From Bhindranwale to Ballots, 'Bhasha' and Bandobast: Decoding Amit Shah’s Punjab Strategy

The invocation of Sant Jarnail Singh’s legacy, handling of elected representatives under NSA, and the approach to managing prolonged farmers' protests will likely remain contentious issues in Punjab.

Recent Political Developments in Punjab: Analysing Centre-State Relations in March 2025

In the third week of March 2025, a series of high-profile political events unfolded in Punjab that have sparked significant discussion about the relationship between the central government and the state. Home Minister Amit Shah made pointed remarks about extremism in the Rajya Sabha with references to historical figures, the Governor addressed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Hindi, and authorities cleared long-standing farmer protest sites at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. This analysis examines whether these events are connected, what they might indicate about central government policy towards Punjab, and the potential implications for the state’s political landscape.

The Four Key Events of March 2025

Amit Shah’s Statements in Rajya Sabha

On 21 March 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Rajya Sabha, delivered a wide-ranging two-hour speech that comprehensively covered the duties and achievements of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The address focused predominantly on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, development initiatives in the Union Territory, counterterrorism operations, efforts to curb left-wing extremism (Naxalism), reforms in the criminal justice system, and broader national security matters. However, it was a single one-minute reference to Punjab—where Shah remarked, “Some people tried to become Bhindranwale in Punjab... We did not have the government (in the state), but the Home Ministry’s firm resolve ensured that he is in Assam jail”—that triggered a tsunami of conflicting commentary on social media. Though not named explicitly, the Home Minister was clearly referring to Amritpal Singh, leader of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ outfit, who was arrested in April 2023 and remains detained in Dibrugarh Central Jail under the National Security Act (NSA). Shah emphasised that Singh is now “peacefully reciting Guru Granth Sahib in Assam jail.” This remark drew particular attention not merely because it came despite Singh’s election as an MP from Khadoor Sahib while in detention, but more so due to Amit Shah’s reference to Sri Guru Granth Sahib—regarded by Sikhs universally as the embodiment of the eternal, living Guru—within a context many found objectionable, if not inflammatory.

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The Governor’s Address to Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Hindi

The Budget Session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha was convened on 21 March 2025, with Governor Gulab Chand Kataria addressing the assembly—intriguingly, in Hindi, perhaps for the first time since the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966. While the Governor’s address follows constitutional protocol, it also serves as a significant symbolic interaction between the centrally appointed Governor and the state legislature. This marked a departure from established practice, where non-Punjabi-speaking Governors had traditionally delivered their addresses in English. The choice of Hindi drew criticism from across the political spectrum, with many viewing it as culturally insensitive—particularly in light of Punjab’s longstanding and unresolved demands for official status for Punjabi outside the state, and the integration of Punjabi-speaking areas into Punjab.

The reaction was further amplified by the timing. Just weeks earlier, in February, a contentious CBSE notification had omitted Punjabi—and a few other regional languages—from the list of regional languages to be taught in Classes 10 and 12. Although the Board later clarified that the list was merely “indicative,” the omission had already sparked strong backlash in Punjab. Against this backdrop, the Governor’s Hindi address rattled many political figures and cultural stakeholders, notwithstanding the ceremonial warmth with which he was welcomed by Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who presented him with a replica of the Golden Temple and a traditional shawl (Lohi).

Crackdown on Farmer Protests at Shambhu and Khanauri

In the days preceding these political statements, Punjab Police, in a massive overnight operation, cleared the Shambhu and Khanauri border sites where farmer protests had continued for over a year since February 2024. Police detained farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who were returning from inconclusive talks with the central government. Authorities deployed approximately 3,000 police personnel to dismantle the protest encampments, with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema justifying the action by citing mounting economic losses due to the prolonged highway blockades.

The operation, however, raised concerns that the AAP government in Punjab was acting in concert with—if not at the instance of—the central government, prompting criticism from several opposition leaders and farm unions who viewed the timing and scale of the crackdown as politically motivated. This forceful action came even as the Supreme Court remained seized of the matter, having conducted multiple hearings over recent months and issued several directions concerning the health and well-being of fasting farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Joint Action Committee on Delimitation

On 20 March 2025, a meeting of the Joint Action Committee on the Delimitation Commission was convened in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The meeting was attended by leaders from several non-BJP ruled states and regional parties, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and a representative of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Committee expressed strong opposition to the proposed delimitation exercise, which it viewed as disproportionately favouring northern states, particularly Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, at the cost of those that had successfully controlled population growth. Punjab’s participation signalled both a regional assertion of federal principles and a rare moment of convergence between traditionally rival parties within the state.

Connecting the Dots: Pattern or Coincidence?

Timing and Coordinated Messaging

The proximity of these events within a single week suggests, at the very least, a temporal connection. Two developments took place on the same day—21 March—while the protest site clearance and the Chennai meeting occurred just days earlier. This clustering of events raises important questions about whether they reflect a fundamental shift in the Centre’s approach to Punjab affairs—one that appears increasingly assertive, if not overtly muscular. It unfolds against the backdrop of an emerging chorus across several states calling for a more refined and equitable federalism within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

Assertions of Authority by the Centre

Three of the four events vividly illustrate distinct forms of authority being exercised in Punjab’s affairs. The Home Minister’s statement asserted the Centre’s authority over national security; the Governor’s address represented constitutional authority in state governance—even as it stirred sensitivities by being delivered in Hindi in a Punjabi-speaking legislature. This choice of language resonated uneasily, especially in a broader national context where southern states like Tamil Nadu have expressed not just protest but strong resentment over the perceived imposition of Hindi under the guise of the New Education Policy. The police action against the protesting farmers demonstrated administrative authority in managing civil disobedience, while the Joint Action Committee’s meeting in Chennai marked a collective political assertion of federal autonomy by Punjab, alongside other like-minded states.

The Language and Tone of Communication

The tone and tenor of communication in all these instances reflect deliberate choices in how the Centre conveys its messaging—both overtly and subtly—to citizens within Punjab and beyond. Home Minister Amit Shah’s direct reference to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was particularly striking, as it linked present-day security policies to historical narratives that remain deeply sensitive in the state’s collective memory. Adding another layer of disquiet, the Punjab Governor’s decision to deliver his address in Hindi—breaking with the long-standing convention of using English—was seen by many as contentious, especially in a state where linguistic identity is closely intertwined with political and cultural assertion. In contrast, the proceedings of the Joint Action Committee projected a more conciliatory and constitutionalist tone, grounded in the defence of federal balance and the assertion of states’ rights within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

Is There a Hardening of the Central Government’s Stance?

Zero Tolerance Messaging

Amit Shah’s declaration that “Narendra Modi’s government will not allow threats to the country to flourish due to political ideology” and that such elements will be “crushed before they can stand up” reflects a tone of strong, unambiguous resolve. While the rhetoric was broadly aimed at terrorism and left-wing extremism (Naxalism) across the country and not specifically directed at Punjab, it nonetheless marks a departure from earlier, more measured language used in the context of Punjab. Taken together with recent developments, it signals a potentially firmer and more uncompromising stance by the Centre in the days ahead.

Administrative Actions vs Dialogue

The decision to clear farmer protest sites after prolonged demonstrations suggests a shift from patience to action. Though the clearing was executed by the AAP-led state government, it followed inconclusive talks with central authorities. Finance Minister Cheema’s statement that farmers should protest in Delhi since their demands were directed at the central government highlights the complexity of state-centre politics in this issue.

Legal Mechanisms of Control

The continued detention of elected MP Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act (NSA)—cited by Home Minister Amit Shah as evidence of a successful security policy—demonstrates the central government’s readiness to invoke preventive detention laws even in the face of democratic electoral outcomes. This approach clearly prioritises national security concerns over the principle of electoral representation.

More recently, an FIR under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been registered against Amritpal Singh in connection with a murder that occurred in Punjab while he was already in detention. This development raises serious concerns about the potential overreach of state power, if not outright abuse of legal process. It also signals that, although the maximum permissible detention period under the NSA is due to end around 23 April, Amritpal Singh is unlikely to walk free. Like several of his associates, he now faces the strong possibility of immediate re-arrest under the newly registered FIR.

A Point of Inflexion for Punjab Politics?

Historical Context and Present Parallels

The deliberate comparison between current figures and Sant Jarnail Singh represents a significant framing of contemporary Punjab politics within historical narratives that remain deeply consequential for many Sikhs. When Shah stated that “some people tried to become Bhindranwale,” he was drawing an explicit connection that resonates profoundly— whether negatively or positively— in Punjab’s political memory.

Electoral Politics and Detention

The fact that Amritpal Singh won his Lok Sabha seat from Khadoor Sahib while detained—defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by 1.97 lakh votes—demonstrates continued popular support, at least within his territorial constituency, despite the government’s characterisation of him as an extremist. This electoral outcome creates a unique tension between democratic expression and security policy.

The Farmer Movement’s Evolution

The clearing of protest sites after a year of demonstrations could mark a turning point in how farmer movements engage with both state and central governments. Punjab Congress Party President and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s accusation that both governments conspired against farmers suggests this action might realign political alliances in Punjab.

Implications for Punjab, Sikhs, and Panthic Politics

Governance and Economic Considerations

From a governance perspective, clearing highways and ensuring free movement of goods may benefit Punjab’s economy, which Finance Minister Cheema described as suffering due to the blockades. However, the manner of action has political costs in a state where agricultural interests remain central to identity and livelihood.

Religious and Cultural Identity

For many Sikhs, the invocation of Sant Jarnail Singh by the Home Minister in the context of security threats might be viewed as insensitive to the complex place he holds in Sikh collective memory. This language could potentially alienate those who view him as a religious figure rather than simply a political one, often portrayed as a an extremist, if not a terrorist.

Political Fragmentation and Unity

Punjab’s panthic politics, already fragmented across multiple parties and factions, faces new pressures from these developments. Such moments can either drive further fragmentation as groups respond differently to central pressure, or potentially catalyse new alliances against perceived external interference in Punjab affairs.

Summing Up: Crossroads for Centre-State Relations

These March 2025 events collectively suggest an evolving relationship between Punjab and the central government, characterised by more assertive central positioning on matters of security, governance, and dissent. While the central government frames these developments as necessary for national unity and security, many in Punjab may view them through lenses of regional autonomy, religious respect, and economic rights.

The invocation of Sant Jarnail Singh’s legacy, the handling of elected representatives under preventive detention, the state’s participation in the anti-delimitation front, and the approach to managing prolonged protests will likely remain contentious issues in Punjab’s political landscape. As these dynamics unfold, they will test the resilience of India’s federal structure and the capacity for accommodation of regional identities within national frameworks.

Whether these events truly mark a turning point depends on subsequent policies and responses from both central and state authorities, as well as how Punjab’s diverse political stakeholders navigate this complex terrain. What remains clear is that the historical echoes of Punjab’s past continue to reverberate through its present political challenges.