Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring faces serious backlash following controversial remarks about Buta Singh, a revered Dalit leader. While campaigning for the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll scheduled for November 11, Warring referenced Buta Singh's Mazhabi Sikh community and complexion in a speech that went viral. An FIR was registered against him on Tuesday following complaints from Buta Singh's son Sarabjot. The Kapurthala police invoked charges including public mischief, promoting enmity, and provisions of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Warring later claimed his remarks highlighted Congress's inclusive character and offered an unconditional apology if anyone felt hurt. The controversy carries significant political weight in Punjab, where 32 percent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes, the highest proportion in India. Buta Singh remains an iconic figure whose legacy is invoked by parties seeking Mazhabi Sikh and Balmiki votes.
Buta Singh's Distinguished Political Career
Born in 1934 in Mustafapur village, Jalandhar district, Buta Singh completed his PhD from the University of Bombay on Sikh politics. He started with SAD, winning the Moga Lok Sabha seat in 1962. After switching to Congress in 1964, he was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times. Singh held crucial ministerial roles under three Prime Ministers, including Union Home Minister from 1986 to 1989 under Rajiv Gandhi. He handled Punjab militancy and implemented the Rajiv-Longowal Accord signed in 1985. Singh served as Bihar Governor in 2004 but resigned in 2006 after a Supreme Court setback. He chaired the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from 2007 to 2010. He passed away in January 2021 at age 86.
Political Fallout and Congress Silence
The controversy has created serious political problems for Congress in Punjab, where Scheduled Caste-reserved seats are crucial. In the 2022 Assembly polls, AAP won 30 of 34 SC-reserved seats, while Congress secured only three. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes took action on November 4 after a BJP complaint, demanding a police report within seven days. Opposition parties, including AAP and SAD, have strongly condemned Warring's remarks. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema demanded that Rahul Gandhi remove Warring as state president. Notably, Congress's own Dalit leader and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi criticized the remarks, emphasizing the need for greater sensitivity when discussing revered figures like Buta Singh. The party has not defended Warring publicly.
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