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
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