Sir,
Your “Electoral farce again in Punjab”(WSN; 7/ 6/90) called on India for a “referendum, a plebiscite to put at rest once for all and what Sikhs want”. Surely you are throwing a bluff at India, No Sir; Sikhs should not peg all their hopes to this all or nothing gamble: The high stake of Sikh Homeland against the heavy odds of Indian machinations! This limited and Restrictive option will leave the Sikh cause, tactically, at the mercy of the Government of India ‘and its allies in the Punjab.
One heavy odd against this option is that India cannot afford in principle, a referendum. But what if it could? That brings us to another heavy odd: Referendum requires a decision by the majority electorate; will the Punjabi Sikhs be able to translate their small plurality based upon language alone, into a political majority? The Sikhs must leave some room to maneuver for themselves and for their formidable and clever adversary. They should continue to gain advantages through all available “constitutional niceties but must keep their options open to exercise. What they ultimately achieve will be through a win and not a voluntary award by India.
Sukhbir Singh Indianapolis, IN.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 27, 1990
