India’s Elections Set for April

On 16 Mar, the Election Commission of India announced the schedule of the 18^th General Elections. Polls will be held from 19 Apr to 1 Jun in seven phases; results will be declared on 4 Jun. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also announced simultaneous elections in four states and by polls on 26 Assembly seats in different states. Nearly 968M people are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming polls at over 1.2M polling stations. The election in Panjab will be on 1 Jun. On 14 Mar, the Indian govt. appointed retired Indian Administrative Service officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as new Election Commissioners (EC). Their appointment fills vacancies caused by Anup Chandra Pandey’s retirement in Feb and Arun Goel’s surprise resignation on 9 Mar. Sandhu is a former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and Kumar retired in January as Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation. Kumar was in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. In March 2023, the Supreme Court ordered that the ECs be selected by a panel comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and others. In December 2023, the Indian govt. passed the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, dropping the CJI from the panel. INC member of the panel Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry, the sole opposition member, criticized the selection process of the new appointments, saying it was fait accompli that the BJP government’s pre-decided candidates would be chosen for the posts.

The electoral bonds data published by the Election Commission of India on its official website on 14 Mar has opened a Pandora’s Box for the donors, the beneficiaries, and even for the State Bank of India, for there are computing errors in the data. 1,260 companies and individuals purchased 18,872 electoral bonds worth $1.5B between 12 Apr 2019 and 15 Feb 2024. 20,423 bonds were redeemed which amount to 1,551 extra bonds than were bought. Data on 3,346 bonds purchased between 1-11 Apr 2019 is absent. 1,609 of these bonds were redeemed. Top donors are unknown companies like Future Gaming, Megha Engineering, and Qwikssupply Chain whose income over three years is a fraction of the bonds they bought. For example, Future Gaming and Hotel Services PR, bought Bonds worth $164.8M – six times over their three year net profit of $25.9M. This is lottery king Santiago Martin's company. Martin has been to jail a few times over frauds and has an open court case in Panjab. Big companies such as Adani, Ambani, and Tatas are missing. Obviously, funds are being routed through these fronts. Out of the top 30 companies that donated through electoral bonds, at least 14 were raided by central agencies, Central Bureau of Investigation, and Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate. It is clear the BJP has been using agencies to threaten companies and extort money. The top beneficiaries are BJP - 46.74%, TMC - 13.00 %, and INC - 11.39%. SAD got $0.8M or 0.06%. A couple of Panjab companies also bought the bonds, after raids, with quid pro quo arrangements. The electoral bond scheme, introduced to eliminate black money, had quite clearly become an extortion racket (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 11, Story 9).

Soon after the Indian govt. notified the implementation of the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) last week, anti-CAA protests began in Assam and Tripura. The govt. deployed security forces who carried out flag marches in Shaheen Bagh in Delhi and other Muslim-majority areas, but there was hardly a murmur there. An old clip of lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud, son of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, explaining the flip side of the law started going viral. Three CMs – Mamata Banerjee from Bengal, Pinarayi Vijayan from Kerala, and MK Stalin from Tamil Nadu – announced they will not implement the law in their states. Amnesty International, the US State Dept., and United Nations (UN) raised concerns, terming the law ‘fundamentally discriminatory in nature’ and ‘a breach of India’s international human rights obligations.’ Articles  against CAA appeared in newspapers around the world, calling out the law for leaving out Muslims and for its timing, by which it is believed BJP is trying to polarize India before the General Elections. Home Minister Amit Shah has taken a confrontational position, challenging Mamta, Stalin, and Vijayan, saying, ‘They cannot deny CAA in their states. It is a Central law according to Article 11 of the Constitution.’ In an interview, Shah said, ‘Ask foreign media, do they have Triple Talaq, Muslim Personal law, provisions like Article 370 in their country.’ Meanwhile, Sikhs and Hindus, who supposedly benefit from the law, protested against opposition alliance INDIA and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for raising the Muslim question. Meanwhile, Manjeet Singh Lamba, the head of the Sikh and Hindu community in Afghanistan, says close to 200 Sikh and Hindu families are expected to return to the country in the next month (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 11, Story 1).

It is more than 39 years since the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide, but 10 states that were greatly impacted by the carnage are yet to file a compliance report to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) regarding victim compensation. In Oct 2023, NCM directed chief secretaries, home secretaries, and minority department secretaries of Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and eight other states on action taken by them for granting compensation. NCM Iqbal Singh Lalpura said that though states had filed the Action Taken Report (ATR), there was no compliance report. ‘Without the compliance report there is no point in filing ATRs. We talk to the states every month and tell them to expedite the process of paying compensation. We are collecting information,’ he said. ‘In Jammu and Kashmir, five people died in the riots, but authorities there say they do not have the address of the families. States have to coordinate among themselves and compensate the victim families. In Delhi, 2,732 Sikhs were killed in the genocide. Of that, only 14 of their kin have got jobs so far,’ he added. States must comply with orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 16 Jan 2006 and 5 Dec 2014 for granting compensation and relief to victims. Lalpura earlier brought it to the notice of the states that 22,000 families migrated to Panjab from other states and had to be paid a rehabilitation grant as well. Note: these are official numbers; for circumstantial reasons they are vastly underreported (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 4, Story 8).

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Trade Unions across India had given a call for a Mahapanchayat (big gathering) of farmers and workers at Ramleela Maidan, New Delhi, on 14 Mar. Tens of thousands of farmers and workers from over 400 unions across the country participated in the program. Sadly, though the authorities permitted the program, they chose to play spoilsport. While unions like Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan marched with over 1,500 buses, many chose to come by regular trains and buses which were delayed by over 8 hours in some cases, and many farmers were forced to walk long distances. To inconvenience participants, sewerage water was let into the ground which was completely dry the previous day. Yet, the Mahapanchayat took place, and various leaders expressed their views. The leaders announced, ‘Farmers are united, protest is not going to end.’ SKM and allied unions intend to convert the ongoing farmers and workers struggle into a United People’s Movement to protect livelihoods. They have given a call to observe 23 Mar — martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru — as a ‘Save Democracy from the Threat of Money and Muscle Power’ Day. With the Supreme Court-enforced Electoral Bonds revelations by the State Bank of India and the Election Commission, the timing of the protest could not be more apt. Like in the 2021 Bengal elections, workers and farmers have decided to oppose BJP in the general elections. Meanwhile, the farmers at the Panjab-Haryana interstate borders Shambu and Khanauri have entered the second month of their attempt to reach Delhi.

The Panjab Police has now recorded key Accused Pardeep Kaler’s confessional statement recorded under section 164 CrPc in the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case (First Information Report 63/2015 registered at the Bazakhana police station in Faridkot district). Kaler has named Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, already charged in the case, and the latter’s close associate Honeypreet Insan for ‘hatching a conspiracy to execute the sacrilege incident.’ Kaler, a proclaimed offender, has been on the run since 2018 and was arrested last month after photos of him attending a function related to the Ram Temple inauguration at Ayodhya with a Uttar Pradesh BJP Cabinet minister went viral in January 2024. Kaler was associated with DSS in 1987 and appointed national president of DSS’ political wing in 2019. In March or April 2015, Ram Rahim called Kaler to DSS, Sirsa for a meeting. Kaler said, ‘In the meeting, Mohinder Pal informed how upon listening to a Sikh preacher at village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, some DSS followers broke their lockets which had pictures of the DSS chief. This enraged Honeypreet. She said, in retaliation, they should desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib. Ram Rahim directed the members in the meeting to execute Honeyreet’s instructions.' This revelation shines light on the beginning of sacrilege cases that have riled up Panjab-Sikh politics for the last nine years in which three Panjab govts. (SAD, INC & AAP) have changed, multiple panels have been set up, but administration has not made progress on the reasons for the sacrilege(s). Two others accused, Sandeep Bareta and Harsh Dhuri, are on the run. Mohinder was killed in the Nabha high-security cell.

In the UN General Assembly India abstained on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamophobia. India took a what-about position, asserting that the prevalence of ‘religiophobia’ against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged rather than singling out just one religion. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said, ‘Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh sentiments.’ India stressed that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centered on phobias tied to specific religions, ‘potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps.’ India called on all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally. The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution Measures to combat Islamophobia, introduced by Pakistan on 15 Mar, with 115 nations voting in favor, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the UK. In another news which the UK has not confirmed, the UK govt. has confiscated roughly £10 million from alleged Khalistani networks and over 5,000 additional bank accounts are currently under scrutiny. The UK's investigation has supposedly extended to uncover suspicious transactions across Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, highlighting the global reach of such extremist networks. Among the notable seizures was a sum of £2M found in the account of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

On 10 Mar, India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). EFTA members are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The deal brings in $100 billion in investment over 15 years, with the EFTA looking at joint ventures that will help India diversify imports away from China. Under the EFTA, India will lift or partially remove customs tariffs on 95.3% of industrial imports from Switzerland (excluding gold) either immediately or with transition periods. India runs a trade deficit with most of its top trade partners, except for the US. This is also true in the case of FTAs that India has signed in the past, especially with ASEAN nations. While the ASEAN FTA did help India secure intermediate products, India’s increasing average tariffs @18% have meant that India’s FTA partners have better access to the Indian market after tariff elimination. Switzerland said it will get duty-free access to the Indian market for selected agricultural products after a transition period of up to ten years. Switzerland's concessions to India for agricultural products are based on previous free trade agreements and are in line with Swiss agricultural policy. Swiss watches, pharmaceuticals and chocolate are much in demand but its agricultural revenue is based on machinery, cattle, and dairy products. For both of these, north India, especially Panjab and Haryana are chief destinations. While the India-EFTA trade deal has been inked, major deals such as India’s FTA with the UK and EU still run the risk of political uncertainty because of general elections in 68 nations worldwide this year.

With Indian General Elections announced, party hopping starts in Panjab. Former SGPC chief Jagir Kaur rejoined the SAD on 14 Mar, nearly 15 months after she was expelled for alleged ‘anti-party’ activities. The development came days after Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa merged his SAD (Sanyukt) with the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 11, Story 6). Badal and other senior leaders visited Begowal in Kapurthala district to re-induct Kaur into the party. In Patiala, the BJP has inducted Preneet Kaur, suspended INC Member of Parliament and wife of former Panjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, into the party. Preneet Kaur is the current MP from Patiala and is likely to contest from the seat on a BJP ticket this time. After stepping down as the chief minister in 2021, Amarinder Singh formed the Panjab Lok Congress and then merged it with the BJP the following year. Preneet Kaur was suspended from the INC in February last year for ‘anti-party’ activities. While joining the BJP on 14 Mar in the presence of the party's Panjab chief Sunil Jakhar, Preneet Kaur praised PM Narendra Modi and his contribution to the country's development. On 15 Mar, prominent Dalit leader Raj Kumar Chabbewal quit the INC and joined the ruling AAP. Chabbewal was legislator from Chabbewal assembly constituency in Hoshiarpur district. He was also the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Panjab Assembly. He was welcomed into the party by CM Bhagwant Mann and is likely to get a ticket to contest the general elections. AAP has already nominated five sitting ministers as candidates for the election.

Late Panjabi rapper Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu aka Sidhu Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh and his mother Charan Kaur have welcomed a son, close to two years after the singer's murder. Taking to Instagram on 16 Mar, Balkaur shared posts, giving a glimpse of the baby. Balkaur captioned the video in Panjabi, ‘With the blessings of millions of souls who love Shubhdeep, the Almighty has put Shubh's younger brother in our lap. With the blessings of Vahiguru  (Awesome-Wisdom), the family is healthy and I'm thankful to all the well-wishers for their immense love.’ Though Balkaur never stated it, family sources confirmed in February that Sidhu's mother, Charan Kaur, underwent IVF (In vitro fertilization) and was successful in conceiving a baby. Sidhu Moosewala, 28, was shot dead on 29 May 2022 at Mansa. The assailants fired over 30 rounds. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi – locked in Tihar Jail – took responsibility for the murder. Moosewala gave voice to Panjab’s angst and achieved huge fame within five years of launching his career (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 12, Story 9). Balkaur and Charan have knocked on every door for justice but to no avail. On receiving the news of the birth, a wave of happiness swept through Panjab and the refrain among Moosewala’s fans was: the king is back. Moosewala had joined the INC before his death. INC Panjab congratulated the family and fans. The birth reminds us of when kings used to marry multiple times to produce a male heir, but it also marks the resilience of Panjab. When the justice system failed, the family took matters into its own hands. The hope is the family moderates its expectations from the child and he grows up away from the gaze of Panjab’s paparazzi.