Why only a Deputy CM, why not an SC CM, Tewari asks Sukhbir ?
Chandigarh, 15 April: In a statement released to the Press here today Manish Tewari MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib & Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Government of India strongly advised the MP From Ferozepur Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal to desist from indulging in the politics of identity.He was responding to a statement by the Former Deputy Chief Minister that if the Akali Dal came to power in 2022 they would make a Dalit as a Deputy Chief Minister. Mr. Tewari asked Mr. Badal Why only Deputy Chief Minister why not a Dalit as Chief Minister ? Is the top position reserved for someone permanently ?
Tewari further stated that once the Pandora’s box of identity politics is opened then people will legitimately demand if not ask as the Why a Hindu should not be Chief Minister or for that matter someone from the OBC community should not then be the Chief Minister of the State ?
Tewari cautioned Mr. Badal that the politics of identity has been the bane of nations and civilizations and goes against the ethos of Punjab that can be summed up in three words Punjab, Punjabi, Punjabiyat. The founder of the Sikh Faith Guru Nanak Dev ji had fittingly preached “Manas ki Jaat sabhe eke pehchanbo”. The genesis of the Sikh faith also lies in it’s cardinal belief’s of equality and egalitarianism.
Millions of Punjabi’s who live and work abroad have made better lives for themselves because those countries have endeavored to create relatively classless societies where merit coupled with hard work and not the color of your skin or religion or ethnicity is the determining factor that defines whether you succeed or fail.
Tewari further opined that merit and merit alone should determine as to who should occupy the top job in the state if the state has to progress and the quality of life of people has to be improved. I am a strong believer in social justice and but I stand firmly against the use of social justice for tokenism and too achieve narrow partisan political objectives.
