Bold comment.

[13Mirch]

A very bold essay of sorts. If only Indians can read this and improve themselves.

Sikhs have been gracing Indian jails with their presence since the nation's official inception during the British period. They have been no stranger to the brutal human rights violations which continue even uptill this day in the world's largest democracy. The figures for Sikhs in jails increased on the onset of the Khalistan movement. Whether militant or civilian, the law herded them into prisons (which by this point in time had become virtual slaughterhouses) without any discrimination. One recent prisoner who has set the Sikh nation aflame once more, with a desire to cast off the Indian yoke, is Balwant Singh Rajoana. Rajoana's case has many points which are beneficial to the judiciary and polity in any nation. An ex-cop he, along with Babbar Khalsa militants and one other accomplice, assassinated the chief minister of Punjab via suicide jacket in 1995. Those living at the time still remember the C.M. Beant Singh's state sponsored terrorism which resulted in the death of more than 50,000 Sikhs irrespective of age and gender. It was to stop this never-ending carnage that Balwant Singh took the step of assassinating him.

Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Of course it has extensively been argued, by the Indian judiciary that he (Balwant Singh) had anti-social motives in assassinating the C.M. Not only did he blow the C.M. to kingdom come but also 17 other armed personnel. On one hand this same Indian judiciary pays obeisance to the so-called heroes of the Indian mutiny, who indiscriminately butchered white women and children in the name of independence and patriotism. Given Singh might have maimed and crippled 17 others who were doing their duty, but again sacrifices have to be made in the line of duty to one's faith. Armed personnel often represent and protect the very institutes which deprive individuals of their rights. They themselves know the risks involved in their occupations, it might not be their doing that they became soldiers and guards yet it is up to them whether to have a conscience or not. In this case the 17 chose duty above humanity and paid the price, which of course any soldier would pay including both revolutionaries and militants.

The big question which hits one after reading about Singh, is why he did what he did? What was in store for him other than 27 years of his life wasted in a third-world jail. He gained no monetary benefit through his action, on the contrary his family became deprived of any finance they possessed since his incarceration. For 17 years the Sikh nation and the world forgot about him, leaving him to fester in solitary confinement. Yet the man himself never lost his sanity and valor Despite losing his own future and a prosperous one at that, he is happy to at least have granted millions of others a chance at living. Of course the Indian state has extensively repeated promises to grant justice to the Sikh nation for the horrors of the 80's, but each and every time an opportunity has been presented for it to make it's words come true it has absconded. The sophisticated Hindu majority itself is baying for the blood of any Sikh who goes against it's illusion of "one Hindu nation, for the Hindus." Opportunity arrived in the form of the Sikh nation's demand for Singh's release, but the same cliche manifested itself once more and the Indians turned the tide. What was not surprising, for many individuals who have seen this cycle being played out in India continually, was the extensive media and political campaigns which were undertaken by the state against the Sikhs in response to the Sikh demand. The Akalis, the Sikh political party, were blamed for whipping up the Sikh community in a frenzy order to gain easy votes on the heels of Hindu-Sikh violence. What is important to note is Hindu-Sikh. Where the Hindu's dominance and pull over the Sikhs is reassured. Furthermore Sikhs were presented as being vulgar and stupid with no sense of their own good. It seems than, according to Indian logic, that at least 90% of Punjab's 12 million Sikh community must be highly stupid and incapable of taking care of itself. Furthermore Singh's image was presented in the same light which Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's image was presented in during the 80's. That of a charismatic but fascist leader.

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Another question which rises, from the Balwant Singh situation, is that what is a proletariat supposed to do when the state itself condemns and persecutes him without fair reason? Does he do what Balwant Singh and countless other militants do, or does he wait for the proper channels to open up while suffering under the state's power? For those who lived under Beant Singh's reign Balwant Singh's actions are justified. Since the 50's the state had shut it's eyes regarding Sikh matters. Punjab, where the community resided, became the state's toy; to dispose of at it's will. It was split, it's possessions and territories unlawfully snatched away and the state was not even aloud to state itself as a Punjabi speaking state. Even today the land of the five rivers is derived of it's rivers. To protest this the Sikh polity, and the common man launched a massive agitation which the Indian state presented as being detrimental to Hindu rights and a challenge to Hindu sovereignty.

This had the effect of a massive genocide being launched on the Sikh population in India, by the 80's this covert genocide had succeeded to such an extent that the Sikh faith was all but finished from Punjab. Unfortunately for the Indian state though, it's policy makers had not studied Sikh history. When the faith is poised on the brink of extinction, it is then it rears it's head and strikes at the foe. The ultimate catalyst for a Sikh revival came in the form of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. His name and image was slowly demolished and re-moulded into that of a terrorist by the Indian state controlled media. To such an extent that he was finally labelled as "Killer of All Hindus." To stop this killer a massive and murderous attack was launched on the Punjab, by the state, which resulted in the deaths of many Sikhs and Hindus. Jarnail Singh on the other hand cautioned the Sikh nation from retaliating rashly and to only counter-attack by targeting guilty politicians and armed personnel. Finally under the pretext of defeating terrorism Operations Bluestar, and Wood-rose were launched in Punjab which resulted in the deaths of more than 3 million Sikhs. All this justified by stating "Hindus have to defend Hinduism. Indians have to defend India." This situation continued until the mid-90's when Balwant Singh assassinated the C.M.

At the time of the assassination state sponsored terrorism was at it's peak in Punjab. The Sikh freedom movement was all but over due to mass infiltration by the Indian intelligence agencies, and lawlessness ran rife. What is surprising is that all this was being done by a government, and a politician who was only voted into power by less than 5% of Punjab's population. Thus not only did the state fan the flames of a genocide but also add fuel to it. If the state truly had been concerned about it's citizens, it would have surely listened to them. Yet it takes a loud noise to make the deaf hear. Rajoana provided the last bang in the 90's. But did his actions, and did those of his accomplices achieve anything? Did they prove fruitful for the Sikh nation at large? There are two different perspectives to this. One, their separatist actions achieved nothing more than prolonging a bloody conflict; or two, not only did their actions result in lives saved but also ensured an uneasy peace in the state. But this leads further to other important questions.

1.) To what extent does the state, especially a democratic state, have the right to suppress the right of any specific community in its domain?

2.) Does religion control politics, in India, or do politics control religion?

3.) Do minorities have no right to decide their own futures? Are they expressly dependent on the state, and if so do they not have the rights which a citizen of the majority possesses?

4.) For a minority such as the Sikh nation, who has not signed the Indian constitution, is a secessionist state not possible?

5.) Why is the role of the state ignored by Indians, when any talk of the Sikh militancy comes up?

6.) Twenty-eight years later why has no justice been granted to the Sikh populace in North India, who suffered at the hands of the state?

7.) Can a minority exist alongside a majority, in a perverted democracy such as India?

8.) Do the victims of state sponsored terrorism have any right to defend themselves?

9.) In a democracy is state sponsored terrorism accepted as justice and keeping law-and-order?

10.) Why has the Indian state only hanged individuals who have defended themselves, and not individuals who attacked them?

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana and Baba Surjeet Singh, jathedar Budha Dal 96crori.

Of course these questions are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but on that note one has to wonder what parameters truly define a democracy? Is democracy truly evident of the saying "democracy is th right to decide our tyrants." Or is it (like any other man-made creation) a proverbially excellent idea which over time has become corrupt? It is now up to the Sikh nation to decide what it's future steps will be, but the impertinant need of the moment is to free not only Balwant Singh Rajoana but the countless other Sikh prisoners languishing in Indian jails since the 80's, and before.

http://tisarpanth.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/the-80s-and-rise-of-rajoana.html

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

General(comman man's) preception and political aspirant(political parites)perception are opposite in India. My relatives in punjab which take their combine harverster to Madhya Pradesh tells the difference, Sikhs are treated with utmost respect not in one state,but in every state. I am uploading a comment of prominent Film Director Shekhar Kapoor."When I was kid, I lived in Delhi and girls were told if you find yourself alone and see yourself in trouble, go there where you find a sikh(sardar), he will sacrifise his life to protect you". In 84 Hindus of Delhi and Amritsar saved lives of many Sikhs. One prominet politician Ram Bilas Paswan himself saved many sikhs.

[Jonny101]

Good essay. It's unfortunate that Indians do not want justice. Hindus can slaughter anyone in the name of religion and no one will be punished, yet if a person from the minority group asks for justice he is labelled as a separatist or terrorist. Just look at the recent case of Afzal Guru. There was no credible evidence against the man, yet the whole Hindu nation celebrated his death. On the other hand we have Hindu leaders(like Modi) who the whole of India knows has blood of innocent people on his hands, yet he will be rewarded as the next PM of India. Such double standards.

The issue Sikhs have with Rajoana is not that he is on death row. Problem is, if he is on death row why are the likes of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar still free? why aren't the killers of the Sikhs on death row as well? Is the death penalty only for the minorities in India while the majority is allowed to kill anyone without the least bit of regret?

I have yet to meet a HIndu who says operation blue star should not have happened. Every Hindu you encounter says it was a good act, of course they will never say this to a Sikh to his face, but they are very bold about their views on operation blue star when you chat with them online. Something is seriously wrong with a society which condones slaughter of innocents in the name of fighting terror.

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Good essay. It's unfortunate that Indians do not want justice. Hindus can slaughter anyone in the name of religion and no one will be punished, yet if a person from the minority group asks for justice he is labelled as a separatist or terrorist. Just look at the recent case of Afzal Guru. There was no credible evidence against the man, yet the whole Hindu nation celebrated his death. On the other hand we have Hindu leaders(like Modi) who the whole of India knows has blood of innocent people on his hands, yet he will be rewarded as the next PM of India. Such double standards.

The issue Sikhs have with Rajoana is not that he is on death row. Problem is, if he is on death row why are the likes of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar still free? why aren't the killers of the Sikhs on death row as well? Is the death penalty only for the minorities in India while the majority is allowed to kill anyone without the least bit of regret?

I have yet to meet a HIndu who says operation blue star should not have happened. Every Hindu you encounter says it was a good act, of course they will never say this to a Sikh to his face, but they are very bold about their views on operation blue star when you chat with them online. Something is seriously wrong with a society which condones slaughter of innocents in the name of fighting terror.

It is because sikh were never able to bring right picture in front of comman man. Every prominent man and politician, historian(maximum) believe it was ego and fault of Indira.

[13Mirch]

It all depends on your perspective. Times are slowly changing but India is in the throes of extremism. It took one Ayatollah Khomeni to ruin Iran.

General(comman man's) preception and political aspirant(political parites)perception are opposite in India. My relatives in punjab which take their combine harverster to Madhya Pradesh tells the difference, Sikhs are treated with utmost respect not in one state,but in every state. I am uploading a comment of prominent Film Director Shekhar Kapoor."When I was kid, I lived in Delhi and girls were told if you find yourself alone and see yourself in trouble, go there where you find a sikh(sardar), he will sacrifise his life to protect you". In 84 Hindus of Delhi and Amritsar saved lives of many Sikhs. One prominet politician Ram Bilas Paswan himself saved many sikhs.

That may be the case but these are individual perceptions we are talking about. Not collective. Now has Mr. Kapoor ever said "Operation Bluestar was wrong" ? Has he ever condemned it on such a massive platform?

Good essay. It's unfortunate that Indians do not want justice. Hindus can slaughter anyone in the name of religion and no one will be punished, yet if a person from the minority group asks for justice he is labelled as a separatist or terrorist. Just look at the recent case of Afzal Guru. There was no credible evidence against the man, yet the whole Hindu nation celebrated his death. On the other hand we have Hindu leaders(like Modi) who the whole of India knows has blood of innocent people on his hands, yet he will be rewarded as the next PM of India. Such double standards.

The issue Sikhs have with Rajoana is not that he is on death row. Problem is, if he is on death row why are the likes of Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar still free? why aren't the killers of the Sikhs on death row as well? Is the death penalty only for the minorities in India while the majority is allowed to kill anyone without the least bit of regret?

I have yet to meet a HIndu who says operation blue star should not have happened. Every Hindu you encounter says it was a good act, of course they will never say this to a Sikh to his face, but they are very bold about their views on operation blue star when you chat with them online. Something is seriously wrong with a society which condones slaughter of innocents in the name of fighting terror.

They love hiding from reality and living in illusion.

[Jonny101]

General(comman man's) preception and political aspirant(political parites)perception are opposite in India. My relatives in punjab which take their combine harverster to Madhya Pradesh tells the difference, Sikhs are treated with utmost respect not in one state,but in every state. I am uploading a comment of prominent Film Director Shekhar Kapoor."When I was kid, I lived in Delhi and girls were told if you find yourself alone and see yourself in trouble, go there where you find a sikh(sardar), he will sacrifise his life to protect you". In 84 Hindus of Delhi and Amritsar saved lives of many Sikhs. One prominet politician Ram Bilas Paswan himself saved many sikhs.

Many Hindus did the noble act of saving Sikhs in 84 anti Sikh riots(genocide) and for that those Hindus deserve to be honoured by the Sikhs. But what is interesting is that still no justice has been given to the Sikhs. Why are the Hindu politicians who killed Sikhs in 84 still free? how many Hindus were put behind bars for raping Sikh women, yet when a Hindu girl was raped the whole nation(including Sikhs of Delhi) rose up to demand justice. Thank God the rapists were not Muslims or else there would have been anti Muslim riots in India.

regarding operation bluestar, what is disturbing is that nearly every Hindu I have debated always says it was a good act and needed to be done. No matter how much you try to convince them of the wrong that happened to the Sikhs during operation bluestar they are so zidhi/stubborn in their belief that the attack should have happened. If anything they are the ones who try to make us feel guilty for honouring Sant Bhindranwale or Satwant Singh and Beant Singh without feeling the least bit of shame that they have honoured Indira Gandhi by naming the Delhi air port, universities, colleges in her name, yet they have a HUGE problem that Sikhs have installed a painting of Sant Bhindranwale in the SGPC museum in Amritsar.

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Time has changed from 80's to now. Judicary is now more active. Gujrat victims got justice. People will always have there views on what have been presented to them, did ever anyone presented Sant Bhindrawale's view, specially sikh politician and sikh media and even pracharak's. You talk about hindu, I know many sikhs who condemn Sant Bhindrawale, What they know.

Sangat Singh book posese the right picture, media that time was able to convince people sikhs were trying to merge with pakistan. Recent example 5-6 days back there was debate on Ndtv MS Bitta said people laid there lives to defend punjab from merging to pakistan. Well A sikh is saying that how can u convince anyone. Indira was killed because of her plan to attack pakistan to carry mass genocide on sikhs and break their spirit.

Spirit of sikhs is main problem for political parties in India.

[Mehtab Singh]

Thank God the rapists were not Muslims or else there would have been anti Muslim riots in India.

Veer, the youngest one out of the 6 who was the most brutal among them, the 17 year old, he is a Muslim from a so-called "lower caste". I remember posting the news on here which I read in a British newspaper who interviewed this guy's family. Indian media is not disclosing this for the same reason you mentioned.

[Gurpreet14]

i have seen people talking alot of 1984 riots.... being a sikh - its obvious that we will feel lot of pain...

But can anyone understand the pain of Hindus n muslims as well.. when there were riots between hindus n muslims.....

so many hindus n muslim died in riots..

I was in vadodara, gujarat.. when there was riots happening coz of Godra kand.. i have seen people crying for their dear ones..

i was very young at that time... my father told to not to go out of home.. but i went n near my home there was a mosque... i just passed that mosque n there was firing .... a person died in front of me... that person was human- no matter whether muslim.. sikh...or hindu.....

people here talk about MODI ryt.... so for ur information- when there was attack on Golden Temple.. we sikh sacrificed our life to save harminder sahib...ryt.. then we thought to kill Indira gandhi so that in future people will think before doing such kind of attacks..again ..

In the same way when muslims attacked the train in Godra... it was MODI who came forwards...made dogs the lions(hindus are not at all brave) ... it was narendra modi who provoked them so that muslims can get their answers....... If Modi would not have done this.. the muslim might have ruled them..... That is the reason that inspite of knowing the truth about Modi he is breaking the records of histroy to become Chief Minister of Gujarat again n again,,, n now can even stand for PM....

I am not a supporter of MODI but yeah i have seen him working for his people

[Jonny101]

Gurpreet Jee, I can understand Hindu anger for the Godra fire which killed HIndus, and for that nothing would be wrong if Hindus had killed the Muslims involved, similar to how Sikhs had killed Nirankari leaders and their supporters. But killing of innocent civilian population in riots whether Hindu or Muslim is wrong. The person being killed is someone's brother, father or son. It is really painful to lose someone in your family, but even more painful to know that your loved one died a horrible painful death in a riots situation. Nearly all the Muslims who were killed during the riots had nothing to do with the Godra fire.

Besides what is brave in what the Gujus did? there is nothing brave in killing a lone Muslim like a wild pack of dogs under full police protection. The brave thing would be to face the Muslims and beat them without the police protecting you like how Sikhs had fought and defeated the huge Muslims population of Amritsar in 1947 who were almost half of the population. At the time even the police force was Muslim dominated in Punjab and actively helping the Muslim rioters.