Punjab – On the Edge Again?

I am sorry to say that my foreboding like many others’ seems to be coming true. Within a couple of months of AAP taking control of Punjab following major incidents took place –

• A national-level kabaddi player is killed
  
  
• Mohali police intelligence office witnesses blasts
  
  
• Patiala sees open sloganeering in favor of Khalistan
  
  
• Now a popular singer is killed in a violent incident

AAP did enjoy a windfall gain. But, its leadership was either unaware of the payback or just wished it away. Arvind Kejriwal being such a sharp and calculative mind would surely be aware of the dangers because he had tried to use the same elements even in earlier elections but last-minute mood-swing of voters due to his shenanigans cost him his victory.

Now is the payback time. Sidhu Moosewala’s murder may not be a political murder. But it shows the utter failure of the law and order machinery. The helplessness of the police for reasons unknown to most. This is a dangerous situation. It reminds me of the police force wringing their hands whenever such brazen killings took place in the last phase of militancy. Weak leadership saw Punjab Police itself being sitting duck for the terrorists as their families were targeted. They were killed with careless swagger.

Also Read:  Gyan Vyapi exposed more than what was hidden

Reducing Moosewala murder to simple security guard protection is missing the wood for the tree. The state cannot provide individual security to all the citizens. It is the duty of the state that the atmosphere should be such that criminals dare not perpetrate heinous crimes. The brazen killings in recent times tell us that just like 1980s there is no fear of the law enforcing machinery. When the headquarters of the intelligence unit can be attacked, who is safe? More worrying than such attacks is the early denial of this looming danger by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party by denying that it was a terrorist incident and trying to cover it up. This is how Punjab rulers used to negate serious incidents in 1980s.

Social Media has made miscreants sitting outside Bharat and creating havoc here larger than life. This means the fight against lawlessness and separatism has become multi-dimensional and more difficult to tackle. Smallest incident can be blown out of proportion and create a poor impression of the government. Moosewala case is a case in point. Since he was a celebrity it has become a headline grabber, but national Kabaddi player’s killing didn’t create even a whimper. Bomb blast in Mohali died a natural death very fast. Patiala saw open sloganeering in favour of Khalistan but no serious action was taken, just like the earlier stages of 1980s era.

Also Read:  Hindu Fundamentalism is Good for Bharat and the World

It is time Arvind Kejriwal wakes up from self-promotion ego trips and does a reality check. It is fine to rule a city without any responsibility, it is not fine to rule a sensitive border state in a flippant manner. Punjab and nation have paid a heavy price for political chicanery earlier. We can’t afford another round. Anarchy at city level worked but anarchy at a state level where anarchic party itself controls the police, can be very very dangerous. For the sake of his own dreams of becoming a national alternative to the BJP, Kejriwal needs to pull up his lost pants.