In a recent interview to S. Lakhbir Singh Grewal of Stockton, S. Simranjit Singh Mann spoke of his heartfelt alienation from India at his home near Fatehgarh Sahib.

Here are some excerpts.

Q: What can Sikhs abroad do to help in the present struggle?

Ans: The Sikh race in India is in great peril. India has violated several international treaties which have been approved by the UN and bar any one ethnic group from annihilating another. You know what has been happening since 1984, Mrs. Gandhi sending in the Indian army into the Golden Temple and demolishing several historical, religious and cultural structures. A pretext was used later to demolish many ancient buildings to “beautify” the city.

Many amendments to the constitution have been made which legalize genocide.

The UN resolution of 1946 clearly states that any state which commits genocide on its people will be debarred from any aid and even trade, your country the US is a signatory to this resolution. It is by this treaty that the US secretary of state barred the Austrian president Mr. Waldhien from entering America. We expect American ‘Sikhs and the American people to fight for our democratic rights which the majority in India has thrown overboard.

Punjab has been made into a colony of India and it’s unfortunate that the US has not said a word about the death of democracy for Sikhs in India. The Sikhs must put greater pressure on the US Govt to respond as in the case Lithuania, Estonia and Rumania.

You must thank Congressman Herger who has spoken out so bravely for the Sikhs.

Q: What about torture of young Sikhs and fake encounters?

A; The Indian police and army are violating all treaties and norms especially the Hague convention of 1987 which says all civilians are to be returned unharmed.

Fake encounters are continuing unabated. Arrested youths are shot after being mercilessly tortured.

For instance, I was in jail for 5 years without trial and there are Sikhs still in jail for over 10 years. Things are so deplorable for Sikhs in India you cannot imagine how we are treated as second class citizens without any rights. There is rule of rule. The police pick up our children and rape our women. Torture, humiliation and death are our lot.

I was holding a peaceful demonstration in Bathinda, The police attacked me with batons and rifle butts.

The Govt sent emissaries to apologies to me in hospital but this very Govt on an enquiry from a junior officer dismissed the case and said the attack on me was justified. This is the way democratically elected Sikhs are treated. You must bring it to the notices of your senators and congressmen.

Q You were elected by the greatest margin of votes in the history of the country. How did the previous Govt treat you?

A: Well, I suffered innumerable indignities. I was severely tortured. As you can see my jaw and nose are broken. I was pulled by my beard. They inserted terminals into my toenails. It was a terrible torture. There were electric shocks to my scrotum and other indescribable indignities. I was thrown into solitary confinement for most of the 5 years. My family was not allowed to visit me. My children saw me only twice in five years. I was not even allowed to write letters. My father, a former MP, made many vain efforts to help me.

But what moved me was what my daughter told me. She said you were fortunate to be alive. “I have visited your constituency, many families told me their sons were picked up by the police never to be heard from again.

Q: How can we directly help the families of those who have been killed or tortured? We know that the money we send never reaches those it was intended for.

Ans; I knew this to be true. You people should set up an independent trust. Money should not be sent to any individual here even me. The people controlling the trust must be people who love Sikhs and they must decide who is needy and deserving. Another thing we need is a newspaper to project the suffering of our people.

Q: You must be aware that we are publishing the WSN from Stockton trying to do this work. We need your help to get more information to help educate our Congressmen as to the real situation.

A: I would love to have you meet my press secretary a graduate of UC Berkeley; he will be able to help you.

Q: The Sikh religion does not permit the killing of innocent people. Most people are aware that the Govt is killing people to bring the Sikhs a bad name.

A: These killings are the work of the vigilante groups and my party is the first to condemn these killings, Also whenever there is a revolution, the lumpen elements are the first to take advantage by extorting money and killing people. The Govt has not only helped them but recruited them.

The Rajiv Gandhi Govt imported AK 47 rifles from Afghanistan to arm these rouges. There is absolute chaos, The BJP is also arming its men with clandestinely bought arms as are the communists. Even S. Parkash Singh Badal in league with the communists and has distributed 20 AK 47 rifles to his commando force he is building up. I can’t imagine what may happen.

Q What about various Akali groups and factions?

A: Historically the Sikhs have been many Misls warring among each other but in time of an external threat they got together Badal and Tohra say they have no difference with me but fail to heed my call to get together. Why have they been haying secret meetings with the center, And I have reliable information that Badal met Advani the right wing Hindu fundamentalist bigot and told him that he was not in favor of elections in Punjab. They have often brought humiliation upon themselves and the Sikh race. They must fight shoulder to shoulder with us to throw off the menace; they should be persuaded to do so.

Q: How bad is it really?

A: Why is Amnesty International or Asia watch not allowed into Punjab? Let a US Congressman Try to independently visit Punjab. He will never be allowed in. The Indian Govt quotes Amnesty International reports on South Africa on its national radio and television but why is it not allowed into Punjab. But for the protests of Sikhs like you in America the Sikhs of Punjab would have been wiped off the face of this earth by now.

Later at a village function near Ludhiana S. Simranjit Singh Maon exhorted Sikhs not to enroll in the police and the army. He said the Kashmiris who began fighting only recently had more pride than the Sikhs. Not a single Kashmiri had joined the army or the police lately, he said.

He said, “We must snatch the arms of the cops to protect ourselves.”

Article extracted from this publication >> May 11, 1990