Axis of Evil: BJP and Akali Dal Badal
The BJP and Akali Dal Badal alliance is all about the money in the Gurudwaras' Golak. The SGPC controls majority of Gurudwaras including the Golden Temple — and has become a money pit for political parties at the expense of Sikh education, health, and welfare.
BJP and Akali Dal Badal alliance it's all about the money in the Gurudwaras Golllak (Money box) regardless Sikhs living abroad or in India the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) controls majority of Gurudwaras Including Shri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) Amritsar. It has become money pit for Akali Dal Badal Party and its associates (BJP) and Radical Sikhs they have caused more harm to Sikhs and Punjab regardless who comes to the power very less money spent on Empowerment, Education, Health, Welfare of Sikhs and Teachings of Sikh Gurus.
Since SGPC have huge revenue could have done better on education sector for Sikhs but intentionally they didn't since they were there to serve Family Controlled Panthak Party Akali Dal Badal and its master BJP. Punjab produced confused, unemployable youth a raw material for social calamity. Here is Brief comparison between SGPC vs. Punjab Government vs. Private Universities in Punjab. In Punjab, Private Universities dominate higher education enrollments with over 300,000 students, followed by Government Universities (approx. 60,000 to 70,000 students), and SGPC institutions holding a smaller, specialized student strength of roughly 35,000.
Akali Dal Badal party manipulating the Sikhs, spreading false narrative in Sikh community from long time, using Gurudwara money to Polarize the elections in Punjab and other parts of India and abroad. The Badal family and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership allegedly facilitated the Akal Takhat pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in September 2015 primarily for political leverage and electoral support.
The Sikh population worldwide is around 25-30 million. Not all Sikhs wear the 5 K's. (Kacha, Kanga, Kara, Kirpan and Kesh) Majority of the Sikhs, including me, are Sehajdhari and they are the biggest contributors to Sikh society in terms of wealth and charity in Punjab and other parts of the world. The most Sikh-dominated areas of India combined with such regulatory body's being completely controlled by Amritdhari Sikhs as led by the Shiromani Akali Dal political party is a recipe for suppression of Sahajdhari Sikhs and for weakening the Sikh religion as a whole by imposing man-made differences on what is otherwise a universally accepting faith.
Shiromani Akali Dal from beginning has deviating character since Prakash Singh Badal took over the party. It is more about his personal interest and family priority over Punjab and service to Sikhs religion. His Son Sukbir Singh Badal and his brother in law Bikranm Jeet Singh Majithia devastated the Punjab in Many Ways and still continue their evil agenda. Since SAD Badal, is the largest regional political party in Punjab instead of serving Sikh's it served Parkash Singh Badal Family and to the Bharatiya Janata Party or Indian central government regardless of who is in power. Below is a glimpse of carnage the Bharatiya Janata Party and its associate Shiromani Akali Dal Badal did during their alliance in Punjab.
Crimes during BJP and SAD Alliance
Based on reports and retrospective analyses, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Punjab (2007–2017) was marked by significant controversies regarding law and order, specifically concerning drug trafficking and the rise of organized crime.
Drug Menace: The 10-year regime (2007–2017) is frequently cited by opposition parties as the period when a "sixth river of drugs" (chitta) flowed through Punjab. The period saw the proliferation of synthetic drugs, with opposition and critics alleging political patronage to the drug mafia.
Key Drug Case: Notorious drug smuggler Jagdish Bhola, arrested in 2013, named prominent political figures, including Bikram Singh Majithia of the SAD, in a ₹6,000-crore synthetic drug racket case.
Rising Gangster's: Critics and current opposition members argue that organized crime, gangsterism, and extortion networks began expanding during this decade-long rule, with criminals allegedly enjoying political protection.
Sacrilege Incidents (2015): The state witnessed a series of sacrilege incidents in 2015, which led to widespread protests, violent clashes, and a sharp decline in the peace and communal harmony of the state.
Law and Order Issues: During their tenure, opposition parties frequently accused the alliance of "jungle raj," alleging police failure to curb crimes, including murder and illegal land grabs.
Political Violence: The latter part of their tenure saw incidents of violence against protesters and critics. Investigations into several cases from this period, including firing on protesters, were contentious.
While the SAD-BJP alliance was in power, critics highlighted an unholy nexus between criminals, mafia, and politicians, which they argue severely impacted the youth and law-abiding citizens of the state.
Drug Problem during BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in Punjab India.
During the 10-year rule of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance (2007–2017), the drug problem in Punjab escalated into a significant socio-political crisis often referred to as a "pestilence" or "epidemic". Critics and opposition parties frequently alleged that a nexus between politicians, police, and smugglers allowed the trade to flourish.
Key Aspects of the Crisis (2007–2017)
Scale of Addiction: Surveys during this period indicated that substance abuse was widespread. One study from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment identified approximately 2.3 lakh opioid dependents across 10 districts, though actual numbers were suspected to be much higher.
Youth Impact: The youth were disproportionately affected, with some reports suggesting that 75-76% of addicts were young adults. A Guru Nanak Dev University study even estimated that 70% of young Punjabi men could be addicted to easily available drugs.
Types of Substances: While traditional substances like opium and poppy husk (bhukki) remained, there was a surge in heroin ("chitta") and pharmaceutical drug abuse.
Cross-Border Smuggling: The SAD-BJP government often attributed the problem to Punjab's role as a transit point for heroin and opium from the "Golden Crescent" (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan), blaming the Border Security Force (BSF) for failing to secure the borders.
Political Controversies and Allegations
High-Profile Cases: Senior Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia was repeatedly accused by opposition parties (Congress and AAP) of involvement in a multi-crore drug racket. An FIR was eventually registered against him in 2021 under the NDPS Act following years of political pressure.
Political Defensiveness: When Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in 2012, claiming 70% of Punjab's youth were addicts, the state government dismissed the statement as a conspiracy to defame Punjabis.
BJP's Internal Friction: While in alliance, some BJP leaders occasionally criticized the SAD, calling drug addiction an "alarming proportion" and urging for more serious action.
Government Response and Institutional Gaps
De-addiction Efforts: The government established several de-addiction and rehabilitation centers, but they were often criticized for lacking professionally trained staff and failing to provide effective long-term recovery.
Legislative Demands: The SAD-BJP government pressed the central government for stricter amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Enforcement: While seizures occurred, investigations were often accused of focusing on end-users (addicts) rather than dismantling the larger distribution networks or "big fish".
Crimes Against Women During the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Punjab (2007–2017), official data showed a general upward trend in reported crimes against women. This rise is often attributed to both a genuine increase in incidents and improved reporting due to higher awareness.
Reported Crime Trends (2007–2017)
Overall Increase: There was a notable rise in registered cases across several categories, including rape, dowry deaths, and cruelty by husbands or relatives.
Rape Cases: Punjab observed a specific increase in reported rape incidents between 2010 and 2014.
Comparison to National Average: During this period, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) crime rate in Punjab was recorded at 129.6, significantly higher than the national average of 11.4.
Reporting Levels: Despite the rise in recorded cases, research suggests that over 70% of crimes against women in the state remained unreported due to societal stigma and fear of repercussions.
Key Statistics and Context: Common Crimes included cruelty by husband/relatives, assault with intent to outrage modesty, kidnapping, and rape. Research indicates a 207.4% rise in assault cases over certain periods of the coalition. Deep-seated patriarchal norms and a strong preference for sons contributed to ongoing gender-based violence, including female feticide. Critiques of the administration often cited "thuggery" (gondagardi) by party workers and the patronage of drug smuggling as factors that worsened the overall law and order situation.
While the government introduced initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, academic analyses from the time argued these were insufficient without fundamental changes in societal attitudes.
Unemployment during the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
The coalition government in Punjab (specifically the 2007–2017 period), the state witnessed a significant rise in unemployment, particularly among the youth, which became a major electoral issue. Key factors included a slowdown in the agricultural sector, the flight of manufacturing units, and a contraction in government jobs.
Unemployment Scenario (2007–2017)
High Youth Unemployment: By 2015-16, the unemployment rate among Punjab's youth (aged 18–29) reached 16.6%, significantly higher than the national average of 10.2% at that time.
Rural Joblessness: Rural youth unemployment in 2015-16 was 16.5%, over seven percentage points higher than the national rural average of 9.2%.
Shrinking Opportunities: The agriculture sector, Punjab's traditional employer, was absorbing fewer workers, while the number of factories in the state fell from 12,770 in 2010–11 to 12,278 in 2013–14.
Government Employment: The number of government employees in Punjab fell by 15%, from 3.7 lakh in 2004 to 3.1 lakh in 2015, increasing the competition for state jobs, with over 7 lakh people applying for just 7,418 police constable posts in 2016.
Worker Unrest: The era was marked by high industrial and labor unrest, with over 25,000 protests recorded in the seven years leading to 2015, averaging 15–18 daily.
Economic and Policy Factors
Industrial Flight: Industries, particularly sports goods makers in Jalandhar, shifted out of Punjab due to inability to compete with cheap imports, poor business environment, and problems with power and tax policies.
Contractual Labor Issues: A significant proportion of the workforce was employed on a contract basis with limited benefits, leading to widespread protests demanding regularization.
Drug Menace Interaction: Reports from that period highlighted that the lack of jobs and economic stagnation contributed to a rise in substance abuse among the youth, becoming a key political challenge. The failure to manage unemployment, coupled with agricultural distress and the drug issue, created severe anti-incumbency sentiment, which was a major factor in the coalition's poor performance in the subsequent assembly elections.
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