Warring Faces Flak Over Multiple Inappropriate Statements

While campaigning in Tarn Taran by-poll, Panjab Indian National Congress (INC) chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has made quite a few inappropriate statements. On 3 Nov, at a rally he called former INC leader and Union Home Minister Buta Singh 'dark skinned, ordinary labor who managed cattle, from a marginal caste and Congress made him the nation's home minister.' On 6 Nov, Warring called former President Zail Singh 'an ordinary granthi (reciter).' Warring also inappropriately held jura (top bun) of two Sikh children in public and indulged in baby talk. Though Warring later apologized for his remarks on Buta Singh, the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu notice of his comments. Buta Singh's son, Sarabjot Singh has filed a First Information Report for ‘derogatory and caste-insulting remarks'. Bharatiya Janata Party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh has asked the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to probe the matter. Giani Zail Singh's nephew Aam Aadmi Party’s Kultar Singh Sandhwan who serves as speaker at the Panjab Legislative Assembly has demanded an immediate apology. He said Warring should refrain from making such low-level statements and immediately apologize to the Granthi community. Members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have demanded the registration of an FIR against Warring over insult to Sikhs. SGPC members said Warring's act towards children sparked outrage as it was a direct insult on Sikh symbols of faith. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal accused Warring of ‘desecrating and mocking the kesh (hair) and dastar (turban)’—symbols sacred to the Sikh faith. Earlier, on 27 Oct, Warring advocated targeting family members of criminals. Warring’s comment on families of criminals advocating extrajudicial measures reminds Panjab of the brutal decade (1980s–90s) when such practices were common and abetted by the INC. The clamor for Warring to be removed from his post is growing in Panjab’s opposition. The need is for faction-ridden INC leaders to raise the demand to the INC central committee. Warring’s tenure has proved to be a damp squib. With next Assembly elections 15 months away, the INC could do with a change of leadership.