Farmers Movement Archive

New appointments to pacify Sikh farmers ahead of polls?

Dehradun: Three key posts in Uttarakhand — the governor, the chief secretary and the head of the minority commission — are now held by members of the Sikh community, prompting political observers to say that the appointments made by the BJP are meant to mitigate the damage caused to the party's image by farmers’ protests in Terai region, which has a significant number of Sikh farmers. Sikh farmers in Uttarakhand’s Terai region -- which includes Udham Singh Nagar and the plains of Nainital district -- have lended support to the farmers’ agitation against farm laws in west UP. Political experts said the recent appointees have been carefully selected so as to pacify the miffed Sikh farmers in Terai where the BJP’s internal assessment suggests that the party may fare badly. “The recent appointments carried out by the BJP clearly show an aim to control the possible political damage in Terai by the farmers’ protests. There is a substantial population of Sikhs in Udham Singh Nagar district who are currently unhappy with the ruling party,” said SMA Kazmi, a political analyst. Notably, R P Singh, a Sikh MLA from Delhi, was made the co-election in-charge for Uttarakhand by the BJP. Political experts said the appointment of Lt General Gurmit Singh (retd) as the new governor of Uttarakhand was also meant to send a message to both Punjab and Uttarakhand which are going to polls early next year. Significantly, Udham Singh Nagar has nine assembly seats. Analysts said leaders from the region have also been given key posts in the government. While Pushkar Singh Dhami who hails from Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar was appointed CM recently, Ajay Bhatt, MP from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat, was made minister of state for defence and tourism in the Union cabinet by PM Narendra Modi. “It’s evident that the BJP has been focusing on the Kumaon region in the forthcoming assembly elections. This is because Kumaon is the stronghold of their main opponent, former CM Harish Rawat,” said Kazmi.

The Times of India

2021-09-13

Dehradun