Tarun Chugh
Punjab, the sword and the bread basket of India has given many politicians and leaders including a Prime Minister and President to India. Whereas the reign of the President, Giani Zail Singh saw the infamous attack on the Golden Temple under the regime of the Congress-Government in 1984; the reign of Manmohan Singh who served the office of Prime Minister two times did not see any special favour to Punjab though he being a hardcore Punjabi. His tenure was tenure of Centre-Punjab tiff, tensions and conflict. However, since 2014 a visible change can be seen towards Punjab and Punjabis-be it in the policies of the Centre or the personal touch for the sentiments of Punjabis or healing the long term pains and issues of Punjabis.
It is said that the state-policy is influenced much by the personal-approach and perception of the person who is at the helm of the affairs. Narendra Modi has a special love, affection and tilt towards Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat. He has always praised the contribution made by the Punjabis in nation making particularly its valiant Sikh-community. In his encouraging speech in the Parliament, he has eulogised that India can never repay debts of the Sikhs and the sacrifice made by this community in its history and every Indian is proud of the Sikhs (February 8, 2021). His love and special relationship with Punjabis and Sikhs was born and evolved when he was the party Incharge of the affairs of Punjab, where he worked at close quarters with Sikh leaders and stalwarts like Praksah Singh Badal and many others. How much love and respect he has for Punjab and Sikhs can be gauged from the fact that he has hailed this stalwart leader of Punjab as Nelson Mandela of India? Who could forget the picture of Narendra Modi publically touching feet of Praksah Singh Badal out of his utter respect to his age and contribution to society and Nation making before swearing in of NDA Government.
This respect and love is not only reflected in the actions, speeches and narratives of the Prime Minister but also in the policies followed by Modi-Government with respect to Punjabis and particularly Sikhs. The long standing demand of Punjabis was justice to the Sikhs who were massacred in 1984 in various parts of India following a State sponsored party led Sikh-killings. The epi-centre of this massacre was Delhi where Congress leaders led the mob and killed our innocent Punjabi brethren in one of the most shameful and cowardly attack on Punjabis since 1947. Modi-Government formed a SIT (Special Investigative Team) to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime and with regular and responsible follow up of legal process. The main accused who was one of the kingpin of the massacre and the key leader of Congress, Sajjan Kumar is behind the bar and there are many more others to follow. A justice is delivered after 35 years that too when the whole entrenched system was there to protect the accused. What the 8 successive governments could not and the sufferer had lost all hopes; justice was not only seen to be delivered but was actually delivered. Also, compensation for the aggrieved families was sanctioned only after the personal monitoring of Narendra Modi under his government. Close to 50,000 Punjabis particularly Sikhs who were living the life of wanderers and without any state-hood following political asylum during the black-days were given passport by his Government. Even the dreaded black-list created by the earlier regimes to witch-haunt youth, was done away with bringing the blacklisted Punjabis in the mainstream.
Narendra Modi has a special respect for the Sikh Gurus and Sikh Panth. One of the historic-step towards Punjabi and Punjabiat was opening of Kartarpur Corridor by the personal efforts of Narendra Modi . Not only Kartarpur Corridor was opened but the whole project of Kartarpur-Corridor was given a world-class outlook. How Punjabis could forget the image of Narendra Modi taking Langar with other dignitaries on occasion of opening ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib. The 550th birth-anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was celebrated as an international-event wherein it was celebrated in all the offices of Government of India, in whole of the world. Also, Narendra Modi introduced commemorative coin of Rs 350 to mark 350th birth anniversary of 10th Guru Gobind Singh at his birthplace at Patna.
Recently, paying rich tributes to the tenth Sikh Guru on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh and fitting tribute to the courage of the Sahibzades and their quest for justice, December 26 is marked as ‘Veer Baal Diwas’ which will be celebrated as such henceforth by this Punjabi at heart, Narendra Modi. We must not forget the humility with which he withdrew the Farm Laws and the occasion, on which he withdrew, clearly speak of the love he has for Punjabis and Sikhs. Probably, we have a Prime Minister who is the most Punjabi at his heart!
(The author is BJP National General Secretary).