Chandigarh, April 15, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
In an unprecedented multi-stakeholder political gathering, leaders of Punjab’s key political parties otherwise ferociously opposing each other, today gave a clarion call to fight for true federalism, and advocated a coordinated people’s movement for a complete overhaul of not only Centre-State relations but even of society inter se.
Convened by Pind Bachao Punjab Bachao platform, the seminar brought together Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, a veritable line up of political and social activists, farmer leaders and academicians to thrash out the increasingly threatened concept and practice of federalism in India.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, speaking on the occasion, said the increasing usurping of state’s powers by the Centre and misuse of law enforcement agencies like the Enforcement Directorate or the CBI were emblematic of the breach of principle of federalism.
“Our guiding light at all times when it comes to justice and people’s concern, should be the path shown by Sri Guru Granth Sahib,” Sandhwan said, adding its remit is no lesser than universal welfare and brotherhood.
Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, a former parliamentarian and a strong votary of federalism, said any fight for federalism can be successful only if we think beyond mere formal political structures and talk of real democratisation of institutions and society.
“After we won Independence as a result of a long freedom struggle, we did not work honestly for democratisation of our body polity. Federalism in dependent on not only institutions working properly, but institutions becoming democratic in true sense,” DS
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Jakhar, who was widely expected at the event, could not make it due to some last minute exigency but sent his good wishes.
Congress’ firebrand MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said he was more worried about a total collapse of the system. “The fact is that there is so much evidence all around, starting from what is happening in Punjab now, and the way the country is being run that it should be very clear to us: the system is not working and there is no justice,” Khaira said.
He was also critical of the way lawmakers’ role is perceived and practised in reality. “I am an MLA for the third time now, and you all know how much money many politicians spend to become a legislator, but frankly, how can I even play my role if the legislative Assembly meets only for a few days in the entire year,” Khaira said, adding nothing less than a total review of Constitution was called for.
Harcharan Bains of the Shiromani Akali Dal, who has been a long-time associate of five-time chief minister and Akali Dal patriarch Prakash Singh Badal, said the concept of federalism goes far beyond the restrictive understanding of better Centre-State relations. “Not just the Centre, we need to question even the states, but there is a bigger issue of our own selves. We need to look inwards and ask how federal we are within our family power structures,” Bains said, adding that it eventually boils down to what kind of human being we want our politics to produce.
Clarifying that he was speaking not as Akali Dal representative but as a concerned activist with decades in political realm, Bains even questioned how much power the society vests its women with. “Talk of federalism will be an oxymoron in a society if even seminars like this are primarily dominated by men, women only conspicuous by their absence,” he said.
Several speakers referred to abrogation of Art 370, misuse of Art 356, laws like TADA, POTA and UAPA, and a superstructure of GST, National Investigation Agency (NIA) etc being imposed across the country, thus diluting and superceding the state’s powers as prime examples of murder of the idea of federalism.
Ramanjit Kaur, an anti-drug activist who lost her husband to the drug menace, said any fight for a federal polity must be intertwined with a fight for women rights. Kaur, who has been at the forefront of the people’s struggle against a liquor factory in Zira, said people’s movements must begin from home.
Dr Pyara Lal Garg, well known political and social activist, said Punjab needs to be at the forefront of any struggle for real federalism. “Eh ladayee Punjab to.n hee shuru hovegi ate Punjab hee is di agvayee kar sakda hai,” he thundered.
Senior journalist and grassroots activist espousing the cause of third tier of democracy, Hamir Singh said it has been 30 years since the passage of the 73rd, 74th amendment to the Indian Constitution, but dream of empowering Gram Sabhas remains only that. “Even the statutory meetings of the Gram Sabha, mandated by a document no less than the Constitution, do not happen. No state government is interested in federalism, otherwise it would have handed over 29 depts to the Panchayati Raj System,” he pointed out.
Among others who also spoke were well known Sikh cleric, Jathedar Giani Kewal Singh, scholar Dr Swaraj Singh, social media influencer Malwinder Singh Mali, academician-turned-activist Prof Manjit Singh, Sikh Siyasat’s Dr Sikander Singh, farmer activist Ranjit Singh Raju from Rajasthan, Mohd Nisar from Malerkotla, author and columnist Shyam Sunder Deepti, Shiban G Kaul from Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbagh Singh Harigarh and a host of other activists.
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