Arvind Kejriwal must check Khalistani sentiments in Punjab

In a democracy, will of the people is supreme. But with faith and blessings of the electorate, comes great responsibility to put nation and state above one’s self.

Firstly, I want to congratulate Arvind Kejriwal and his party for securing a thumping victory in the state of Punjab. His skill of convincing the voters deserves applause. Having said that, there is no doubt that grave errors of judgment on part of the Congress greatly helped Aam Aadmi Party’s campaign.

From the ouster of sitting chief minister Captain Amarindar Singh in favor of a much hyped Navjot Singh Sidhu, to clipping the latter’s wings for appeasing backward classes through Charanjit Singh Channi. Congress left no stone unturned in creating a mess of the Government as well as its election campaign. Several of their leaders including former state president Sunil Jakhar washed their dirty linen in public throughout the poll season.

Indecisiveness of Rahul Gandhi can be termed as one of the biggest reasons for the rout of Congress in Punjab.

The campaign itself was marred by attempts of polarization and fanning separatist sentiments. While former chief minister Charanjit Channi made derogatory remarks against people of Delhi and Bihar, several AAP leaders cozied up to separatist elements in a blatant manner.

The damning allegations levelled against Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal himself by former colleague and friend Kumar Vishwas came as a shock to the entire country. Nearly all political leaders aspire to assume power but very few can match the devious intentions of the Delhi chief minister as disclosed by Vishwas.

However, people of Punjab had become fed up of constant infighting in the previous Government and decided to give Kejriwal the benefit of the doubt.

Now that AAP has won the elections and Bhagwant Mann is set to become the chief minister of Punjab, it is important to understand the geopolitical significance of the state.

Since independence, Punjab has been at the receiving end of an onslaught by our neighbor as it is considered to be the fort protecting the rest of the country. Forces in various parts of the world have been trying to create a wedge between communities in Punjab through their nefarious designs.

We all know about the time when terrorism had dug its heels in the state. It took countless sacrifices to save Punjab and stop it from becoming another Kashmir.

In the last couple of decades, leaders across party lines from Prakash Singh Badal to Captain Amarindar Singh ensured that nationalist sentiments are put above petty politics and no room is given to any sort of separatist tendencies. However, the same attitude cannot be assumed from the incoming government and its leaders. Time and again, they have shown that short term political gains are more important to them than the larger interest of the nation.

It is now the duty of all the citizens of the country to constantly put pressure on Arvind Kejriwal as well as the Punjab government for keeping a check on Khalistani sentiments in the state and not allowing people with a separatist mindset to succeed. It is also the duty of all leaders of Punjab to work in tandem on this issue to stop history from repeating itself.

The only deterrent for Arvind Kejriwal is losing elections. Therefore, the country needs to make sure that he is not forgiven should he choose to act on his alleged ‘masterplan’.

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