Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, with no trivial influence in Malwa region having 69 of the 117 assembly seats, is yet to shower its blessings on any political party in Punjab. A day after its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released on furlough till February 27, the Dera on Tuesday made it clear that its political wing would hold consultations with the followers before coming out with its decision on supporting a political party.
Dera head, whose blessings the political leaders have been seeking ahead of polls prior to his conviction, was granted three-week furlough on Monday — a development that may possibly have a bearing on the poll outcome in Punjab.
As the news of Ram Rahim’s release went around, the followers, from different regions in Punjab, started calling the Dera’s political wing to enquire about whom to support in this election. “After the Dera chief came out, the sangat is calling and seeking opinion about casting votes. We have asked them to wait and in the next two-three days, we would start taking the sangat’s opinion to finally arrive at a decision which will be communicated to all,” the Dera official, who did not wish to be named, told The Pioneer.
The Dera official said that there is resentment among the followers after several dera premis’ were arrested and named as accused in the cases of sacrilege, which hit the State in 2015. “There is resentment among the premis and they believed that all this is being done under a political conspiracy as Pita ji (as Dera chief is referred to by his followers) never had any involvement in the politics. His aim is to serve the society,” said the official, while making it clear that the political wing’s decision to take followers’ feedback has nothing to do with the sect head’s furlough.
Notably, names of several Dera followers have surfaced in the sacrilege cases and also 2017 Maur Mandi blast. In the sacrilege case, the SIT had even questioned Dera chief in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail, and also Dera manager PR Nain in Sirsa.
Currently, the Sirsa-based sect chief is lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail in Haryana after his conviction in rape and murder cases. During his furlough, till February 27, he has been asked to stay at his Gurugram farmhouse, disallowing him to visit Dera headquarters at Sirsa. Also, during his stay, Ram Rahim would not be allowed to meet anyone, “except his family members”.
The 21-day furlough comes barely 13 days before Punjab goes to the polls on February 20, where it has over 35 lakh followers, with a majority from social and economically marginalized backgrounds. Apart from Punjab, the Dera also has a significant following in another poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh.
Even though Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had made it clear that the furlough to sect head was a “coincidence” and “has nothing to do with any polls”, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday linked it to the state assembly polls. SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami had accused the BJP of spoiling the atmosphere in the country “for the purpose of gaining political advantage in the elections”.
DERA’S PRESENCE IN PUNJAB
Sirsa-based Dera, headed by controversial self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim, claims that it has more than 35 lakhs followers in Punjab alone. It is said to have its presence in Punjab’s Malwa region — having a maximum 69 of the 117 assembly segments. On these, the Dera has a major influence on at least 40 constituencies, especially among the Dalit Sikhs. The Malwa region comprises the districts of Ferozepur, Bathinda, Muktsar, Sangrur, Mansa, Patiala, Barnala, Faridkot, Moga, Ludhiana, and Mohali. The majority of Dera followers are Dalits. In fact, the state has the largest share of Dalit population among all states in the country with 32 percent falling in the category.
In all, Dera has around 84 branches in Punjab; with the largest of them being Salabatpura, Bathinda, which has 11 Dera units. Even though the Dera has a political wing, it has always been claimed that the followers are free to support any political party or candidate they like. The choice was strategically conveyed to the Dera followers, who, it is believed, vote en masse.
DERA’S POLITICAL WING FORMED IN 2006-07
In 2006-07, Dera created its political wing, and for each state, a separate wing was created comprising 45 members. In these, Dera’s chief’s most trusted were included. For the first time in 2007 Punjab elections, Dera’s political wing directly supported the Congress. Despite supporting the Congress, SAD-BJP Government was formed in 2007. Dera’s political wing usually makes the decision. Despite having the power to swing polls in favour of one party and against another, the 2017 election was an exception. Dera chief, ahead of the 2017 election, had openly announced the support for the SAD-BJP alliance. But, the alliance faced a resounding defeat recording its worst-ever performance with just 18 seats. As of now, the Dera is keeping the cards close to its chest. It has been learnt that the sect will announce its support for any party. In fact, it is believed that Dera will announce its support from certain seats, and that too secretively. Dera Sacha Sauda’s political wing head Ram Singh maintained that as of now, no decision has been taken regarding Punjab assembly elections. “As soon as a decision is taken, it will be conveyed to everyone,” he said.
POLITICAL LEADERS MAKE BEELINE
As soon as the elections are announced, the politicians – cutting across party lines – make a beeline to deras, including Dera Sacha Sauda. In all, Punjab has at least 15,000 small and big deras, which are often frequented by political leaders, especially during poll season. Only recently, several leaders from the BJP, Congress, AAP, and SAD appeared at Dera Sacha Sauda’s congregation at Salabatpura in Bathinda, on January 9. On January 25, Dera Sacha Sauda organised another event at its Sirsa headquarters, which was considered as the show of strength by the sect ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections. The event was attended by BJP MLA from Abohar Arun Narang, BJP candidate from Sardulgarh Jagjit Singh Milkha, Congress leader Mangat Rai Bansal whose wife Manju Bala is a Congress candidate from Maur in Bathinda district. Punjab Lok Congress candidates also attended the event.
SIKHS AGAINST DERA SACHA SAUDA
Punjab voters, especially Sikhs, are up in arms against the Dera chief, who was accused of committing blasphemy in 2007 by appearing in attire similar to that of Sikhs tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh. The incident led to the Sikh community distancing itself from it. Akal Takht, the highest religious body for Sikhs, later ordered a complete boycott of Dera. In 2015, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbchan Singh ordered the pardon of Ram Rahim for blasphemy — a decision that again enraged the Sikh community, resulting in revoking the same. A series of sacrilege incidents hit Punjab in 2015, which, according to several probes, has links with the Dera Sacha Sauda. In fact, the Punjab police team, probing the matter, had also questioned the Dera chief in Sunaria jail last year.
DERA’S INFLUENCE IN PAST ELECTIONS
In 2002 Punjab polls, after which Capt Amarinder Singh became Chief Minister for the first time, the Dera was perceived as extending behind-the-scenes support to the Congress. In 2007, Dera openly declared its support to the Congress that helped the party win 37 seats in Malwa but was routed in both Doaba and Majha resulting in its defeat. At that time, Congress’s Harminder Singh Jassi, a close relative of Dera chief Ram Rahim, played the role of a middleman in inking the pact between the two. With the same in mind, Congress has given party ticket to Jassi, who was denied during previous polls — but to no avail. This time, Jassi has turned rebel, after Congress ignored his candidature, and is contesting as an independent.
Things underwent a change when the radical Sikhs attacked Dera followers after Ram Rahim imitated the Sikhs’ tenth Guru Gobind Singh. Staying away from protecting the Dera followers proved costly for the Congress, which was not in power then, during the 2009 parliamentary polls. It is believed that the Dera had ensured that the Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal secure a win from Bathinda seat, from where Capt Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh smacked a heavy defeat. In 2012, Ram Rahim chose to support individual candidates instead of any party. The Akali Dal-BJP came back to power for a second consecutive term in that election.
In Haryana, the Dera clearly threw its weight behind the BJP in the 2014 Assembly elections, acting as a force multiplier to the Narendra Modi wave nationwide, which powered the party to a clear majority for the first time in the state’s history. Several BJP MLAs made a beeline to the Dera to thank Ram Rahim after the results were declared.