Interacting with a batch of participants from Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL) at Vice-President’s enclave on Wednesday, the Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar stressed on the significance of expression and dialogue, stating, “We take pride, we are mother of democracy. We are all this democracy, but are we justifying that claim? If I look around…. I’m a worried man. The political climate in the country is alarmingly worrisome. Political parties have no meaningful dialogue amongst themselves. They do not deliberate on issues of Nationalism, Security or Development. You will find a confrontational stance solidifying. Disturbance has been weaponized as a political strategy, and look at the kind of language used from all quarters–right, left and centre that not only belittles the Indian mind, but tarnishes the fair name of our civilization.”
“I am concerned as Vice-President of the country that the expression and dialogue, these twins, fundamental to blossoming of any democratic value, are fast receding in background. People are judgmental. They have a view. I am alone right, all others are wrong, without listening to the other point of view”, he added.
It shows that in the present scenario how pained the soul of the worthy Vice-President is!
We can’t say why the Vice-President has reacted so, but the statement of BJP leader Parvesh Verma style persons surely might have stained some effect on this version.
What Parvesh Verma Said ?
In an update on January 22, Wednesday, The Tribune, an English Daily quoted that Verma had said in Delhi on Tuesday, “Thousands of vehicles with Punjab registration plates are roaming around here (Delhi). Who are in those vehicles? Preparations for celebrating January 26 (Republic Day) are going on here (in Delhi). What something big are they going to do here that could put our security system at risk.”
This reportedly quoted version of Parvesh Verma has boiled the political atmosphere and the political leaders have slammed Verma with red mouth.
In a release of Aam Adami Party, on January 21, responding to the statement of Verma, Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, quoted stating on his X account, “Delhi is the capital of India, and people from every state live here. Vehicles from every state move freely across the country, and there is no restriction on their movement. BJP’s statement questioning the presence of Punjab-registered vehicles in Delhi is not only appalling but also deeply insulting to Punjabis. They are insinuating that Punjabis are a threat to national security simply because of their state of origin. This is unacceptable and an insult to the patriotism of every Punjabi.”
CM Mann further questioned the BJP’s priorities saying, “Home Minister Amit Shah cannot secure the country’s borders nor prevent illegal infiltrations of thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Yet, he and his party leaders label Punjabis traveling to Delhi as a security threat. This reflects their dangerous mindset and complete disregard for Punjab’s immense contributions to the nation’s security and progress. BJP owes an apology to the Punjabi community for this baseless and shameful allegation.”
Aman Arora, Punjab AAP President reminding the BJP of Punjab’s legacy of sacrifice and patriotism added, “It was Punjabis who made over 80% of the sacrifices for India’s freedom. It was Punjabis who stood at the forefront to protect the country, then and now. The Gurus of Punjab gave their lives for the nation’s unity and humanity. Even today, whenever danger looms over India’s borders, it is the Punjabi soldiers who stand tall and defend the country with their lives. For BJP leaders to question the loyalty of Punjabis is an insult to this legacy.”
AAP leader Sanjay Singh @SanjayAzadSln reacted to BJP leader Parvesh Verma’s ‘vehicles from Punjab entering Delhi’ remark.
“This statement is a huge disrespect to Punjabis. Delhi is the capital of the country… vehicles of every state are here. I think Amit Shah should seek apology from the Sikh community for this statement. People will teach them a lesson in the (Delhi) election by the power of their vote.”
Why Punjab is toed upon every time?
This is not the first time that such a derogatory statement against Punjabis has been issued by someone. During the 13-month long farmers’ agitation in 2020-21, some people, having a grudge against the farmers’ movement, even tagged the farmers as terrorists and Khalistanis. Why did the farmers stop entering Delhi? Why were they barricaded with nails? Not only that time, even today, the Punjab farmers, agitating at Khanauri and Sambhu borders, are being barred to carrying on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march? What threat does the BJP- led central government and its double engine Haryana government inhale from the Punjab farmers march to Delhi? Why are Punjab farmers not allowed to enter their own country’s capital to press upon their demands? Are the countrymen not even entitled to visit their capital? Why is the central government treating Punjab farmers as if they are not our natives, as alleged by the farmer leader, Sarvan Singh Pandher. UNI reporting on January 18, quoted Pandher, “Union government should not treat farmers as citizens of an enemy country.”
Pandher cited the news of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as good news for human rights activists across the world and hoped that the Narendra Modi government will allow farmers to go to New Delhi and protest peacefully, which is their democratic right.
Not only on farmers’ issues, Punjab is targeted on other platforms also. As alleged by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab, Himachal Pradesh Congress MLA Chandrashekhar Thakur has accused Punjab of being responsible for the drug problem in Himachal.
In a slamming statement, issued by AAP on January 22, the party has strongly condemned the statement of the Himachal leader stating it as irresponsible and baseless remarks.
The release quotes that in his controversial statement, Thakur claimed that drugs like “Chitta” are being supplied to Himachal from Punjab, alleging that Punjab has been actively working to destabilize Himachal’s youth. Thakur also made unfounded remarks about Punjab’s efforts to curb drug abuse and questioned the state’s initiatives like the establishment of a military academy.
Responding sharply to these allegations, Punjab AAP leader Neel Garg stated, “The statement by the Himachal Congress MLA is completely baseless, devoid of facts, and a deliberate attempt to malign Punjab’s reputation. It is ironic that the Congress, whose leadership has repeatedly failed to control the drug menace in its own state, is now pointing fingers at Punjab.”
Garg further exposed, “Himachal is home to illegal drug manufacturing hubs that have been repeatedly flagged by law enforcement agencies. Instead of addressing these hotspots and strengthening local policing, Congress leaders are busy playing the blame game.”
“Punjab’s youth have already suffered due to the drug menace, and it is shameful for Congress to further malign a state that has been battling this issue on multiple fronts,” Garg said.
Now the question arises — Isn’t some foul smell being fuelled in the air with the intention of defaming Punjab on every nook and corner? Is there someone scripting this conspiracy to defame Punjab, the country’s food court, with some hidden agenda or motive? Everyone will have to think over this to counter negative agenda and stabilise harmony in the society.
Jag Mohan Thaken is a Senior Journalist, Columnist & Political Analyst, views are personal