September 1, 1962 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY

Punjab Letter. The Akali Rift

WHILE he has not formally set Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon, the attack by expelling a number of up a rival Akali Dal, Sam Chief Minister, has benefited the the Sam's leading supporters for Pateh Singh has really formed a most from the Akali rift. The "anti-party activities" — a con­ separate organisation of his own police, once it entered the Gurud- venient enough charge. With his within the Dal. This, he claims, is wara, occupied strategic positions hold on the Akali organisation, the only "legal" body. Master and arrested a number of Akalis, which in no small measure is due Tara Singh continues to control the belonging to both the factions, to to his personal control over the old offices but Sam Pateh Singh is prevent a clash. That hardly a party funds, Tara Singh could be appointing his own executive com­ murmur has been raised against reasonably sure of scoring an easy mittee and is even starting his own the entry of the police into the victory over the Sant. But he newspaper. Both factions claim Gurudwara indicates the people's gravely under-estimated the latter's the sanction of the General Body of indifference towards the whole popularity as also his determina­ the Dal. The respective sides did affair. tion to fight it out to the bitter end. indeed "elect" one of the two lea­ Master Preferred to Sant For unlike his previous opponents ders as President and "expel" the who had either joined the Congress What will , be Chief Minister other from membership — having or left politics, the Sant, by his Kairon's next move? The Akali taken care to invite only its own manipulations, almost succeeded in rift definitely helps consolidate his supporters to the respective meet­ making Tara Singh appear as the position. The two factions are ac­ ings. About 200 'delegates' are "dissident". The Sam's decision to cusing each other of having played said to have attended the meeting hold a convention of his followers into his hands. He, of course, de­ convened by. the Sant, and about 50 inside the Golden Temple, a day be­ nies any understanding with either or so, the one by Tara Singh, fore the Master was to hold his of them, but it seems likely that he though the latter figure was put by own meeting, put Tara Singh very would very much wish Tara Singh the sponsors at a precise 231. Both much on the defensive. to continue as the Akali chief. The the factions seem anxious to keep reason is that while Tara Singh Tara Singh Unmasked up the Action of a single Akali Dal does occasionally start a "move­ Hitherto Tara Singh's strength but the fact is that there are two ment" against the Government, he lay in the picture he had created of parallel organisations at present. has not the determination to carry himself as a Saint-Politician. Even Government intervention prevent­ it to the end. Many times in the his bitter critics seldom doubted his ed an imminent trial of strength last few years Tara Singh has let sincerity. This image has, how- but a clash between the two fac­ an agitation get to a high pitch, ever, now been tarnished. There tions may not be far off. The only to ditch it ultimately. These have been uncomplimentary re- 8 G P C is to meet shortly to dis­ Akali pinpricks actually strengthen ferences to his "fast unto death" cuss the Sam-initiated no-confidence Kairon's position in the Congress. which few, even then, took serious­ motion against the Committee Pre­ He begins to look "indispensable" ly. The Sant has actually, threaten­ sident, Kirpal Singh Sherewala, a for the Congress in Punjab. A ed to make public some "facts" non-entity whom Tara Singh has more determined and steadfast about the fast. propped up as President. If the Akali leadership, of the type that As for Sant Fateh Singh, while meeting is held and a violent clash the Sant may possibly provide, his following is chiefly among the is averted Tara Singh may still could, on the other hand, cause real town-dwelling Sikhs (mainly shop- prevail. For he has the vital discomfiture to the Chief Minister, keepers), his popularity among organisational — and financial — either by carrying the opposition to Sikh peasantry is also considerable. control in his hands. All the same, his Government to a successful con­ The acute embarrassment that the he will not find it easy to "quell" clusion or by getting routed and Sam's campaigning on behalf of the rebellion. thus ending the "Akali problem" the Akali candidate caused the which he so badly needs for his In the meantime, a long-standing Chief Minister in his own consti­ own continued supremacy in the tradition has been broken. Panic­ tuency is proof of this. As against State. king at the determination of the this, Tara Singh has the advanta­ Sant to convene a General Body To return to the Pickwickian ges of having control over the meeting within the Golden Temple farce being staged at Amritsar, the party's finances and a more vocal area, Tara Singh sought official rift was precipitated by Tara Singh, following. But even if he scores a aid to maintain "law and order", when it became apparent that he tactical victory against the Sam in thereby permitting the entry of the was facing the gravest threat to his the forthcoming meeting of the police into the precincts of the leadership so far. Using the tech­ S G P C, (which he may well do if Temple. Soon, of course, he saw nique he has employed on many the Government does not in the his mistake, for it had given the occasions during the last forty meantime suspend the Committee Sant an effective propaganda years, he tried to isolate Sant Pateh itself), the Sam will always re­ weapon and so now he vehemently Singh in an attempt to force him main a challenge to Master Tara denies having called the police, Into submission. He began the Singh's leadership of the Akali Dal.

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