THE SIKH TIMES
sikhtimes.com

Noteworthy News and Analysis from Around the World

In-Depth Coverage of Issues Concerning the Global Sikh Community Including Self-Determination, Democracy, Human Rights, Civil Liberties, Antiracism, Religion, and South Asian Geopolitics

Home | News Analysis Archive | Biographies | Book Reviews | Events | Photos | Links | About Us | Contact Us

Buta Singh: End of the Road

By KHUSHWANT SINGH

The Tribune, Feb. 11, 2006


Photo: Buta Singh

Assuming that Buta Singh's career as a politician has come to an end, it is permissible to look back on his rise as a prototype Indian politician of our times. He subscribed to no political ideology; nor do our netas of today. He started off as an Akali, then joined the Congress, then for a time the B.J.P., when it was in the ascendant, and went back to the Congress when he sensed his chances of rising 'higher' would be brighter there.

Coming from a Scheduled Caste with a college education, he found it comparatively easier to get elected to the Lok Sabha from a reserved constituency, first from Punjab then Rajasthan (he changed his turban from the Sikh style to Rajasthani style to suit his purpose). When both options were closed to him, he was up for grabs for anyone who hoped to utilise his undoubted energies for his own purposes.

He supported Operation Bluestar and readily agreed to rebuild the Akal Takht against the wishes of his community. He got the fat Santa Singh Nihang to do the dirty job for him.

Several lakhs [1 lakh = 100,000] of rupees, if not crores [1 crore = 10,000,000], were blown up to complete the structure which included buying some kilos of gold to emblazon the domes. He and Santa Singh were declared tankhaiyas (guilty) by Akal Takht jathedars and were ostracised from the community. I was among the few who ignored the medieval brand of a Sikh fatwa and attended his mother's bhog ceremony. Buta's Akal Takht was pulled down and another rebuilt by kar sewa [volunteers]. Crores went down the drain.

Buta's politics took another about turn. He ditched Santa Nihang and tendered an abject apology to the Panth. He went through the punishment prescribed and was re-admitted into the community. The wretched Santa languishes somewhere in the Punjab countryside.

Buta Singh was a good worker. He was put in charge of building stadia for Asiad Games. He finished it in record time. He also knew how to keep his bosses happy. I had one experience of his expertise. A month or so after the anti-Sikh violence in November 1984, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi called a meeting of some M.P.s in his office to find out how the victims were being rehabilitated. He asked Buta Singh, who was the home minister, to make a statement.

Buta Singh assured him that all that was necessary had been done. I butted in and contradicted whatever he had said. I gave the instance of Charanjit Singh of Pure Drinks. All his machinery had been wrecked by hired saboteurs. Far from being compensated, replacements ordered from abroad had been deliberately held up by Bombay Customs. I gave other instances. Rajiv accepted my statements. Buta Singh changed his tune and promised to look into my allegations.

Within a few hours customs cleared Charanjit Singh's consignments. Buta Singh took credit for it. So did another M.P. who was taking a monthly allowance from Charanjit Singh. He did not open his mouth at the meeting.

Buta Singh makes a calculated display of his religiosity. Most Indian politicians except communists do the same. Some days after the Akal Takht jathedars lifted their ban on him, he rang me up and told me what agonies he had suffered while being separated from the Panth.

I did not believe a word of what he said and wondered why he had picked an agnostic like me to convey his sense of relief. Some days later, a T.V. channel showed him visiting Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. He went inside the sanctum bowing his head. His P.R.O. had done a good job. I don't trust his word; I don't trust the word of any Indian politician. Now he is at the end of his political road, I wonder which way will he turn. Money is no longer his problem and even lesser for his sons. They have done well for themselves. They are like any other Indian political family. They not only ensure good living for themselves for their lifetime, they do so for seven generations to come. Buta Singh is no exception to the general rule of opportunism to serve one's ends.