead, while reiterating its demand for greater autonomy to all states, the party has now made establishment of 'halemi raj' (a dispensation based on compassion and equality) its new political goal. In a bid to broaden its support base among the non-Sikhs, the party is vigorously projecting itself as the representative of all the people of Punjab. Besides, for the first time, it has also thrown open its membership to non-Sikhs. Rooted in this change of tack by the Akalis is a carefully crafted strategy to woo the non-Sikh voters who comprise nearly 43 per cent of Punjab's population.The idea is also to dispel the notion of Akalis having nurtured terrorism. Having realised that peace is as close to the people's heart as the bread-and-butter issues, the Akalis, buoyed by the massive response from the Sikh peasantry at Moga, are now vying with the Congress(I) to emerge as the bigger votary of peace. Says Pramod Kumar, a Chandigarh-based political analyst: "The stakes in the peace plank have risen after the Beant Singh assassination. The new Akali agenda is in consonance with the changed ground reality." Political observers interpret the Akali turnaround as a positive change. By rallying support for mainstream politics, Badal has emerged as a top Akali leader, outmanoeuvring the hardliners within and outside his party. His turning down Mann's unity overtures is in line with his aversion to the radical elements. While the Moga rally may have set the alarm bells ringing for the ruling Congress(I), it has also fuelled the Badal-Mann animosity. Although reduced to a bystander, with many of his supporters flocking to the moderate camp, Mann's radical stance strikes a chord among a section of the Sikhs who still nurse a feeling of grievance - perceived or genuine - against the Government. Apart from a constituency among the militant sympathisers, Mann has a close ally in the Damdami Taksal, the Sikh seminary once headed by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and alleged to be the fountainhead of militancy in Punjab. .preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}By rallying support for mainstream politics, Badal has emerged as a top Akali leader who has succeeded in outmanoeuvring the hardliners in Punjab politics. In contrast, Badal, through his middle-of-the-road politics, aims to convince the Hindus of his secular credentials by declaring, as he did at the Moga rally, that militancy will not be allowed to raise its head if his party is voted to power. Still, Badal faces the uphill task of making inroads into the non-Sikh vote bank. Aware that he cannot ride to power on the Sikh vote alone, Badal has entered into a poll pact with the BSP. Moreover, he is not averse to an electoral tie-up with the BJP, despite stiff opposition from SGPC chief G.S Tohra, a known hawk within his party. "Our options vis-a-vis the BJP are still open," says Badal. Although the BJP has limited pockets among urban voters, an Akali-BJP alliance may lend credence to the Akalis' new-found moderate agenda.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Mar 31, 1996--- ENDS ---
