CM Charanjit Singh Channi – Some candid observations of a novice

 

CM Charanjit Singh Channi – Some candid observations of a novice

It is a matter of gratification that Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi has become the Chief Minister of Punjab – Der Ayat Daroost Ayet. On the day of the swearing in, September 20, of Sardar Charanjit  Channi as the CM of Punjab, I wrote on the timeline of my Facebook: ‘Kuffar Toota Khud Khuda Karke’ and congratulated the new CM. It may be of interest to know that I could see the coming

scenario much ahead than many and sent a message to Channi Sahib in the early morning of September 19 when nobody knew exactly as to what was going to happen and quote from that message, “  Good morning Sir. The political scenario is changing fast and for the better. I see a big role for you in the emerging situation. I wish you become the CM or at least the Deputy CM. I am one of your well wishers from your community, a retired Ambassador of the IFS now living in Jalandhar. ….. With regards. Ambassador Ramesh Chander.”

   Channi Sahib or his Aides opened that message or not, I don’t not know but, nevertheless, I was delighted on the election and appointment of Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM of Punjab. The things have come full circle. The stipulations of ‘empowerment’ of the weaker sections of the society and also the relevance of ‘one vote – one value’ as visualized by Babasaheb Ambedkar and slogan “Jis Ki Jitni Sankhya Bhari; Utni Uski Hissedari’ given be Manayawar Kanshi Ram saw the light of the day in Punjab after 75 years of our independence in 1947. It was a negation of democracy that the depressed classes or so called dalits with almost 35% share in the population, the largest in any state of India, could not go near the ‘steering wheel of power’ in Punjab. That is why I wrote ‘Kuffar Toota Khuda Khuda Karke’. It was to happen and it has. Now let us see that the vested interests with hegemonic mindsets are not allowed to turn the clock backwards in the days to come. With this in view, I thought of sharing some of my off the cuff observations not as an expert or a competent  analyst but as a novice before the Government of Sardar Charanjit Channi settles down for serious work and meet the challenges ahead after the obvious and visible but short lived euphoria.

1.   We all, both the so called upper castes or king makers and those on the receiving end or so called dalits, must understand that in politics or run up to power, nobody can or would make anybody the CM/PM. One has to be one’s own with one’s own strength and capability. Our democratic credentials are slowly maturing and new realities are emerging. No charities are expected as CM Charanjit Singh Channi asserted in his speech at Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar that we

CM Charanjit Singh Channi at Dera Sachkhand Ballan

were no more interested in ‘atta dal’ but would yearn to educate ourselves, our children and settle for due ‘share in power’ as equal partners and rightly so. It would just be futile to harp on the caste identities – dalits or non dalits. Sardar Charanjit Channi is a fully qualified and capable to hold the reins of power in Chandigarh. Any patronizing behavior should not be tolerated by the leadership and the community at large.

2.   There is no need to be in a hurry to announce undue concessions and freebies. People are more interested in transparent and functional arrangements with good civic services.

3.   There is no need to announce new projects as the time at hand of the new government is short in view of the forthcoming elections early next year. Rather than new projects, the new government should try to finish and handover the ongoing projects to the satisfaction and benefit of the community and the society at large.

4.   It is all the more true with regard to the projects pertaining to the so called dalits, CM Channi Sahib being one from them. Frankly to my mind, there is no need to announce projects in undue haste as has been done in announcing Guru Ravidass Chair at Dera Sachkhand Ballan and a huge project spread over 101 acres of land, Ambedkar Museum at Kapurthala, Ambedkar Management Institute among others. My suggestion to the Hon’ble CM Channi Sahib would be - kindly pay due and much needed attention to the already announced and unfinished projects like Ambedkar College at Bootan Mandi Jalandhar, Minar-e-Begampura at Khuralgarh and many more projects elsewhere in Punjab. Your dalit brethren would understand the limitations and would expect you to be simple and sincere.

5.   The opposition parties and the vested interests in the Congress Party itself would tend to exploit the situation and tarnish the image of CM and his government as it is obvious that it will not be an easy task to deliver with regard to these grand dreams. It is better to be slow but productive and pragmatic. There is no point in befooling the people as “Yeh Public Hai Sab Janti Hai.

6.   CM Channi Sahib should stand on his own with confidence and sincerely try to give corruption free governance in a transparent manner. People are fed up of corruption and high handedness of the official machinery. Any success on this front, may be partially, would go a long way in establishing the credentials of the CM and his administration. I am happy to note that he has already taken the initiative in this regard and spoke to end corruption while speaking at Kapurthala the other day.

7.   There should be no witch-hunting or vendetta politics. These are unproductive and long drawn exercises which would tend o derail the programmes and policies of the government. Kindly avoid unnecessary rejiging of the administration as the time at hand is short in the run up to elections in 4-5 months. Complete the formation of Council of Minister at the earliest possible so that the Ministers start working in right earnest.

8.   The contentious and emotive issues like ‘Beadbi’ or sacrilege etc. should not be allowed to impede the welfare schemes and other positive schemes for the benefit of the people of the state.

9.   Senior officers like DCs, SDMs, Police Commissioners and SPS should be accessible to the public and responsive to their needs and complaints.

10.                     So far the governments have been paying ‘lip service’ to the problems of SC communities particularly with regard to educational facilities like Post Matric Scholarships to SC students. This problem should be discussed with the stake holders and a clear mechanism provided to implement the schemes. The young generation of beneficiary students will appreciate and stand with the CM.

11.                     One last very simple suggestion and advice is – the CMO and senior aides of the CM should see to it all communications to Hon’ble CM and his Principal Secretaries from the public should be acknowledged and responded to. It would send a positive signal to the people that CM Channi Sahib’s government is a ‘Government of the people, for the people and by the people’ as per the dictates of a functional democracy.

These suggestions, though unsolicited, are, of course, simple and entail no high sounding political or administrative mantras. But I am sure, if the government under the stewardship of CM Channi Sahib succeeds to make a good and impressive beginning, in spite of all odds and leg pulling, the new CM would not be a ‘stop gap arrangement’ and would be all set to comeback after the electoral mandate of early next year. Nobody knows as of now as to which party would come to power. But one thing is almost certain. If CM Charanjit Channi could leave a trail of a ‘capable and competent’ leader, all parties would not be able to ignore the claims and due share in the pie of power to the weaker sections of the society - the so called dalits, as visualized by the icons like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Kanshi Ram. My humble request to the people of Punjab particularly the weaker sections of the society, is to kindly extend all due support and strengthen the hands of CM Sardar Charan Singh Channi, a worthy son of the soil. It took more than 70 years to get the coveted job. Let us make all the more difficult or impossible that nobody dares to snatch it on the basis of socio-economic discrimination and considerations. The political aspect may be dealt with democratically at the hustings.  CM Channi Sahib should assert his position with due humility but with authority. He is there because of no one’s charity or magnanimity but for the socio-political imperatives created by the relentless struggle of our political and spiritual Gurus like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Guru Ravidass and the Sikh Gurus as enshired in the constitution of India and the holy Shri Guru Granth Sahib.  I take this opportunity to wish all the best and further success to CM Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi in the days to come. Here I conclude with a couplet:

Tu Pehle Baat; Phir Baat Ka Andaz Paida Kar,

Phir Duniya Mein Tujhe Koi; Nazar Andaz Kar Nahin Sakta