The criminal activities of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, Haryana compel one to ponder over the question “Whither is Indian Democracy headed?” Warren Jeffs, head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a polygamist sect in the US remained on FBI most wanted list for two years on counts of rape and spiritual marriages with teenaged girls. Considered as a prophet by his followers, he commanded a perfect obedience from them. He was arrested and put behind bars. But after his conviction polygamist sect became totally dysfunctional and leaderless. The raid on Texas Ranch by the state authorities demolished whatever remained of the inner functioning of the controversial sect. The little relief that the court provided to polygamist mothers to get back their children could not restore the former glory and convenience to carry on criminal activities.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa Haryana, however, had much more serious charges of coercion, rape and murder. But to talk of locking him up, he continues to enjoy all the privileges that are reserved for the highest functionary of the nation state. On June 22, 2008, Gurmeet Ram Rahim fled the scene after his security guard first prevented Balkar Singh from entering a shop in North Eastern suburb of Bombay , smashed his car and finally gunned him down in the broad day light. Sikhs in their dismay and shock tried to alert the authorities to arrest the culprits. But contrary to their expectations, the administration at the highest level decided to bail him out in a chartered helicopter to his headquarters in Sirsa. This act of the custodian of democracy gave a severe blow to law abiding citizens and their faith in the constitution. Sources say more rewards will follow for his role in making the environs of India’s financial capital charged with communal hatred, threat and elimination of the minority communities. It reminds us that democracy in India thrives on unabashed misdemeanors of the likes of Bal Thackeray and Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Their followers act like soldiers of the failed and defeated state.
Sikhs in Bombay came out in the streets to stop the convoy of Gurmeet Ram Rahim who took off after committing the crime. Some of them had swords in their hands and others just came by to join the protest. They lost a proud member of their community at the murderous hands of Dera chief. Skeletons have been piling up in Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s closet ever since he assumed the leadership of the sect. Balkar Singh’s murder is an addition to his list of crimes. Bombay Sikh community didn’t know how to take Balkar’s assassination in its stride; it remained by and large detached from the politics of the North. Many Bombay Sikhs may not be even fully conversant with the activities of Dera Sauda. They were absolutely not prepared for the sad visitation.
As per the law of the land, Dera Chief should have gone behind bars after CBI charge- sheeted him for murder and serial rapes of Saadhvis. Contrary to the expectations, Haryana Government provided him with Z Plus security considering his strategic importance for the Congress machine in the coming parliamentary election. It is said that the government is in fact instrumental in sharpening his weapons and increasing the range of his killing instinct.
Sikhs in Bombay who thought they could force the Congress government to arrest the Dera chief were living in a fool’s paradise. The journalists of Haryana in 2003 tried their best to exert pressure to get Gurmeet Ram Rahim arrested when the editor of “Poora Sachh” Ram Chander Chhatrapati was slaughtered for daring to tell the truth. Media Channels like Tehlka in 2007 were unsuccessful when they exposed Gurmeet Ram Rahim through his former driver Khatta Singh. Sikhs in Punjab failed to make any headway in his arrest when Dera Chief mocked Sikhs’ Tenth Guru Gobind Singh. CBI could not make any dent when finally it established evidence of his direct involvement in rape and murder; however, for the same charges any other citizen would have been locked up without bail and ultimately hanged to death. Judiciary turned its blind eye to the gruesome happenings at the Dera. The Executive adored Dera Chief for providing them with the secretive comforts that otherwise would be impossible. The parliament found no time to debate if Dr. Ambedkar’s constitution of India had been shelved or constantly abused to seek unconstitutional favors. It seems that the allegiance to invisible, unwritten and secretly-guarded saffron code has taken precedence over all laws of the land. It has become mandatory for all parties willingly or unwillingly to follow the national agenda (euphemism for saffron code).
An ardent admirer of Hitler, an arch enemy of Muslims and a Messiah of Modern Hinduism, Shiv Sena Head Bal Thackeray threatened the protesting Sikhs to hit back if they dared to raise their voice publicly . Considered above all laws of the land and undisputed monarch of Maharashtra, he seemed to have already prearranged through his cells in the state police merciless beating of Sikhs. The images of sword bearing Sikhs in Mulund streets were counterproductive to his already established supremacy. Justice Srikrishna indicted him and his Sena for deaths of more than 1000 Muslims who came out in streets to protest the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1993. His role in Bombay riots ironically won him victory in the state election. Then he became the King maker and commanded undisputed authority to ride over even judicial verdicts and enquiries. The insatiable thirst for violence made him portray Sikhs wrongly as terrorizing Hindu men, women and children The beating of baptized Sikhs he thought would win more admirers for him. He claimed to have saved Sikhs in Bombay who otherwise would have been burnt alive in streets.
Bal Thackeray’s support to the President Pratibha Patil in Presidential election in 2007 projected him larger than party politics. He elevated his stature by becoming crucial to both Congress and Bhartya Janta Party. His outbursts against Sikhs must have been to embolden Gurmeet Ram Rahim in his unashamed role of a hatemonger. Both national parties are competing with each other to reap the harvest of poison in the ensuing parliamentary election.
As the trial court in Ambala is in the process of finalizing judgment for his conviction on counts of murder and rape, Gurmeet Ram Rahim is desperately looking for immunity from the law of the land. How Shiv Sena stalwart Bal Thackeray avoided his direct involvement in the murder of about 1000 Muslims in Bombay must have intrigued Ram Rahim to follow the suit. The Maharashtra government always postponed arresting Bal Thackeray in interest of peace and goodwill which otherwise would be endangered. Will the impending arrest of Ram Rahim cause a large scale destabilization? Will the question of maintaining harmony and good relations require not arresting him under any circumstances?
