Passive political journeyman suddenly finds his voice

Jupinderjit Singh in Chandigarh

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has been a passive political journeyman all his life, playing along with the politics or ideology of others, but now he is following his heart, says Dr Balkar Singh, Director, World Punjabi Department, Punjabi University, Patiala. An old friend of the senior Akali leader, he has also been a bitter critic.

Dr Balkar Singh had several years ago penned in a vernacular daily a rare profile on Dhindsa. The introduction of the article is still talked about. It described Dhindsa as a big tree which can give shade, but not fruit.

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Recollecting, he says he wrote what he did because “Sukhdev Dhindsa never led his party, or showed ambition, or rebellion, and hence was good enough for getting work like transfers or postings done, but was never able to offer positions of power, like Parkash Singh Badal did.”

“Now,” he says, “it seems he can promise something as his rebellion is supported by Akali workers if not leaders, who are scared of the Badals and Majithia or are really loyal to them.”

Reflecting on Dhindsa’s personality, Dr Balkar Singh says “he did not ask me or complain to me about the tree analogy, and though he does take advice, he never complains or nurses a grudge like other Akali leaders are known to do”.

Both he and Dhindsa studied together at Government Ranbir Singh College, Sangrur. “I have seen him taking baby steps in politics when he became secretary of the college union. He has remained in touch all through his life.” Dhindsa belongs to Ubbawal village in Sangrur.

Harkesh Singh Sidhu, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Sangrur and joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has seen the Dhindsa family from close quarters. “He was the youngest of four siblings, including two elder brothers and a sister. His three siblings were from the first marriage of his father. Dhindsa was the only one from the family, and probably the village, who went to study in a college. His brothers helped him.”

Sidhu recalls that Dhindsa later became sarpanch of his village. “He was an athlete and a hockey player. He was a handsome strapping youth known for his calm and composed nature.”

He also remained head of the Punjab Olympic Association and kabaddi association because of his love for sport.

Dhindsa, Sidhu claims, has been offered many plum posts by political rivals “but once he stood with Badal, he never betrayed him. From Surjit Singh Barnala to Beant Singh, all tried to woo him to join their camp, but Dhindsa declined. That was his sacrifice for the Akali Dal. He stood for principles. In 2017, he asked Parkash Singh Badal to make Sukhbir resign as party president after the poll debacle. But he declined. Dhindsa called for keeping the tradition of the party intact by resignation of the party president, but it did not happen.”

Former Tohra loyalist Gurdarshan Singh Bahia says Dhindsa found his bearing in the co-operative societies movement when he led it and later became head of the co-operative society, Sangrur. He went on to become Managing Director of the Punjab Co-operative Society.

Political innings

Dhindsa won as an Independent MLA from Dhanaula in 1977 and later joined the Akali Dal. He has remained with the party since. He also became an MP and

an important minister under Prime Minister Vajpayee.

Harkesh Sidhu says Dhindsa’s in-laws played a huge role in shaping his life. “His father-in-law was a known freedom fighter whose three daughters were Amritdharis and helped Dhindsa understand the ethos of Sikhism, making him an Akali leader to the core. It is probably because of this learning that he has taken a stand on saving the Akali Dal and spoke on issues like sacrilege.”

His son and former Finance Minister Parminder Singh took his time before coming out in his support. “I have taken a very conscious decision to leave all party posts. It is my decision after a long and thorough introspection. It is wrong for Sukhbir Badal to say I was emotionally blackmailed by my father,” he says.

He adds that he did not join issue earlier “because I was also conscious of the fact that I had spent a very long time holding important positions. I have chosen to stand with the ideological pillars of the party, which seem shaken today. My father reminded me that the party had moved away from the path of public welfare, particularly of the Sikhs”.

While party chief Sukhbir Badal claims the Dhindsas’ rebellion would have negligible effect, the turn of events does pose a new challenge for the SAD.