For months, Dera Sacha Sauda has been a target of hatred and violence because of the controversial attire and mannerisms that its chief Ram Rahim Singh adopted to emulate 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh. Over a dozen people died and an attempt was made on Ram Rahim’s life after clashes broke out between Sikhs and Dera followers.
But with the Lok Sabha election under way, Dera has become a place of political bonhomie where leaders of all hues have been making a beeline to curry support.
With over 4 lakh followers in Punjab and about 2.5 lakh in Haryana, Dera could tilt the electoral balance in over a dozen seats in the two states. In Punjab, Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Ferozepur, which go to poll on May 7, will be affected.
The leaders who have lately called on the Dera chief include Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former CM Bhajan Lal, former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, former Rajasthan CM Vijayaraje Scindia and former Punjab PCC president Mohinder Singh Kaypee.
Confirming the visits, Dera spokesman Pawan Insan said, “They came for ashirwad of the Dera chief after prior appointment. The Dera chief never discusses politics or elections. He gives ashirwad to all who pay him a visit.”
There are strong indications that Dera followers would support the Congress as they did last election. The political wing of Dera has been holding a series of meetings to decide on the matter. There have been conflicting viewpoints. While a section favours outright support to the Congress, others feel the decision should be left to individuals.
The recent assertion of the Dera chief that the political affairs wing constituted by devotees had the right to take a collective decision on supporting a party or a person has added to the anxiety of parties.
In Punjab, their confrontation with Sikhs has been a cause of serious worry for chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh. The Akali Dal had suffered a massive setback in the last assembly election in 2007 when Dera followers joined the Congress bandwagon. The Badals, this time, have been making overtures to the Dera chief to strike a compromise.
There have been strong undercurrents among Dera followers to shun the Akalis after the Akal Takht head priest pronounced punishment to Ram Rahim for his sacrilegious acts.
However, distancing himself from the political decision of his followers, the Dera chiefrecently said, “The devotees have formed their political affairs wing; this is their wish, their matter. They do have this right. Now, these people say they would vote en masse. How can a saint interfere and say that you must break your unity? Since childhood, we have been taught in moral science that unity is strength. This is incomprehensible - how can they be asked by me to break unity? This sounds undignified. This is the wish of the devotees.”
Posted By Staff Reporter
in Featured
0 comments