Be moderate

Politicians sometimes succumb to the temptation of pandering to religious hardliners, but as the people of Punjab know too well, this leads to disasters that are difficult to recover from. The Shiromani Akali Dal has charged the Congress government in Punjab with cosying up to such elements during recent days. In an atmosphere charged with emotions following the rekindling of the sacrilege incidents after the release of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report, both the political parties have sought to exploit religious sentiments.

In a scalded Punjab, memory of playing politics with religious sentiments is too painful to forget. It was an escalation of such scenarios that contributed to the militancy that tore the state apart. It is highly irresponsible of politicians to again play with fire. The incidents of sacrilege had a profound impact on the people of the state, and the subsequent firing at Bargari had led to resentment in the area. The commission’s report has opened the wounds again, and both parties have stepped in. Also in the fray are preachers and their supporters who are opposed to the SAD and its patrons. They were able to inflict some damage on SAD vehicles and some men and the police failed in its duty by preventing those clashes.

Then there is Navjot Singh Sidhu’s plea to Akal Takht to excommunicate Parkash Singh Badal. What the minister seeks to gain from this is not clear, but he is wading into troubled waters. The SAD’s hold over the SGPC and allied institutions has always been an irritant for other parties, more so the Congress. Even when the party is in power in Punjab, it should resist the temptation to interfere with Sikh religious institutions. If there is one thing that Punjab’s bout with extremism has shown, it is the immense devastation that the state suffered during that time. That alone is reason enough for politicians to be cautious and moderate in dealing with what can turn out to be volatile religious issues.