CHANDIGARH: The Babbar Khalsa International which owned the abduction of an All India Radio engineer Mohan Lal Manchanda from Patiala demanded India telecast and broadcast through its media the text of a letter condemned Sikh prisoners Bhai Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Bhai Harjinder Singh Jinda wrote to President Venkataraman two years ago.
The two prisoners arc in Pune jail in Maharashtra for killing the former Indian army chic! A.Vaidya as punishment for organizing the operation “Blue Star” in 1984. They had written the long letter to the Indian President protesting against the Indian atrocities on Sikhs and throwing light on their struggle for Khalistan.
Signed by senior leaders of B.K.I. such as Bhai Sukhdev Singh Bhai Wadhawa Singh Bhai Mahal Singh Bhai Kulwant Singh Bhai Amrik Singh Kauli Bhai Gurdial Singh and Bhai Harmit Singh a note was circulated among Chandigarh-based newsmen spelling out the organization’s demands for the release of Manchanda. “Otherwise the Indian officer will meet death” the note warmed. No time frame was prescribed for India to concede the B.K.I demands.
In addition the B.K.I. prescribed an elaborate code of conduct for the all India Radio and the Doordarshan emphasizing the need to give primacy to programs in Punjabi and reflecting the culture and ethos of the Khalsa Panth and the people of Punjab Hindi programs should not be given more than 5% of time and these programs should be screened by a committee of eminent Punjabi scholars. Each program should begin with “Sat Sri Akal” and not with “Namasto” as at present.
The militant outfit asked the non-Punjabi producers of programs and announcers to pack up and leave the state or face grave consequences to the members of their families. The staff members of the two government organizations were asked to pass resolutions through their associations compelling the government to change its anti-Punjab and anti-Khalistan stance.
The B.K.I. also warned against the use of such terms as terrorist extremist ultra for Sikh militants. Arrangements should be made to ensure that representatives of militant organizations too are given time to explain their views. Punjabi news should be relayed al prime time. Punjabi type-writers should be developed. The news readers and announcers should not only know Punjabi language but should be proficient in rural idiom.
The B.K.I. warned that noncompliance of its demands would mean peril to Manchanda’s life in the same way as R.K.Talib the directory of A.I.R. Chandigarh lost his life in 1990.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992
