Punjab poll partners Akalis, BJP differ on key issues

The Akali Dal (Badal) and the Bharatiya Janata Party have taken diametrically opposed stands on the sensitive issues in Punjab though they are contesting the February 7 assembly polls in the state jointly.

While the Dal manifesto pledges to fight for "true federalism" as contained in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, the BJP is opposed to it and holds the view that the devolution of powers to the states should not in any way "weaken the nation or the pre-eminence of the centre (federal government)".

The Akali manifesto assures the people of Punjab that if voted to power they would scrap all previous accords on the adjudication of interstate river water disputes including the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal project of taking water to Haryana and other Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab.

But the BJP manifesto, however, does not share the Akali perception on these issues and advocate peaceful means be adopted "to solve Punjab's outstanding disputes... And efforts will be made to settle these disputes amicably to everybody's satisfaction in the spirit of camaraderie through discussions with the states concerned and the centre (federal government)". These disputes involve the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the federal government.

Both allies - the Dal and the BJP - released separate manifestos on January 26 and 30 respectively over and above their "common minimum programme", issued in mid-December.

On the sensitive issue of human rights violations in Punjab, the Dal pledges to set up a state human rights commission, but the BJP is silent over the matter and asserts that "it shall make no concession to those who indulge in violence and will ensure the enforcement of the rule of law at all costs".

The Dal has all along accorded prime status to the Punjabi language and made its learning compulsory in educational institutions besides making it the official language of the state.

The BJP, however, declares that "greater efforts need to be made to popularise the use of Hindi at the official level in Punjab. The BJP is committed to promoting the use of Hindi and accord the national language its due status in Punjab". The manifesto, however, is silent on promotion of the Punjabi language.

Both parties, which entered into an alliance in May last year when the Dal unilaterally extended support to the federal government of Atal Behari Vajpayee, have developed a common understanding on minor issues like granting special loans to Dalits and other benefits, more sops to the government employees, abolition of "inspector raj" and octroi, various facilities for trade and small-scale sector industry.

But both, the Dal and the BJP, seek to give 33 per cent reservation in government jobs for women and ensure corruption-free and clean administration.

But unlike the Akalis, the BJP pledges to set up Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Bhimrao Ambedkar Universities in Punjab.

The manifesto of the Congress - the third major player in the fray has opposed the Anandpur Sahib Resolution which it views as the fountainhead of the separatist tendencies that aided and abetted by the Akalis.

However, the Congress has committed itself to the transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab besides fighting the state's right on river waters on the basis of internationally accepted riparian principles.

The Congress considers the Rajiv-Longowal accord of 1985 as relevant for solving the pending issues of Punjab.

Like the Akalis and the BJP, the congress too promised free education to girls up to graduation, 30 per cent reservation for women in government jobs and free irrigation water and electricity to farmers.

However, the congress manifesto is silent on the sensitive issue of completing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal project.

The manifesto does not say anything on the alleged violation of human rights in the state but asserts that the Congress will make every effort "to scuttle the Akalis' move to bring terrorism back in Punjab".

The Congress is vociferous in saying that terrorism erupted during the Akali government when the Akalis and Nirankaris clashed in Amritsar on Baisakhi Day in 1978 and later they (Akalis) converted the political and economic issues into a religious fight and took it to the premises of the Golden Temple which opened an era of bloodshed in the state.

Besides this, the Congress sees the Akali-BJP alliance as "A great threat to India's unity and integrity."

UNI