The Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar’s generosity showered on a condemned “hardened criminal” Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim chief of Dera Sacha Sauda by granting him 21-day furlough appears to be influenced by political urgency necessitated to impact the results of hard-fought elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. His identity is Qaidi (Prisoner) No. 8647.
It was on January 15, 2022, that Ram Rahim told his followers from Sunnaira jail (Rohtak), Haryana, that he would meet them soon. It implies that he knew he would be granted a long furlough. On his release from jail, many of his followers lit their homes with diyas. A 46-member committee has been assigned the responsibility to decide which political party its followers will vote in Punjab. During the Haryana elections, Ram Rahim’s Dera Sucha Sauda followers had voted for Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
Coming back to the 21-day long furlough for Ram Rahim, the decision of the Haryana chief minister appears to be contrary to the legal position. Earlier, in 2020 and 2021, Ram Rahim was granted only one day of parole in very emergency circumstances such as to visit his ailing mother and to attend his mother’s funeral. Though his mother’s death was an emotional issue for the Dera chief, the government had restricted his release to a minimum. The Khattar government appears to be too liberal and generous to Ram Rahim. Why? It is anybody’s guess.
Ram Rahim’s followers have been accused in sacrilege cases registered in Babel Kalan and questioned by the Punjab government’s formed SIT. Capt. Amarinder Singh did not pursue the sacrilege cases during his four and a half years of rule. Earlier, the SAD (Badal), during whose rule in Punjab the cases of sacrilege occurred, refrained from initiating action, keeping in view the large number of votes of Dera followers in the Malwa belt.
In Uttar Pradesh, where BJP is facing a tough challenge from the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) combine, it being felt that a lot of ground have been shirked from its feet in this assembly elections. As it appears today, the response of the voters in UP may not bring BJP happy moments. Besides, in Punjab, the Dera has some pockets of influence in UP, too.
Ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh at audience of Gurmeet Singh at Dera Sacha Suada (file pic before Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted)
But in Punjab’s Malwa belt and some other areas, Ram Rahim carries enough influence and the votes of his followers can till the scale in favour of any party. In the present case, it appears to be favouring the BJP led three-party alliance formulated with the support of condemned former Chief Minister Amarinder and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Akali Dal (Sanyukt). Both leaders---- Amarinder and Dhindsa ---- feeling humiliated, are keen to exact revenge from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, respectively.
Amarinder carries a grudge against the Congress high command for removing him unceremoniously from the CM’s post just six months before he was to complete his second term. Dhindsa has long been feeling unwanted after losing the race for a cabinet ministerial post to Bibi Harsimrat Kaur in Modi’s Cabinet. Dhindsa was Cabinet minister in Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government and had always been loyal to the Badals through his several decades-long political carrier. Both these frustrated leaders will play spoilers, one for Congress and the other for SAD (Badal).
Though a very few Congress ministers and MLAs left the Congress at the asking of Amarinder, even those who came out joined the BJP, feeling the saffron party has better political prospects.
Coming back to the 21-day long furlough for Ram Rahim, the decision of the Haryana chief minister appears to be contrary to the legal position. Earlier, in 2020 and 2021, Ram Rahim was granted only one day of parole in very emergency circumstances such as to visit his ailing mother and attend his mother’s funeral. Though his mother’s death was an emotional issue for the Dera chief, the government had restricted his release to a minimum. The Khattar government appears to be too liberal and generous to Ram Rahim. Why? It is anybody’s guess.
Dera Sacha Suda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim with Honey Preet
The Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1988 states that “hardcore prisoners”, those convicted for dacoity, robbery, murder with rape, murder or attempt to murder for ransom or extortion, rape of a minor, etc. are not to be released on furlough. Such prisoners may be granted furlough only for 48 hours in case of marriage or death in the family.
Now, comes the question of what makes a criminal a “hardcore” prisoner. It appears Ram Rahim, convicted in two murder cases and two rape cases, surely deserve the stigma of “hardcore” prisoner. Though the Haryana CM denies any favour to Ram Rahim as he has completed three years in jail and politics has not influenced his decision to grant him a 21-day long furlough. But polling in Punjab is on February 20 and Ram Rahim will be back in jail on February 23 after completing his furlough at his Dera in Sirsa or other places which he likes to visit. His release reflects on the BJP using “hardcore” criminals for influencing the voters’ minds.
Punjab politicians like Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Badal, and Amarinder have been paying respect to Ram Rahim by marking their presence at his Sirsa Dera and seeking blessings just for the votes of his followers.
Khattar has jumped each of the above-mentioned leaders by granting a “hardcore prisoner/criminal” furlough to influence politics in favour of the BJP alliance in what many believe will be a hard-fought multi-cornered contest in Punjab.