This is a perspective that most of the intellectuals and policy makers try to look over but the role of muscle power is indispensable and inseparable from any political elections in India. In other north Indian states like Bihar, UP, Jharkhand etc. "Baahu-bali" is a term which is commonly used for muscle men who are not only bullies or goons themselves but they are backed by a huge army of musle-men who are always ready to man-handle any situation or person that comes in the way of their personal or political ambitions. Though there is no such official designation as "Baahu-bali" in Punjab or any other state but these Baahubalis have strongly emerged as the extra-constitutional authorities by virtue of their musle-power. These muscle-men do not only have a huge number of supporters but also a bulk of arms and and ammunition that they procure by fair and false means.
Call it a paradox of our democracy or the height of misfortune of our country that these Baahubalis are highly respected and feared by not only the common man but also top-notch government officials, capitalists and celebrities. In some parts of India, the extent of their power has gone upto the extent of entering a bureaucrat's office without his permission and man-handling him. Now as we move ahead with this article I will quote some of the most notorious muscle men and underworld dons of Punjab who have been made news in the recent past.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria recently nabbed by Punjab police has been dodging the police department for a very long time. In his late 20's, this young man who has chosen the wrong way is considered to be one of the most dangerous criminals of the underworld in the state. Though denying the presence of any underworld or illegal trafficking in Punjab would be like living in denial. Some of the insiders even claim that he enjoys the patronage of the Akali Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, though the charges have not been proven and the evidence is yet to enter the public domain.
Another notorious case that shook the whole state was the brutal murder of the Gangster Sukha Kahlon. Few months back, after he was arrested, his rival gangsters intercepted the police lorry in which he was being taken for the judicial remand and fired more than 60 rounds at him and left his corpse beyond recognition. This act of terror put a huge question mark on the Home Ministry of the state held by the Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal about the deteriorating law & order situation in the state.
Though both these young gangsters have proven the huge impact of the underworld on Punjab, none of them can be called as "Baahu-balis" as Jaggu's arrest isn't considered to have effected his patron minister much, neither Sukha Kahlon's death is considered as a political assassination as it was an outcome of the gang-war. Ministers have many gangsters like them at their disposal any time. But there are some muscle-men who have been in the mainstream politics and are very much open with their political affiliations. Such muscle men have a public persona which somehow out-weighs their illegal actions and establishments. Though I'm not trying to glorify gangsters or muscle-men in any way but I'm only trying to highlight the facts.
Muscle-men also have their area of influence. Some of them are famous only in a locality or a city. e.g. there are many muscle men in my area who have a suffix "pehalwan" with their names and they are proud to be called as an XYZ pehelwan like Shoki pehalwan, Nindi pehalwan etc are the famous pehalwans of my area who are affiliated to Congress. Another famous Pehalwan of my city, Amritsar is Gurdeep Pehalwan:
Gurdeep Pehalwan is a Congress loyalist and can be given due credit for Capt. Amrinder Singh's victory over Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha elections 2014. Jaggu's arch rival and his supporters have been threatened by Jaagu and his gang-members on various occasions. He took a breath of relief with Jaggu's arrest. How do I know all this ?? Their rivalry made news on multiple occasions and many local newspapers covered it up including Amritsar Tribune.
Now the person I'm about to mention has somehow achieved the status of a "Baahu-bali" as his persona has transcended the power of many office-bearers who are holding high constitutional offices like Ministries in the state governments. Kanwar Pehalwan is an entrepreneur, businessman, leader, musle-man, philanthropist etc etc.
Though I haven't researched much on Kanwar Pehalwan, he is considered as one of the most powerful muscle man of North India who is also considered to have links with Dawood Ibrahim and has a network scattered across the country. People like him defy all the theoretical definitions of "Power-elites" of "Economic-elites". Some photos of him which are present in the Google search results make you imagine the extent of his power.
Call it a paradox of our democracy or the height of misfortune of our country that these Baahubalis are highly respected and feared by not only the common man but also top-notch government officials, capitalists and celebrities. In some parts of India, the extent of their power has gone upto the extent of entering a bureaucrat's office without his permission and man-handling him. Now as we move ahead with this article I will quote some of the most notorious muscle men and underworld dons of Punjab who have been made news in the recent past.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria recently nabbed by Punjab police has been dodging the police department for a very long time. In his late 20's, this young man who has chosen the wrong way is considered to be one of the most dangerous criminals of the underworld in the state. Though denying the presence of any underworld or illegal trafficking in Punjab would be like living in denial. Some of the insiders even claim that he enjoys the patronage of the Akali Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, though the charges have not been proven and the evidence is yet to enter the public domain.
Another notorious case that shook the whole state was the brutal murder of the Gangster Sukha Kahlon. Few months back, after he was arrested, his rival gangsters intercepted the police lorry in which he was being taken for the judicial remand and fired more than 60 rounds at him and left his corpse beyond recognition. This act of terror put a huge question mark on the Home Ministry of the state held by the Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal about the deteriorating law & order situation in the state.
Though both these young gangsters have proven the huge impact of the underworld on Punjab, none of them can be called as "Baahu-balis" as Jaggu's arrest isn't considered to have effected his patron minister much, neither Sukha Kahlon's death is considered as a political assassination as it was an outcome of the gang-war. Ministers have many gangsters like them at their disposal any time. But there are some muscle-men who have been in the mainstream politics and are very much open with their political affiliations. Such muscle men have a public persona which somehow out-weighs their illegal actions and establishments. Though I'm not trying to glorify gangsters or muscle-men in any way but I'm only trying to highlight the facts.
Muscle-men also have their area of influence. Some of them are famous only in a locality or a city. e.g. there are many muscle men in my area who have a suffix "pehalwan" with their names and they are proud to be called as an XYZ pehelwan like Shoki pehalwan, Nindi pehalwan etc are the famous pehalwans of my area who are affiliated to Congress. Another famous Pehalwan of my city, Amritsar is Gurdeep Pehalwan:
Now the person I'm about to mention has somehow achieved the status of a "Baahu-bali" as his persona has transcended the power of many office-bearers who are holding high constitutional offices like Ministries in the state governments. Kanwar Pehalwan is an entrepreneur, businessman, leader, musle-man, philanthropist etc etc.
Though I haven't researched much on Kanwar Pehalwan, he is considered as one of the most powerful muscle man of North India who is also considered to have links with Dawood Ibrahim and has a network scattered across the country. People like him defy all the theoretical definitions of "Power-elites" of "Economic-elites". Some photos of him which are present in the Google search results make you imagine the extent of his power.
3 Akali Ministers i.e. Dhindsa, Majithia and Ranike can be seen standing on his sides and projecting him as a central figure of the event. It is worth mentioning of another famous "Bijli Pehalwan" of Amritsar who has a very famous temple and an "Akhara" (wrestling arena) constructed in the most posh Lawrence Road area of the city. "Bijli Pehalwan" was considered as one of the greatest political muscle men in the yester-years and was considered as a close aide to the then Prime Minister of the country Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Though Bijli Pehalwan is no more and his fourth or fifth generation is living a highly luxurious life as they are considered among the economic elites of the city. Though none of his descendants have become wrestlers or pehalwans but majority of them have resorted to entrepreneurship following the inheritance of the huge fortune that Bijli pehalwan provided them with.
Now, I'm sure that after reading this article many of the youngsters may find it very alluring to become gangsters or "Baahu-balis" and aspire to add a suffix like "pehalwan" to their names. In fact, I too find it tempting to add pehalwan to my name and become "Harman Pehalwan" or "Punnu Pehalwan" but that is not what I choose to be nor I can afford to make such a choice. Because life is not all about money or muscle power. I think my purpose is different, hence I need to make different choices but yes....
The satisfaction of highlighting some unsaid phenomenons that govern the Punjab polity stays with me and verbalizing them in an appropriate way seems really satisfying and fulfilling.
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