The BJP’s silent Moment
The BJP is known for its new found aggression under its new dispensation since 2014 and taking the bull by the horns. It is paying rich dividends too as the BJP is winning one election after the other barring a handful of states. Prime Minister Modi's graph has also been rising globally. The party's spokespersons and ministers shout down all and sundry. But developments in Punjab have exposed chinks in its armory. The BJP has gone in a silent mode and its ministers are running for a cover. Ever since self-styled head of “Waris Punjab De” Amrit Pal Singh threatened the Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying he would meet the same fate as that of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, there is a silence of the grave. Amrit Pal Singh rose to fame last month after some of his supporters attacked a police station in Ajnala and secured release of an accused Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan putting a barrel of the gun on the head of the police station. The worst happened when the Punjab Police quashed the FIR itself against Toofan. Some of the hardliners in the BJP pleaded with the top leadership to take immediate action against Amrit Pal Singh for his anti-national statements and act faster before it's too late in the day.
In response, an informal advisory was issued by the BJP to all the leaders not to comment on the issue. Consequently, no BJP spokesman uttered a word. Even the Home Minister maintained a studied silence. As if this was not enough, Amit Shah gave an early audience to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and sanctioned additional forces to handle the law and order situation. While the Congress leaders demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab due to collapse of the state machinery, the BJP opted to keep quiet. The BJP-led state governments are registering FIRs against everybody who makes any statement against their leaders and put them behind bars. But when it comes to Amrit Pal Singh, its lips are sealed. It is groping in the dark as to how to proceed against the 29-year old preacher who has emerged as a new icon in Punjab. Singh claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, moves around with armed men and his supporters are capturing all Gurudwaras in Delhi and in other states worrying the Intelligence and security agencies. It's a silent moment for the BJP for a change.
Kejriwal
in silence zone too
The AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has also gone in silent mode in respect of developments in Punjab. He has not uttered a word ever since the Ajnala incident took place and the AAP government in Punjab quashed the FIR against an accused. But those closely watching developments in Punjab say that AAP's links with these elements were first noticed in January 2017 when Arvind Kejriwal stayed in the house of Khalistan Liberation Front activist Gurwinder Singh ahead of Punjab polls. Gurwinder is the former chief of KLF. He is accused of inciting Sikh-Hindu riots during the years when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. He was even jailed in cases relating to murder etc. Though Gurwinder was acquitted in all such cases, the controversy cost dearly to AAP in 2017. But it is said that these elements campaigned to ensure AAP's win in the 2022 Assembly polls. It is largely because of this very reason that Kejriwal has opted to remain in the silent zone.
BJP's Vasundhara moment
The BJP leadership may have resolved the thorny issue of handling Karnataka's B S Yediyurappa by inducting him in the Central Parliamentary Board and in state's campaign committee. The tallest 80 year-old leader made the BJP high command to reverse a decision to send him to “Vanprasth Ashram” (Retirement home like LK Advani & others). But the leadership has to settle the leadership issue in Rajasthan where 70 year-old former Chief Minister Vasundhararaje Scindia is refusing to fall in line. The BJP leadership wants to buy peace with her on its own terms. But a Rajput by birth married into a Jat family and daughter-in-law from a Gujjar community is turning out to be a tough nut. The BJP's general secretary incharge of Rajasthan, Arun Singh had a tight rope walking. If he attended BJP's protest rally in Jaipur against alleged paper leak stir in Jaipur organised by state unit Chief Satish Poonia, he traveled all the way to Salasar in Rajasthan’s Churu district to attend Vasundhara's 70th birthday bash where majority of MLAs and Mps were present the same day on March 4. The slogans like “Abki baar, Vasundhara sarkar,” welcomed Arun Singh. The high command wants Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as party's face in Rajasthan Assembly polls. But Vasundhara is not giving up and ready to go down (or up) fighting. The high command is in the silence zone again.
Tail piece: The long awaited and perhaps, the last Cabinet reshuffle has also gone into a silence zone. It may now take place after the Assembly polls in Karnataka in May this year.
