The divisive elements are lurking around to take advantage of the adverse situation. It calls for strong counteraction from the enforcement agencies

Despite launching search operations in Amritsar, Moja and Jalandhar districts in Punjab and later in Kurukshetra and Karnala districts of Haryana, the Punjab Police failed to arrest “Waris Punjab De” chief Amritpal Singh, who could dodge the police at will. At a crucial time when Punjab is facing multiple challenges like pitfalls of farm laws, drug menace, the exodus of Sikh youth to foreign lands, migration of labour from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and denial of justice to Bandi Sikhs, events unfolded swiftly when a well-built and clean- shaven Dubai based trucker suddenly emerged on the horizon of Punjab like a meteor, mimicked the demeanour, attire and oratory of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was overnight groomed as Bhindranwale 2.0.

However, in spite of all efforts of the organizers, he couldn’t fit into the role of fire-breathing preacher and rabble-rouser reformer which Bhindranwale was. Fortunately, the majority of Punjabis didn’t fall into the trap and quickly realized that it was a well-designed effort to create trouble in Punjab. They could make out that Amritpal was a plant in the fertile soil of Punjab to create secessionist unrest.

They realized that Amritpal was a bitter reminder of the dark phase of militancy during the 80s and immediately rejected its repetition. The appeal of Akal Takht Jathedar, and Giani Harpreet Singh to Amritpal through a video message “He should surrender and join the investigation” was a welcome message at the right time. Now, the question is who is behind popping up Amritpal and what were the Intelligence agencies doing while the “enemies of India” were on their job to create trouble in Punjab?

The inability of Punjab Police to immediately arrest of Amritpal has given credentials to the suspicion that he is being protected by some vested interests and powerful people within and outside the country. Initially, it appeared that the Central Intelligence agencies were using him to destabilize the state government paving way for President’s rule.

Now, with the cracking down of state and central agencies on Khalistani elements by arresting more than 122 of them, imposing of National Security Act and Centre providing all support by shifting the arrested suspects to Dibrugarh jail in Assam has diffused this theory.

It stands proved by the recent incidents of Amritpal moving into Mercedes Benz owned by a drug kingpin; his associates are supposed to have raised Rs 35 crores from donors abroad; reports of innumerable calls made by the fundraiser to contacts in Pakistan; the violent demonstrations of Khalistani elements outside the High Commissions in Great Britain, San Francisco and Time Square, New York in USA goes to prove a foreign hand in all the recent happenings.

All said and done, the present situation needs to be analysed keeping in mind the prevailing situation in Punjab. The first factor is that the Punjab farmers after emerging from the long protest movement and its aftermath are facing a major crisis in agriculture. They are still in protest mode because most of their demands have not been met and seem to be major recruits for secessionist activities by vested interests. The second factor is the alienation of the voters from the major political parties like the Akali Dal, BJP, Congress and even AAP whom they voted to power so enthusiastically, but, are now disillusioned. The vacuum created by moderate political parties is being occupied by fringe elements like Waris Punjab De and other sections of pro-khalistani political outfits with the support and money power of Diaspora Punjabi having Khalistani leanings to create trouble in Punjab.

Amritpal is being used as a pawn in the hands of these vested interests to create unrest in the minds of the people by using religious fervour and exploiting the unrest amongst the youth of Punjab. The irresponsible commentary and coverage in myth-making of Amritpal in print, TV and social media have been a dangerous trend that seems to be a repeat of the 80s in the case of Bhindranwale. The wide coverage of his attention-seeking actions followed by a series of interviews, exaggerations and distortions in reportage enormously inflated Amritpal’s actions providing him with a platform that he hardly deserved.

However, despite the planned projection of Amritpal, the Sikh community has seen through his game. With the violence in Ajnala and the attack on the police station, Amritpal s visible efforts to shield himself behind the motorized Palki on which Guru Gobind Sahib was being carried, even while his associates broke through the police barricades, his brave declarations challenging the police to arrest him and at the same time abandonment of his supporters and flight in the face of actual arrest, many social media clips demonstrating panic and desperation on his part and that of his supporters, clearly indicates his cowardice and opportunism which has not gone well with the Punjabis. This is apparent from the fact that there has been no genuine protest or opposition to police action and arrests.

Undoubtedly, Punjab is on a boil. The situation is under control for the time being, but, the divisive elements are lurking around to take advantage of the adverse situation and it calls for strong counteraction from the enforcement agencies.

(The writer is a senior journalist and Chairman, Panwar Group of Institutions, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The views expressed are personal)