31. WHY DID I LEAVE THE AKALI DAL?
Even in childhood, I was the convener of the
Patiala division Kisan Wing of the Punjab
Congress. Sardar Hans Raj Sharma was the General
Secretary of the Congress. At that time he had a
great influence on the Congress. We wanted to
hold a farmers 'rally in Bathinda on some
farmers' issues. I met Hans Raj Sharma with
deputation of some special men. Sharma ji
refused financial help at all and explained that
you could not understand the intention of the
farmers. To get vote of the Kisan i.e. Jatt, you
should give up hope of resolving their issues.
There is factionalism among them for their
Chaudhar. Fighting is common. You increase
factionalism. Join the big group.
I shared this idea of Sharma with many senior
Congress leaders. Almost everyone agreed with
this idea. I handed over my resignation from
Kisan Wing to Mr. Gurdev Singh Ji, Pradhan
Sahib. Thanking him, said that I am unable to
follow this principle.
I had decided to contest from Rampura Phool as
an independent candidate. Sant Fateh Singh Ji's
born in Vidyalaya village falls in this
constituency. In this constituency, the Akali
Dal candidate had lost security several times to
the Communist candidate Master Babu Singh, close
relative of Giani Zail Singh Ji.
In the childhood, I was influenced by communist
ideology. So I did a thorough study of Communism
and Socialism. But when I had the opportunity to
see this ideology, put into the practice in
Russia, I did not see any difference between the
imperial dictatorship and the communist
dictatorship. I wanted to stop the growing
influence of communists in my constituency. I
had decided to contest from Rampura Phool as an
independent candidate only for the purpose of
defeating communist. People thought I was right.
Out of 50,000 votes, in a three-cornered battle,
I won with 6,500 votes.
After my victory, Giani Zail Singh Ji refused to
include me in the Congress. Because I fought the
election against the Congress. Although I had a
special attachment with Giani ji. If Giani ji's
political responsibility is put aside, and his
personal personality is measured, then he was a
god-like human being.
I left the Congress and joined the Akali Dal. I
was happy because the Akali Dal was considered a
party of farmers. But in reality at that time
the Akali Dal was not fighting for the interests
of the peasants but was fighting for power. The
use of money and liquor was used as a weapon to
sideline Sant Fateh Singh Ji, who had enabled
the Akali Dal to rule. Under the pretext of
party meetings, the loyalty of Panthic MLAs was
being changed, by the greed of drink, meat and
money.
Almost all the MLAs seemed ready to take this
greed. However, the effect of this campaign on
Surjeet Singh Barnala, Jasdev Singh Sandhu and
Satnam Singh Bajwa was not felt. All three
attended meetings but did not drink and eat. One
day Sandhu Sahib told me "Jalal this food will
be painful for us". When I asked him to explain,
he said, "To eat this food, you have to kill
your conscience and give up Panthic
aspirations." Sandhu Sahib confirmed my
suppressed idea. I started started to be absent
at dinners. Before that I was considered a good
speaker and I was selected many times by the
legislature to speak on specific matters. After
this, in a BJP conference in Delhi, Sardar
Balwinder Singh Bhunder was elected to speak,
instead of me.
In the coming elections, I was given the Akali
ticket for being a sitting MLA. But the Badal
group vehemently opposed me and supported the
Communist candidate. In the election, the Badal
group held election rallies against me in my
constituency, as a means of defeating me and
also used various other tactics. The communist
candidate was considered a Panthic candidate and
I was declared a traitor to the liquor group.
Despite this, I won by almost 2000 votes. The
workers began to celebrate the victory. An
unexpected announcement of a sudden postal vote
count was made. A large box filled with alleged
postal votes was brought to the counting table.
These votes were not in envelopes, they were
stamped on local ballot papers. The countdown
has begun. The ninth vote went to Karam Singh
Master, who himself was a polling agent. The
whole fraud was exposed. There was a lot of
noise. Police picked up the alleged wallet and
took it inside. The Returning Officer declared
the Communist candidate, as the winner by 2000
votes.
With the election results, the Akali government
came into being. The government could have
investigated the incident. The Judicial
Commission could also investigate. But I did not
get any support from the government and the
party. I filed an Election petition. My lawyer
demanded some documents, which were to be
provided by the Badal government and the party
president. These were not provided. One and a
half year later, the Akali government fell.
Although relief was later obtained from the High
Court, it was in vain. I felt that Badal Sahib
had no place for any honest or competent man.
There are many incidents which prove that I did
a lot for Mr. Badal and Badal Akali Dal.
Needless to say. But here I must mention a very
honest politician, S Surjeet Singh Barnala to
compare with S Badal.
In 1977, a coalition government was formed at
the Center. Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala became the
Minister of Agriculture. The department of
Barnala Sahib had 7 secretaries, ie 7
departments. Hon’ble Murarji Desai was the Prime
Minister. Which were considered strict and of
their own nature. He directed Barnala Sahib to
appoint competent personalities in various
institutions. You have to make so many
appointments. If did wrong, I will dismiss. Shri
Desai directed to send files to him before
sending these to PMO. Barnala Sahib may have
felt distressed. He may have been impressed by
my high English and dedication to the subject. S
Barnala deputed me to carry files to PM house.
Without any request from me, considering my
contribution to the Akali Dal and my
qualifications, I was granted membership of the
Indian Agricultural Prices Commission and the
directorship of Indian Agricultural Research
Institute Pusa, the governing body of 64
agricultural universities in India at that time,
by Hon’ble PM himself. There was no question of
any political corruption relating to S. Barnala.
He did not ask anyone for a single penny of
party fund.
It was here, that I actually got a chance to
explore India's economy. A comparative study of
the Indian economy with the developed world. It
made me to realize the need for much-needed
projects for India. Many projects were prepared.
These projects could have been a boon for the
Punjab, but the all fell prey to the looters
imperialists.
All I want to say about myself, that I am not a
man of greedy nature. If I was greedy for money
or power, I would not quit politics just because
Badal Sahib said "Jalal Sahib I forgave you".
The above incidents related to Badal Sahib,
though was a routine word for Badal Sahib. But I
understood the meaning, Badal Sahib's innermost
feelings, and decided to take it in full depth.
The incidents were very minor. Badal Sahib was
the Chief Minister of Punjab. The Akali
Legislative Party was holding a meeting. The
agenda was to raise money for the Akali
Conferences and to raise as much as possible.
Most suggestions were sought. In my turn, I was
of the opinion that buses and trucks cost a lot
of money to transport people. Because sometimes
truck operators' unions, or transport companies,
don't provide diesel. Apart from this, sangat
has to be gathered from each village to fill
several buses. These resources also come at a
high cost.
But apart from that Rs 20,000 has to be given,
each MLA or former MLA as conference fund. While
all conferences are held in Gurdwaras. Where
stage, speaker, rugs, langar etc. are arranged
by Gurdwara Sahib. My request is that if this
20,000 is forgiven then double truck buses full
of sangat can be brought. Badal Sahib got some
serious. After some thought he said "Jalal Sahib
I forgave you".
Although this was trivial. But it was not
trivial for me. It was clear that Badal Sahib
put money interests before party interests.
Badal Sahib does not value hard work. My
constituency Rampura Phul was the nest of
communists. From there, always the comrade won.
The Akali Dal had lost six times. Security was
also seized several times. I surveyed the
communist ideology at a very young age.
Communism seemed to me a terrible dictatorship.
I became an independent candidate at a very
young age to eliminate the influence of
Communism from my constituency. I gave my
opinion to the public. They listened to me.
Considered and accepted. It was the first time I
had joined the Akali Dal being Azad Legislator.
The whole constituency had become Akali.
Earlier, the Akali Dal did not have a single
panchayat. After my victory, Akali Panchayats
were formed in all the villages. But for Badal
Sahib, only money was valued. All the MLAs and
Akali leaders felt this. That Badal Sahib, only
values is money. The one who brings more money,
will get a higher position. Bring it from
anywhere. Do cheating looting with anyone.
I could not do that. Where did the money come
from? From the people in your constituency. Who
respected the MLA or the Akali leader as Massiah
as God. When MLA had to go to their house, they
would make arrangements as if some divine power
was to come. Their poverty was obvious. Even the
most basic needs were not being met.
My conscience did not allow me to break my
promise of free service to them, to show them
false gardens, to take money by deception, and
to place them at the feet of Badal Sahib, where
there was already a heap of unfathomable notes,
I knew in advance. So I decided to retire from
politics. Not even voted in any panchayat or
society election.
I have a close opportunity to explore Badal
Sahi's election strategy. Obliging the press and
media, to keep them on their side. False
propaganda through disinformation among the
people. Personal and economic alliance with the
main opposition, are the major weapons of their
election policy. This policy of Badal Sahib
started at the assembly constituency level with
Harcharan Singh Brar, Leader of Opposition.
According to which he had to seek help from him
in his constituency and by giving help in his
constituency. He humiliated the Akali candidate
S. Gurmeet Singh. The end of this policy, at the
level of the Chief Minister, ends with the
alliance with Manmohan Singh. SGPC of about 50
billion annual income submitted to the man of S
Manmohan Singh. Himself digested billions of
central gov.
Speaking against the Badalshahi dictator ship
was a death knell. Those who spoke out against
the government, those who opposed corruption,
were put to death. Their responsibility was
placed on the innocent, who were already burning
in the jails, who were the victims of any
conspiracy. Even before they had a chance to
reveal any truth, such innocents would end up in
jails. The news does not even appear in the
press. The court is also unable to provide
protection, on appeal to the Judicial Court. Not
every plaintiff, victim, can go to the High
Court in this regard. Justice is very expensive.
If found, found too late. The High Court has no
means of identifying genuine and fake
plaintiffs. There is still a long way, to go
before the High Court.
By that time I had twice won assembly seat in
the Punjab. I had become a member of the
Agriculture Price Commission. I was also
nominated as the Director of the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, Pusha New Delhi
(which conducts research on all agricultural
universities in India). Apart from this I was
also an officer bearer of many other
organizations. I was also honored by my
detective based speeches in the Punjab Vidhan
Sabha. But S Badal dismissed me that I was
anable to offer money according to the desire of
Badal Sahib.