Today, when the Akali Dal whips up passions in Punjab, people like Surinder Singh-- who is living in fear in a Delhi gurudwara -- and the group of lawyers fighting the case in the courts cannot help being cynical. "Whether it is the Akalis or the Congress, neither has been sincere towards the Sikh cause. Both have used it for their political ends. But the insincerity of the Akalis is worse because the party exists for the interests of Sikhs", says Navkiran Singh, prominent human rights lawyer, presently heading the SFJ’s Punjab chapter.
Is the Sikh anguish that is being seen on the streets in Punjab and Delhi today then, manufactured? The hurt within the larger community remains, the anger is like a festering sore even today, and most say they have no real hope for justice. The difference is that the ordinary Sikh refuses to ally with any political party on this issue anymore. It is his private angst which finds expression now and then, but is not a political statement anymore. Even the country’s first Sikh PM, Manmohan Singh, who is otherwise very popular in Punjab, has let them down on this issue. Manmohan Singh apologized for the carnage in parliament, but it ended up as yet another farce because the apology was not accompanied by concrete action in making those responsible for it accountable.
Punjabis nowadays are fed up of watching endless replays of Hawain a Punjabi film based on the 84 riots, running on Fastway TV Channel widely believed to be controlled by Sukhbir Badal. His infamous youth Akali Dal is confabulating on how to keep the issue on the boil, till the election campaign ends. Jagdish Tytler has withdrawn from the electoral fray, and Sajjan Kumar too might follow suit. This will be taken to the people as a victory of the Akali Dal. The party’s contribution towards avenging the atrocities on Sikhs.