How will you face Dr. Manmohan Singh again? - 28/07/2008
S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh.
27 July 2008
Dear Badal sahib,
How will you face Dr. Manmohan Singh again?
The recent Union Parliamentary confidence motion, which endorsed by a significant margin the UPA’s resolve to pursue the nuclear deal, poses special challenges for your ruling alliance in Punjab.
In spite of 6 decades of public service you failed to sense the mood of the Punjab masses, you enforced the rule of the select few over the majority opinion within your party and you ignored the desire of almost every Sikh, here and abroad, that Dr Manmohan Singh deserves the particular support of Punjab legislators at this critical juncture.
Unlike you I do not for a moment wish to play on religious sentiments, but as a Sikh I feel utterly ashamed that this country’s first Sikh Prime Minister was denied the majority support of Punjab’s Lok Sabha MPs.
Look in the mirror, search you heart and your soul; do you see any of the ideals with which you entered pubic service some 60 years ago? There is reality in that mirror. Please reconcile yourself to accepting it. It’s called introspection.
Sardar Sukhdev Singh Libra deserves national and international recognition for his sacrifice. He will forever carry a special place in the hearts of Punjabi’s long after they have forgotten your questionable service. He voted with a conscience that long ago deserted your party.
You may currently disagree but history will determine whether your obstinacy on this issue was on account of your true beliefs or was more down to your alliance compulsions. Balance sheets can be re-stated, history certainly not. Punjabis are a passionate lot; few will refrain from venting their thoughts at the first available opportunity, which thankfully will be the Parliamentary polls in a few months.
It mattered not whether the country went to the polls now or later; the onus was on you to demonstrate to this nation and the world whether you are a leader who could override familial and ill-conceived political compulsions, to support a Prime Minister who has demonstrated beyond question levels of integrity that remain a distant dream for most others.
You have every right to question the judgement of Hon. Dr. Manmohan Singh but it was you duty to explain clearly your differential position to the electorate. That you failed to do so and merely parroted and paraphrased the BJP’s position leaves one to wonder whether the Akali party will ever be able to play a constructive and responsible role in the very Parliament, outside of which you, not so long ago rejected, in the most profound terms possible, the Constitution of India.
And these allies that allow you to cling to power in Punjab, where were they when this state was burning, when the Congress Union Government guaranteed yours and your family’s personal safety, and when various members of your direct and wider family sought refuge on those very shores that are now party to this nuclear deal?
Few have acted against the interests of Punjab (to use a milder phrase) and prospered. Few are the certainties in politics. But there is still time for you to apologise to the hard-working and electricity-deficient people of Punjab for this gross error of judgement.
Your actions this week have risked diluting the relevance of Punjab to this nation. Not only have you sold out Punjabi interests to communal forces but you have done so in a manner that is alien to great leaders.
Dr Manmohan Singh will be remembered a truly great leader; you will not be.
Kind regards, Yours sincerely JASSI KHANGURA MLA HALQA QILA RAIPUR
