Punjab Cong, CPI, CPI-M plan to take on RSS

CHANDIGARH, MAY 7: It is now the turn of the secular forces in Punjab to join hands to confront the expanding activities of the Rashtriya ...

CHANDIGARH, MAY 7: It is now the turn of the secular forces in Punjab to join hands to confront the expanding activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh which evoked strong reaction from several Sikh organisations, barring the ruling Akali Dal and the All India Shiromani Akali Dal. It is the Sikh agenda of the RSS which has raised apprehensions among the Sikh organisations.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh and state secretary of the Communist Party of India Joginder Dayal, who discussed the political situation in the state on Friday, veered round to the view that the activities of communal organisations which had the tendency to vitiate the atmosphere in the state should be confronted. They also consulted Communist Party of India Marxist state secretary Balwant Singh.

The Congress is divided on the issue of Sikh agenda of the RSS with Amarinder Singh criticising it which, according to the feeling in the dissident camp, might lead to erosion of the party8217;s Hindu vote-bank. Amarinder Singh had unexpected support from the third camp in the Punjab Congress. It is Jagmeet Singh Brar, Congress MP from Faridkot, who raised the issue in the Lok Sabha on Friday, saying activities of the RSS in Punjab should be checked.

The Sikh organisations have approached the Akal Takht. The RSS issue is on the agenda of the meeting convened by Akal Takht acting Jathedar Jginder Singh Vedanti on May 14.

Both Amarinder Singh and Dayal felt in view of the strong reaction to the activities of the RSS which has penetrated into the Punjab countryside, there was apprehension that tension will mount. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should have taken steps against allowing such situation to develop. They felt that the role of the ruling Akali Dal was rather of conniving with the RSS. 8220;Badal is more worried about his gaddi rather than such issues8221;, said Dayal. He said such an attitude could prove very costly for the people and the state.

Interestingly, rather than the Sikh organisations, it was veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang who was the first senior leader in the state to focus on the activities of the RSS and seek intervention of the Chief Minister.

It was decided at the meeting that the secular forces would launch common action programmes on various issues, including communalism. It was felt that under the given political situation, the coming together of the secular forces should be the top priority.

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It was decided that the Congress, CPI and the CPIM would contest the forthcoming elections to the local bodies jointly.

The mysterious death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Jagir kaur, also came up for discussion and it was decided that women wings of these parties should jointly take up such issues.