Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 4

A day after Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur was trolled again, this time over a video wherein a girl resembling her was seen singing and dancing in a car, her mother today reacted sharply.“It is unfortunate that the people who have been trolling Gurmehar are indulging in mischievous acts. They even used an old video of a girl having a slight resemblance with Gurmehar to troll her again. God will not spare such acts of wrongdoers,” Rajwinder Kaur said.Though Gurmehar refused to talk to the media, she tweeted: “The girl in the car wasn’t me. But whether she was or she wasn’t, was it okay to shame her like that?”Rajwinder Kaur said: “It is clear to everyone that the girl is not Gurmehar. The car is a left-hand drive vehicle, not prevalent in India. Still people have been posting all sorts of comments.”A first-year student of Lady Shri Ram College, Gurmehar has been getting rape threats and was trolled for over a week after she dared the ABVP on social media following a clash at Delhi University.Throw me out of India, Panjoli dares VijFatehgarh Sahib: SGPC member and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Karnail Singh Panjoli on Saturday challenged Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij to get him thrown out of the country as he agreed with Gurmehar’s views.Panjoli was reacting to the statement of Vij, who had stated that those supporting Gurmehar should be shunted out of the country.He also urged Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to dismiss the “mentally ill minister” from the Cabinet.“India doesn’t belong to any political party as the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech to all citizens. Gurmehar is a citizen of the country and a martyr’s daughter. She has every right to express her feelings,”the Akali leader added. — TNS

Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, who found herself in the middle of an acrimonious debate over nationalism, was on Friday trolled again after a video of a young woman singing, dancing in a car was circulated on social media.

Several Twitter users were quick to assume the girl was the 20-year-old Lady Shri Ram College student, who launched a campaign against the ABVP after violence in city’s Ramjas College.

Kaur was forced to leave Delhi after she was allegedly threatened with rape and her campaign triggered an ugly debate on free speech, with politicians also joining in.

The woman in the clip is not Kaur but as the video went viral, trolls followed. A news website even carried a story wondering if the woman was Kaur.

The video, like the Ramjas violence, turned into a Left vs Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad slugfest.

CPI (ML) Politburo member Kavita Krishnan accused the ABVP, of circulating the video to defame Kaur. “Look at the comments on Twitter. They are accusing her of being a Naxal. Some woman is simply dancing and singing in the car. What is the problem with that?” she said.

The ABVP, which is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the ideological parent of the BJP, denied the accusation.

“The ABVP does not do such things. It is becoming completely illogical. Social media is an unregulated space and it is the communists who are spreading anarchy in the name of freedom of speech and expression,” the student body’s media convenor Saket Bahuguna said.

There were many who came out in support of the woman in the video. “Even if this video was indeed featuring Gurmehar, does her drinking discredit her statement and thinking?” Gurmeet Arora tweeted.

WATCH THE FAKE VEDIO TO DEFAME GURMEHAR

1. The Name is GULMEHAR and NOT GURMEHAR
2.  The University is JNU and Not Delhi University 
3. The Veh is Left hand drive.
4. The Scene is of Palm Tree on road side
5. The Vedio seems to be old of Baloch Model who was late Murdered.

http://

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 1

Ex-servicemen and serving soldiers in the state have expressed resentment over the failure of the Ministry of Defence and the state government to open a cantonment-cum-CSD depot in the Shivaliks that will provide them cheaper liquor, grocery and other items. They get these at a higher rate from Army’s CSD canteens as there is no CSD depot in the state.Capt Jagdish Verma (retd), president, Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association of Himachal Pradesh, said, “Ex-servicemen are paying through their nose. We get a liquor bottle for Rs 300 at the CSD in the state that costs Rs 193 in Haryana and Chandigarh. Besides, we have to pay 6.5 per cent excise duty and 2 per cent extra VAT on each item”.“Grocery and liquor cost more at CSDs in Himachal because these items are transported by road from CSD depots of Ambala, Jalandhar and Pathankot,” he said.Social Justice and Empowerment and Sainik Welfare Minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil said he would take up the matter with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar soon. “We have been demanding that the ministry should open a cantonment and Dogra regiment centre in the Shivaliks,” he added.“We support the issue raised by ex-servicemen. If we have a CSD depot, it will provide cheaper liquor, grocery and other consumer items to over 1.4 lakh ex-servicemen in the state, which has also equal number of serving soldiers in the armed forces,” he added.“The demand for cantonment-cum-CSD depot is pending since long. We have identified land at Amb in Una or Bilaspur and will soon replead our case with Parrikar,” Shandil said.

Gurmehar’s grandfather Kanwaljeet Singh with Jalandhar DC on Wednesday. tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 1

The SGPC and Akal Takht today came out in support of Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur. The 20-year-old student of Lady Shri Ram College recently invited the ire of a certain section of people for propagating India-Pakistan peace.SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar said it was an unfortunate instance and a section of disgruntled elements should be subjected to harsh punishment for their inhuman approach. He said SGPC officials would soon meet her. “People threatening the daughter of Captain Mandeep Singh, who laid down his life for the nation, should be liable to face stern legal action,” he said. Similar views were expressed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.‘Focus on studies’Jalandhar: While it took much coaxing for the media to get Gurmehar Kaur to talk, when she did, she said precious little. Visibly apprehensive, while speaking to mediapersons gathered at her home on Wednesday, the 20-year-old said she was now just concentrating on her future and was thankful to all those who supported her. “I don’t want to talk about the past. I am just concentrating on finishing my masters. I’m thankful to all those who have supported me,” said the DU student in her first outing after she withdrew from the campaign against the ABVP on Tuesday amid mounting pressure. While she was accompanied by her mother and sister Bani, her mother kept telling the media not to ask her anything about the incidents of the past week. TNS

Grandpa meets DC

• Gurmehar’s grandfather Kanwaljeet Singh and members of the Sikh Talmel Committee on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner seeking immediate arrest of the remaining accused whose name has been mentioned in the FIR relating to the rape threat to the student. The committee members also urged the administration to ensure the security of the family based in Jalandhar. TNS

There is no denying that the Supreme Court is overwhelmed with cases, numbering around 60,000 currently; yet it was disappointing that Chief Justice of India JS Khehar should have allowed himself to make almost an uncharitable and uncharacteristic observation that the apex court is not “Amrit Dhara” for all ailments. His remarks betray a sense of tiredness and helplessness over the heavy burden. But the headship of the top court comes with obligations and expectations. He is supposed to deal with the challenge of pendency confronting him. Given the odds litigants face and the unbearable cost involved at the Supreme Court level, it is also not the case, as CJI Khehar has tried to convey, of people “waking up in the morning and saying let’s go to the Supreme Court”. Over the last four decades the apex court has been applauded for encouraging PIL-centric jurisprudence. People with grievances or victims of excesses committed by the executive feel they can knock at the door of the court in the hope for justice. Despite a thriving democracy in place, the executive quite often wittingly or unwittingly treads on people’s rights. All that voters can do at the most is to replace one set of non-performers with another. It is true most problems would not arise or would be settled at the lower level if the executive were to play fair, deliver promised services in time, respect human rights and ensure the rule of law. In fact, the state itself is the biggest litigant and cases are routinely filed by one department against the other. Ruling politicians and bureaucrats refuse to accept that their decisions could be wrong. Cases and appeals are filed at the state expense up to the highest level. For an aggrieved citizen the court is the last hope.Judges know how to deal with frivolous cases; that they do not do it often is their choice. The CJI can establish his leadership by initiating reforms to cut delays, adjournments and appeals, and discipline advocates. There is a case to be made for judicial discipline —including for judges, lawyers as also the litigants — but it would be a sad day if the citizens were to conclude that the apex court is reluctant to provide them succour against wayward officials.

Jalandhar: It has been a tough time for the family of Gurmehar Kaur in Jalandhar. Ever since the daughter of Capt Mandeep Singh uploaded a photograph holding a card reading: “I am not afraid of ABVP” on the social media three days ago, she has been allegedly receiving rape threats and hate messages. Gurmehar’s mother, a government employee, said, “Having lost her father at the age of two, Gurmehar is a very emotional girl. She cannot see incidents of violence, including the one at Ramjas College. My daughter is well-read and she tries to get to the basis of the facts. But I am upset with the way things went against her. Now, when things have reached to such a passé and there are rape threats, I am feeling insecure for her. I do not want this controversy to go on further. I just want all this to fade away.” Her younger sibling, who is preparing for her Class XII examination, also feels concerned. “Gul was here till Sunday afternoon after which she left for Delhi. She was stressed. She told me that she had chosen to ignore trollers, after initially giving some apt replies to those sending her hate messages,” she said. — Deepkamal Kaur

The same people who mourned a militant’s death also turned up for the soldier’s funeral. This shows a degree of sensitivity for people who know Kashmir’s social landscape though many will dismiss this as sentimental nonsense. But in the end, it’s all in the mind.

The noticeable respect to the dead soldier means there is no dead end if primacy is given to dialogue, in reaching out

The martyrdom of the Indian Army soldier from Kashmir, Lance Naik Ghulam Mohiuddin Rather, in an encounter with terrorists in Shupiyan, South Kashmir on Feb 23 is as tragic as the fate of any Indian Army warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice in the 28-year proxy conflict in J&K. It draws attention because of the large turnout at his burial. The same people who turn out to mourn a local militant also came to mourn an Indian patriot. The dichotomy cannot be ignored and there is a much deeper message for those who closely observe the social dynamics of conflict, especially the one in J&K. There is a degree of sensitivity here evident to those who know Kashmir’s social landscape. Yet, many on both sides of the tragic divide will dismiss these observations; the Kashmiris out of a sense of wrath and frustration and the less informed elsewhere as sentimental nonsense not to be applied to Kashmiris.  Lance Naik Rather was one of the thousands who must have turned up at one of those recruiting rallies in the Valley a few years ago that were extremely popular. He would have undergone his mandatory 36 weeks basic training at the JAK LI Regimental Centre at Rangreth. He would have mixed with young recruits from all over J&K; Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and even Buddhists from Ladakh. There would have been officers from any part of India who would have supervised his training. On Sundays he would have attended the function at the Mandir, Masjid and Gurudwara (of MMG fame) praying together with his comrades. He would have returned home on leave with money in his pockets, a little leaner, with short hair and a swagger which goes with the long hours spent at the drill square. He would have been vulnerable while unarmed, roaming the streets of Marhama and Bijbehara, not the safest of streets. It is here that in 2004, the Hizbul Mujahideen’s (HM) longest surviving Division Commander Shabir Baduri was gunned down. Probably while on leave, Rather would meet a few local militants, some he would probably have known in his earlier life. They would probably ignore each other or perhaps just exchange a smile. Everyone in the village knew his affiliation but none informed on him and none threatened him. That is a phenomenon each Indian Army soldier hailing from Kashmir faces all the time when on leave. There have been tragic killings of unarmed soldiers but the figures are miniscule compared to the volume of expected antipathy against Indian Forces.Rather would have served with 4 JAK LI, his parent unit, all over India. His mind would have absorbed the social landscape of India. He would have found problems in some of those villages very similar to the ones in his village. He would have found migrant labour constructing Army buildings and found how much better off most of his own people were. People who saw his Muslim name or became aware of his Kashmiri identity would never give a second look. Its then he would have probably realised that it is all in the mind. People all over India and indeed all over the world have the same problems especially those rooted in rural poverty. Posted to Kashmir on attachment he would have been a regular participant in operations, dismayed at the way things were progressing. However, his sense of loyalty and larger exposure would have revealed to him the futility of violent extremism. Tral, from where Burhan Wani hailed, has given many terrorists. But the same township has given many more young men to the JAK LI. None can find fault with these hardy men, in their sense of duty, loyalty and character. In high altitude areas their performance does outmatch many others. Reflecting on the tragedy of the martyrdom of Lance Naik Rather, one is left regretting as to why the people of J&K have been subjected to this. The tragedy of Kashmiri Pandits equally moves me each time I meet them in large numbers in Jammu; the eyes of the mothers and the elders say it all. Why must these tragedies persist in modern India if there are enough of us who care to understand that the problems lie in the minds? The same young people who throw stones are many a time willing to sit and listen if we ask them to. We reasoned, agreed to disagree, had tea and samosas together, took many selfies and gave many explanations about the ways of joining the Army. For those questions on careers which could not be answered I directed them to approach the Youth Guidance Nodes. There is no other way to resolving the problems relating to the negative passions prevalent in J&K. Replicate everything we do in the Jammu division to disallow any sense of injustice. Let people of Jammu speak in Kashmir and those of Kashmir at Jammu’s large auditoriums. Speaking, accepting critique without emotions and just meeting people is the key. It takes away much of the venom.I wish and hope Lance Naik Ghulam  Mohiuddin Rather’s tragic martyrdom, the turnout in thousands at his burial and the noticeable respect accorded to the Tricolor at the event, urges those in whose hands dialogue between and with the people lies, to rise and be counted. It takes no courage to reach out; just a little feeling in the heart for the millions affected by unnecessary conflict.The writer, a former General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, is now a Fellow with the Delhi Policy Group.

A COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS APPOINTED BY THE DEFENCE MINISTER RECORDED THAT MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES WERE ESSENTIALLY PRIVATE CIVIL DISPUTES WHERE THE ARMY SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice of motion to the ministry of defence (MoD) on a petition by a serving army officer, Lt Col P Katal, for failure to effect the orders of the defence minister on rationalising grant of alimony to the wives of serving defence personnel.

The Army Act authorises ‘penal deductions’ for payment of maintenance to wives of personnel on their applications. The stipulation was not repealed even after inception of maintenance provisions in the Hindu Marriage Act since pay and allowances of defence personnel were immune from attachment by courts, thereby necessitating an enabling provision to give effect to maintenance orders by the civil courts.

However, over the years, the army started releasing maintenance to wives in matrimonial disputes on its own without court verdicts and through nonspeaking orders without any opportunity of hearing.

A committee of experts appointed by the defence minister, however, recorded that matrimonial disputes were essentially private civil disputes where the army should not get involved.

The panel noted that “the services do not have the wherewithal, capacity or ability to examine the veracity of allegations and counter-allegations made by both parties, which is basically a matter of evidence”, observing that such disputes must be dealt with by the civil courts. The committee added that such provisions could only be invoked in extraordinary circumstances where the individual was not complying with orders of a civil court for paying maintenance under the garb of immunity from attachment under the Army Act.

It was recommended that maintenance orders “must be preceded by some kind of inquiry related to the averments of the parties, and executed by way of a proper speaking order discussing all issues raised by both parties”.

The recommendation of the panel was accepted by the defence minister, who issued orders in August 2016 for promulgation of implementation of instructions within 45 days.

Lt Col Katal who has been saddled with maintenance allowance through a non-speaking order, has averred in his writ petition that despite lapse of 6 months, lower functionaries of the ministry have failed to effect the directions of the highest political executive, thereby not only jeopardising his rights and property, but also undermining the authority of the minister.

Air force corporal’s murder: Accused sent to police custody

The court of judicial magistrate on Saturday (first class) Karanbir Singh remanded air force sergeant Sulesh Kumar and his wife Anuradha in two-day police custody for allegedly murdering air force corporal Vipin Shukla, 27, at the Bhisiana air force station.

The police are yet to nab third accused, Shashi Bhushan, brother-in-law of Sulesh.

On Tuesday, the police recovered the chopped body of Shukla, a resident of Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, who was missing since February 8, from Sulesh’s official accommodation on Tuesday. The pieces of Shukla’s body were found stuffed in 16 polythene bags. A case under Section 302 (murder) had been registered against the accused.

Sulesh confessed to his crime on interrogation and claimed that the victim had illicit relations with his wife Anuradha. After discovering she was pregnant, Anuradha asked Shukla to marry her but he refused. He had also been spreading details of their relationship among other employees. Thus, Anuradha, with her husband and brother, hatched a conspiracy to kill Shukla , the police said. On February 8 , Sulesh called Shukla to help him pack as he was to change his residence, then attacked him with an axe, killing him. He then packed his body in a box and took it to his new accomodation , the police said.

On February 19, Sulesh cut the body into pieces and packed it in 16 polythene bags. He put some in the wardrobe and the others in the refrigerator

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 24

Governor NN Vohra has expressed serious concern on the militant attack on Army personnel, resulting into death of three soldiers and injuries to several others.He spoke to Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, chief, Northern Command, to convey his grief over those killed and wished speedy recovery to the injured personnel.Observing that the Army and other security forces were carrying out their duties in an extremely difficult environment, the Governor voiced anxiety about the continuing attacks on the uniformed forces, some of which also result in the loss of innocent civilians lives, as happened in Shopian.On Thursday, three Army men were martyred and five others, including two senior officers, wounded in the terrorist attack in Shopian district. The 44 Rashtriya Rifles personnel were ambushed at Mulu Chitragam, 60 km from Srinagar, while they were returning after a search operation at Kungnoo village.The Governor had spoken to the Northern Command chief on February 15 and reviewed internal security management of the state, particularly the Kashmir valley. He had also spoken to the heads of other security forces who were involved in counter-terrorist operations in the Kashmir division.A Major and three soldiers were killed in two gunfights in Bandipora and Kupwara districts on February 14. At least 13 security personnel, including two officers, had also received injuries in the encounters.Pertinently, the worrisome situation for security forces is that the local people have been helping the terrorists to escape from the encounter sites.

Apex court turns down Punjab’s contention for political solution to issue, says the state has to follow orders and complete the project on its side

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court told the Punjab government on Wednesday that the SutlejYamuna Link Canal (SYL) has to be constructed and declined to accept the state’s contention that there should be a political solution of the problem.

“We are at a stage where the decree has to be executed,” a bench headed by Justice PC Ghose told senior counsel Ram Jethmalani who argued for Punjab. The court asked governments of Punjab and Haryana to maintain law and order in their respective states. The status quo, restraining Punjab from returning land meant for the canal to its owners was also reiterated.

The Centre was directed to maintain surveillance in view of the impending march by INLD activists, which could trigger a law and order problem.

During the hearing, Centre rebutted Punjab’s charges that it did not take a proactive approach to resolve the dispute over water-sharing of Ravi-Beas rivers. “I (Centre) can’t sit in judgment over the decree…If both the states approach us only then we can mediate…” solicitor general Ranjit Kumar said.

Jethmalani urged the Centre to act as an arbitrator. He said the water sharing agreement was signed in 1981 and the water flow has significantly decreased in the rivers. He added it was not possible to execute the agreement now.

He informed the bench about the INLD protest and said over a lakh people planned to march into Punjab with spades to start digging at the SYL canal construction site. He blamed the Haryana government for granting permission for the march.

“Let’s hope good sense will prevail. Violence will not take place…” Jethmalani said.

The senior counsel’s apprehension was addressed by Haryana government counsel, senior advocate Shyam Diwan. He said his client was committed to maintaining law and order.

Once again the bench declined Jethmalani’s request to fix the next hearing on March 11, after the poll results, and listed the matter for a hearing on March 2.

The court took on record Punjab’s affidavit expressing its inability to recover land that has already been returned.

Centre intervenes as tension builds up over INLD’s threat

Home ministry official rushes to Chandigarh and meets DGPs of Punjab, Haryana

From page 01 As tension mounted between Punjab and Haryana over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue in the wake of the threat by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to dig the canal, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday sent an official to Chandigarh who held meetings with the top cops of the two states.

HT PHOTOSPunjab Police personnel at the Shambhu border in Patiala district on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in Haryana assembly and INLD MLA Abhay Chautala is sticking to the party’s plan of digging the canal in Punjab territory on Thursday.

MHA joint secretary Dalip Kumar held meetings with director general of police (DGPs) of Haryana and Punjab in Chandigarh. Sources said he asked both the DGPs to ensure law and order “at any cost”.

It was Kumar who had prepared the status report of MHA on the SYL issue, which was submitted in the Supreme Court after the Punjab assembly passed the controversial bill to return land to farmers. The apex court had then ordered to maintain status quo on the issue.

TAKING NO CHANCES

Meanwhile, a wary Punjab is taking no chances and fortified its borders with Haryana to stop the INLD from entering the state.

The state government has deployed more than 5,000 security men, besides 10 battalions of the paramilitary forces, on various entry points of Punjab in Patiala district.

CCTV cameras have been installed, steel walls erected, barbed-wired fencing put up in the fields alongside the Haryana border. A helicopter is being used to conduct aerial surveillance. A mock drill was also conducted to check the preparedness.

Police sources said the GT Road entry point will be sealed on Thursday morning, while heavy police deployment has already been made at Kapuri village in Patiala — the place where the foundation stone of the SYL canal was laid in 1982 — and other embankments of the canal.

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora, who is personally monitoring the security arrangements, said, “All possible measures have been taken. Forces have been deployed to tackle any situation.”

DGP (law and order) Hardeep Dhillon and IG (Patiala range) B Chander Sekhar are camping in the transit control room set up at Shambhu.

The police have also decided not to allow All India Sikh Students Federation activists to reach at Kapuri or Shambhu. The AISSF had announced to stop INLD workers from entering Punjab.

After his meeting with MHA official, Haryana DGP KP Singh visited the Shambhu barrier, the main entry point of Punjab from Haryana. He took stock of the situation and assured all assistance to Punjab in maintaining law and order.

Haryana has also increased its police strength at Shambhu in the wake of MHA’s intervention.

The DGP also visited the vegetable market at Ambala, where INLD workers will converge on Thursday before moving towards Punjab for digging of SYL. The site is around two km from the Punjab border.

PUNJAB POLICE NOT RELYING ON HARYANA

Punjab Police sources said the political compulsions of the BJP government in Haryana won’t allow it to stop INLD as any action against the party over the SYL issue can cause political damage to the saffron party. Therefore, Punjab is taking extra precautions. Police officials have been directed to use heavy force if INLD workers try to cross into the Punjab territory.

A senior Punjab police official said, “Even as the Haryana Police have assured full support, Punjab cant’ bank upon them. We are preparing as per our own plan as we know even a single incident will have dangerous cascading effect on Punjab’s law and order, as SYL is an emotive issue in Punjab

Pushed to the margins, INLD falls back on SYL to stay relevant

Being a state player, INLD has more wiggle room than rivals Cong and ruling BJP

CHANDIGARH : Barricaded roads, brick-walled bridges, drones in the air and phalanxes of Punjab Police and paramilitary personnel to guard the state’s border.

All of these are precautionary measures taken by the Punjab government to stop supporters of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) from carrying out their threat of digging up the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal — a part of which was filled up by local farmers last year — in Patiala on Thursday.

While the re-digging plan will not alter the status of the contentious canal on the ground in any way, the call is a political ploy of the INLD to stay relevant. The strategy has already alarmed the authorities in Punjab and Haryana and brought the SYL canal and the party, which has been mobilising support for the show of strength, to the centre stage.

The extent of response of party supporters to the call will be known only on February 23. However, its rivals, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have dubbed the exercise a “political gimmick” with one BJP leader calling it a drama being staged by the INLD leaders just to get “photographed and make headlines”.

The party has been in dire straits due to dips and dives in its fortunes in the past one decade. A string of losses in six straight assembly and parliamentary elections and the crisis of leadership with two of its top leaders, former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and former MP Ajay Singh Chautala, in jail in a recruitment scam, have left the cadres in disarray

In recent months, the Jat agenda – a community in which it has traditional pockets of strong support – in the state is also being set by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) chief Yashpal Malik. The UP realtor-turned-caste warrior, spearheading the 25-day-long stir for quota for Jats in government jobs and educational institutions, has emerged as the rallying point for the community, upstaging the local leaders for now.

Prof Ranbir Sigh, former dean, social sciences, Kurukshetra University, says there is a paradox in the party, as its cadre is intact, but it faces a leadership crisis. “The INLD needs to get its act together. The river waters issue has presented it with an opportunity. And there is a historical context. When his support base was dwindling, Devi Lal used the Punjab accord to raise the issue of injustice with Haryana and bounced back in 1987,” he says.

Being a state player, the INLD has more wiggle room than its two rivals and hopes to galvanise its cadres.

Both the BJP and Congress have stakes at the national level and in Punjab. They have their limitations and contradictions in their stance from time to time as a result.