There has been endless talk, especially in the last four troubled years in Punjab, of unity of religion and politics in Sikhism. This talk has been part of a deliberate and mischievous plan, to establish that Sikhism is closer to Islam than to Sanatana Dharma. That is, of course, so … Read More
In another two days the Venkataramiah commission will have given its award in the dispute between Punjab and Haryana on the question of the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and some Hindi-speaking areas of the state to Haryana in lieu thereof. In view of its terms of reference, the commission … Read More
The long feared exodus of Hindus from Punjab has finally begun. It can assume unmanageable proportions and lead to a national disaster if it is not checked while it may still not be too late. It is 11 p.m. in the life not only of the Sikh community but also … Read More
The Congress vice-president, Mr. Arjun Singh, has only stated the obvious. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee’s case was closed the day he was expelled from the party for six long years, the so-called working president, Mr. Kamlapati Tripathi’s, two letters to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi notwithstanding. This was evident from the fact that … Read More
Mr. L.K. Advani cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for the change in his party’s name from Bharatiya Jana Sangh to Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980 and at the same time justify the recent decision to emphasize its RSS roots. The reason is simple. Which is that he cannot tell the … Read More
Mr Surjit Singh Barnala has made history of sorts. He has become the first Sikh chief minister of Punjab to agree to dust the shoes of visitors to a gurdwara as an “atonement”. But atonement for what? On a superficial view, the answer is obvious. Mr. Barnala is being made … Read More
In keeping with its practice in the past, the Union government has used the adjournment of Parliament to promulgate an ordinance. This, as has been pointed out more than once in these columns, constitutes an abridgement of the powers of Parliament and is, therefore, contrary to the spirit of parliamentary … Read More
Eleven out of the 12 new entrants into the Union council of ministers are staunch Indira loyalists. Surely, this cannot be the sole reason for their appointment. But it cannot be a mere accident that as many as 11 out of the 12 new appointees are men and women who … Read More
Regardless of their religious affiliations, large sections of the Indian intelligentsia are agreed that in pushing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill through Parliament, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has delivered a body blow to the cause of secularism, nationalism and modernism in the country. Indeed, it would not … Read More
Only those who are not familiar with the history of the Akali Dal will be surprised by the latest split in it. The Akalis are a fractious lot incapable of holding together for long in office. The divisions in their ranks have been evident from the time of their victory … Read More
