Khalistan makes a quiet poll debut

NO WAR CRY THIS: Atinder Pal Singh says he believes Khalistan ideology can be peaceful too.

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Keywords: assembly elections 2007, punjab

Lambi (Punjab): The mention of Khalistan brings back violent memories of the Punjab insurgency of the 1980s and is a certain throwback to the turmoil in the state post-Operation Blue Star.

But in the season of Dal-Atta slogans – that figure on the agenda of many of the state’s politicians - there has been a quiet resurgence of Khalistan.

The hitherto taboo word has now become dominant election agenda of former Member of Parliament Atinder Pal Singh, as he prepares to contest from the Lambi constituency in Muktsar.

This is the first time that the demand for Khalistan has entered the mainstream democratic election process and those promoting it take pains to emphasise that it is going to be peaceful

Atinder says he remains true to the ideology of Jarnail Singh Bhindrenwale - the torchbearer of the Khalistan movement - but through a “democratic process”.

“There are 1,039 people standing for the post of MLA in Punjab, I am the only one standing on the agenda of Khalistan. There are so many others Mann, Bittu Dal Khalsa and they are all against Khalistan and have run away from the ideology,” says Atinder.

Disillusioned with his former brothers in arms, Atinder is still hopeful but says he wants a peaceful and constitutional mandate. Almost as if to prove his point, he carries a copy of the Constitution with him all the time.

A member of the ninth Lok Sabha from Patiala in 1989, Atinder now heads the Shiromani Akali Dal International.

His supporters too try to clear the air about Khalistan.

“All that we want is peace. No blood shed, nothing. Don't harm anyone in life. People get scared hearing the word Khalistan cause as they are ignorant. We are a separate thought, a separate people,” says his supporter Sadhu Singh.