Once again, Akali Factions have united under its original name “Shromani Akali Dal.” The organizational structure, constitution, and the political goal of the party will be finalized by April 13. This unity have been enforced by the Akal Takhat Jathedar Prof. Manjit Singh through the manipulations of some traditional Akali leaders. Tohrahad joined hands with Badal with the intention to balk out of the professed goal of “Amritsar Declaration” which advocates a co federal system of governance in India, failing which the Akali party shall have no other option but to struggle for an independent and sovereign Sikh state. However, Simranjit Singh Mann-one of the signatory to the Amritsar declaration had raised the demand for Khalistan. His stand has been widely appreciated and welcomed by the radical Sikh groups and their sympathizers who had little hope on Mr. Mann. He spoke in a bold and an open way in front of Sikh masses gathered in thousands, about the goal of Sikh liberation from India.
I do not disagree that the unity of Sikh political groups is the need of the hour. My point, however, is that unless the proposed unity is followed on a clear appraisal of the situation, agreement on issue, the goals and the strategies, it would do more damage than good in the long run. The achieved unity of the Akali factions without fulfillment of these preconditions would break at the first politically sensitive moment, and their bickering would further erode the credibility of the Sikhs. We have known the character, the understanding, and the objectives of these leaders who are involved in the present unity. There are many such unities in the past and the Sikh masses have known there outcome. There is no evidence that they follow on a process of critical self appraisal, clarity of perspective or even a clear agenda on future politics.
We should recollect the policy resolution adopted by the Working Committee of the Akali Dal in a conference held at Anandpur Sahib in October 1973, which demanded that the Central government should actualize the federal concept of India by granting autonomy to the provisional governments in all areas except defence, foreign relations and currency. the Akali Dal was forced to embarked on a program of agitation in August 1982 with Anandpur Sahib resolution’ as its political goal. The Akali Dal hurriedly drafted a charter of demands addressed to the Central government. The charter contained above the basic demands like the transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan to Punjab; the reallocation of river waters; the implementation of the Anandpur Sahib resolution for state autonomy and special rights to Sikhs as a nation-also the demand that Bhindrawalebo unconditionally released.
The Akali leadership, with the view to harness the popularity of Bhindranwale with the Sikh masses for their narrow political ends, persuaded him to join the agitation by adopting the Anandpur Sahib resolution as the basis. Having once done the Akalis were unable to step-back. The Akali politics of compromise failed to break the steadfast determination of Sant Bhindrawale; the operation Blue Star became inevitable, most probably with the knowledge and the acquiescence of the traditional Akali leaders like Tohrn, Badal. The operation Blue Star ended with Sant Bhindrawale’s martyrdom; also with the cold blooded murder of a large number of Sikh pilgrims, unconnected to the agitation: demolition of the Akali Takhat with the aid of balde lanks.
Eleven years after this episode, the Akalis still speak to carry on their struggle with the Indian government within its constitutional framework. However, there is a question for Akali leadership to answer sincerely. Do the Sikh people and their democratic will count for the Indian state and the vast majority of its Hindu masses? The evidence shows that they do not count. The forces of the Indian establishment are meritless and, in shameless contradiction with their profession to non-violence, the Hindu public opinion would rather condone the total annihilation of various nationalities fighting for freedom rather than let them loose from their tyrannical hold.
I feel sad to think of the opportunities the Akali leaders have lost in history because they never tried to understand the larger context of the situation. They failed to set clear goals and muster strength to achieving them. All the manipulations in the history of Akali Dal, without exception. have hurt the Sikh interest, dragging them further behind from the goal of sovereignty. Having acquiesced in the opera tion Blue Star, Tohra and Badal has always been in the reckoning of Hindus their men in the Sikh camp.
However, if they wish to work in the better interest of the Sikh nation, they will have to first become, “the Sikhs” in the true sense Guru Nanak had meant” Seekers of truth above all else. Until then nothing will change.” They must decide to carry on the struggle to create an alter native structure of polity within which they may be able to forge their destiny without the tyrannical hold of Hindu In Jaswinder Singh Issued from the office of “Khatistan Times New York.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1995
