Punjab’s Cry for Justice!
Punjab has increasingly turned into a police state. Not only are ordinary citizens suffering, but even government officials are facing the brunt. Senior police officers are being suspended, and civil servants are denied appointments for months simply because they refuse to toe the line of the politicians in power.
Police officers of all ranks are meant to be wise, impartial friends and protectors of life and property. Once, Punjab was India&rsquos leading state&mdasheconomically strong, peaceful, and home to Punjabis who led the nation in the legislature, judiciary, bureaucracy, sports, and the armed forces. Today, while India is emerging as a world power, Punjab has unfortunately fallen to one of the lowest positions across all these fields.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji appeared on this earth at a time when rulers, their agents, and priests were committing atrocities. No one was safe. Guru Sahib transformed ordinary people into enlightened beings, dedicated to serving and protecting humanity. However, what is happening in the land of the Gurus today demands serious introspection and a systemic reset.
Having observed Punjab&rsquos political developments for over 50 years, and having served at the grassroots in the police force, I have witnessed a time when Punjab&rsquos administration was synonymous with justice and fairness. It is deeply disheartening to see its present decline.
The police are the first visible pillar of government, represented on the ground in uniform. A constable symbolizes the authority of the state&mdashbe it the Chief Minister or the Governor. His honesty, uprightness, and behavior reflect the true state of governance.
Until 1983, the police were never accused of interference in elections their role was limited to maintaining law and order. When sidelined unfairly, officers like B.S. Danewalia, then Inspector General of Police, Punjab, preferred to resign in 1980 rather than suffer humiliation. Even constables were known for their integrity, bravery, and uprightness.
Even in Panchayat elections, there were hardly any complaints against the police&mdashany minor accusations of favoritism were usually directed at civil officials conducting the elections. The police ensured impartiality on the ground.
The 1985 and 1989 Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections, conducted after Operation Blue Star and during the height of terrorism, were largely fair and impartial in Punjab. However, everything changed during the 1992 elections. The administration was under pressure to ensure elections were held, despite the Shiromani Akali Dal&rsquos boycott. Many candidates in rural areas relied heavily on the police and security forces to secure votes. Some candidates were elected as MLAs despite receiving less than 2% of the vote. By then, the police had become all-powerful&mdashministers had to seek appointments with the police chief, and some MLAs reportedly acted as informers for the police.
Subsequent panchayat elections were completely dependent on police and civil administration. A certificate from the police&mdashstating that the candidate was not involved in anti-national activities&mdashbecame essential. To obtain it, candidates had to appease officers. During the 1992&ndash1997 by-elections, the police played a decisive role. I personally witnessed instances where local police organized crowds for ruling party meetings and transported people in plain clothes to create a false image of public support.
In one case, a senior officer asked me to bring a sarpanch and his associates from a different constituency to a breakfast meeting with the Chief Minister&mdashwho was leading the election campaign&mdashto impress him. Despite the ruling party losing that election, the officers involved were rewarded with plum postings.
In 1998, a superintendent of police from the intelligence wing entered a counting station during a by-election&mdashallegedly to assist the ruling party&rsquos candidate&mdashprompting a complaint to the Election Commission. Even though the candidate lost, the officer was given an independent charge of a district and remained a favored officer of the Chief Minister for life.
Such incidents are not isolated. Many police and civil officers have failed to perform their duties impartially during elections. Instead of facing action, complaints against them have become recommendations for promotions and desirable postings.
Punjab, a Sikh-majority state, should reflect the ideals of Halemi Raj&mdashjustice and equality&mdashas taught by our Gurus. However, the current administrative system has turned unjust. During elections, complaints of corruption and immoral behavior by officials responsible for safeguarding victims are common. Rather than removing such individuals from their roles, they are often retained due to their usefulness in manipulating election outcomes.
These officers are in high demand among political parties. One superintendent of police who served under me once told an opposition leader&mdashafter I complained about his misconduct&mdashthat he would remain in power regardless of which party came to office, because every party needs officers who can &ldquomanage&rdquo opponents. Unfortunately, he was proven right.
The second pillar of governance&mdashthe bureaucracy&mdashis no better, perhaps even worse. In the 1990s, a senior IAS officer was publicly humiliated by the DGP of Punjab in front of the highest-ranking bureaucrats of the state. She was abandoned by her colleagues and even the Governor was unable to support her. It took the intervention of the Supreme Court for her to receive justice. Yet, she was sidelined by successive governments and denied meaningful postings, seemingly in an attempt to demoralize her and compel her to withdraw her case.
In another tragic case, the son of an IAS officer was allegedly killed in a fake encounter. Yet, the grieving family still has not received justice.
These are not isolated cases. Most poor victims cannot afford to approach the Supreme Court. Even when they do, sometimes the court&rsquos decisions are not in their favor. Without justice, there can be no peace&mdashand that is why our youth are leaving Punjab in large numbers. The illegal drug trade continues unchecked.
We must rebuild Punjab according to the vision and teachings of our Guru Sahiban.
Punjab, the land of the Gurus, needs justice, empathy, and a renewed moral compass to break free from this broken system. We need a governance that ensures peace, prosperity, and fairness for all&mdashnot one that protects those who serve narrow political interests.
Let us strive to establish Halemi Raj or Ram Rajya in Punjab, inspired by the just rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Iqbal Singh Lalpura