When
Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa began his indefinite fast nearly a month and a
half ago, barely anyone knew him. Even state intelligence agencies
paid little heed to his fast and demand that six former militants, who
had completed their sentences, be released. The authorities woke up when
the crowds began swelling at the Amb Sahib Gurdwara in Mohali where he
had chosen to sit on fast. It was found that he was attracting attention
following announcements made at gurdwaras around the area that the
devout should visit Gurbaksh Singh and support his cause. Fringe
militant groups and Khalistan ideologues too began supporting him.
This resulted in the government led by the Shiromani Akali Dal, which
claims to represent the Sikhs, taking note of his demands and urging him
to give up his fast. An adamant Gurbaksh Singh,
surviving on karha parshad (prepared with wheat flour, desi ghee and
sugar), stuck to his demands. The SAD-BJP government found
itself in a bind with the support being attracted by Gurbaksh Singh,
himself a former militant who has faced dozens of cases and been in and
out of jail over the last 15 years.
The government not only sought parole
and release of the six former militants, including one each lodged in
Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, but roped in the highest temporal authority
of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht, to issue a directive to Gurbaksh to end
the fast. The Sikh clergy pointed out that four of the six former
militants had been released on parole and the state government had
already taken up the case of the other two with the respective state
governments.
The alacrity with which the state government
acted exposes the fact that all six former militants could have been
released on parole or otherwise and that the government had chosen to
sleep over the issue. One of the prisoners, an accused in the
conspiracy to assassinate former chief minister Beant Singh, was not
allowed parole even once in 18 years. All the others had completed their
sentences and could have been released had the state governments
concerned taken steps.
Usually a recommendation from the
authorities of the district where the prisoner belongs suffices to
complete the process of release. It was expected of the government,
particularly when it is led by the SAD, to have been more sensitive to
the issue. Instead it chose to look the other way until Gurbaksh
attracted support and there were indications of the situation spiraling
out of control.
One man, little known so far, has
brought the state government to its knees, a situation that it could
have avoided and which holds out a lesson to governments to be more
sensitive and alert to public sentiments.
The Congress too came out in support of the demands made by Gurbaksh
Singh. The National Human Rights Commission sought replies from the
state governments concerned on the release of the convicts, thus adding
to the pressure on the SAD.
Vipin is Editor, Chandigarh.
vipin.pubby@expressindia.com
