Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s Pardon by Sikh Clergy: A Political Move

• The decision of Sikh clergy to pardon Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has sparked a controversy in Punjab
• The Dera Sacha Sauda wields considerable influence in 40 of the 117 assembly seats in Malwa region
• The uncalled for pardon is being seen as a tactical move for the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab
• A large section of Sikhs are unhappy with the pardon

The out-of-the-blue decision of the Sikh clergy to exonerate the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, of blasphemy, has sparked off a controversy in Punjab – with charges that the action was aimed at garnering dera votes for the Shiromani Akali Dal in the assembly elections, due in a year and a half.

The decision of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, to pardon the dera chief, came at a time when the release of his film MSG 2: The Messenger of God was facing trouble in the state. While the Punjab Government banned the first film in the series earlier this year, it refrained from imposing any ban on the latest film. But exhibitors were wary of the violence that screening the film could incite.

Sikh clergy comprises the jathedars (heads) of the five takhts, or holy seats of the Sikhs, who are appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The members of the SGPC are elected by Sikh voters, and for a long time a majority of its members have owed allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) – the party which has been in power in Punjab, in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Incidentally, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is also the president of the SAD.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s Pardon is Significant in the Light of Upcoming Elections

The overtures to the Dera Sacha Sauda, and its chief are being seen as attempts to win its support in the ensuing election preparations, which have already been started by Sukhbir Badal. The dera commands considerable influence in about 40 of the 117 assembly constituencies spread over seven districts in the Malwa region.

Given the turmoil in SAD’s political rivals, the Congress as well as the Aam Aadmi Party, it is no surprise that the ruling party is already plotting its strategy to retain power for the third consecutive term. The Congress is in the midst of a turf war with the former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh wanting the removal of the state party chief Partap Singh Bajwa. The party high command had not taken any action on his demand for the last three years, but appeared to be coming close to effecting a change. However, there is a stalemate now over the naming of the new chief. The party MLAs are not only divided over the issue, but are also washing dirty linen both inside and outside the assembly.

The AAP, a serious contender for the Punjab Assembly, the state from where it got all its four Lok Sabha seats, is itself in the midst of a split. Two of its four MPs have publicly spoken against the party leadership and have been placed under suspension. The party had earlier expelled a couple of its senior leaders, including the chairman of the disciplinary committee, philanthropist Dr Daljit Singh. And now its most prominent face, senior advocate HS Phoolka, has given up all party posts ostensibly to fight 1984 riot cases.

Exonerating the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief of Blasphemy is a Tactical Move

The totally unanticipated move to pardon the dera chief is, therefore, seen as a tactical move. The sudden decision also raised a question mark because there was no fresh application, or request from the dera chief for a pardon. In fact, in his earlier communication to the Akal Takht, which had issued a hukamnama (edict) in 2007 asking Sikhs to boycott him until he apologises before the takht, the dera chief had not asked for a pardon. He had merely clarified that he did not disrespect the Sikh gurus and that he held all religions, including Sikhism, in high esteem.

What has also raised eyebrows is the fact that the Sikh clergy insisted that people who had been issued hukamnamas appear before the five jathedars and apologise or ask for pardon, but they were fine with the dera chief not appearing in person. In the past, former President Giani Zail Singh and former Home Minister Buta Singh were among others who had presented themselves before the Akal Takht and were pardoned.

The dera chief had come under a cloud in 2007, shortly after the Assembly elections in which he is supposed to have backed Congress candidates. The party won 24 of the 30 seats in the Malwa region where the dera has considerable hold. However, the Congress lost elsewhere in the state and the SAD-BJP alliance was able to wrest power.

Shortly after that, the dera chief was accused of imitating the Sikh gurus by wearing a dress similar to that worn by Guru Gobind Singh, and administering amrit (nectar) to his followers in the manner in which the Sikh guru had done. This sparked off clashes in several parts of the state between his followers and sections of Sikhs. Not only did the Akal Takht issue a hukamnama, but also registered a case against the dera chief who is also facing charges of murder, rape and castration.

The Unanticipated Pardon Will Not Sail Smoothly

It is too much of a coincidence that the case was withdrawn three days before the 2012 assembly elections when the SAD-BJP was making its bid to retain power. It is also well known that though the dera did not openly declare its support for the Akalis, a word was sent around and the SAD candidates received support from dera followers in various constituencies. This move was considered vital for retaining power by the SAD-BJP in the 2012 elections.

And now the sudden grant of pardon to the dera chief, without his making a fresh plea, along with the decision of not imposing a ban on MSG2 is seen as too much of a coincidence, again. Given the strong sentiments among a section of Sikhs on the case of alleged blasphemy, the issue is unlikely to die down in the near future.

(The writer is a senior journalist based in Chandigarh)