STOCKTON: Sikh leaders all over the continent reacted with skepticism to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s latest moves on the Punjab. They were of the opinion that these moves were designed to get political millage and did not represent any genuine desire to improve the situation.

Gandhi had announced that he would reduce the sweeping emergency powers of the police in some parts of the state, allowing some foreigners into Punjab and releasing many of the Jodhpur detainees. Gandhi, however has not announced any schedule for these measures.

Gian Singh Sandhu President of World Sikh Organization asked under what laws the government of India would put the remaining detainees on trial. The special laws have no validity and are in violation of fundamental rights of freedom and justice.

 

Regarding the lifting of restrictions on foreigners visiting Punjab he asked whether the Indian government allows a group of lawyers or Amnesty International to visit Punjab duty to enquire into human rights violations.

Now that certain police powers have been withdrawn were the Ambassadors telling lies when they maintained that police functioning was normal.

WSO has no faith in Rajiv Gandhi. He and his mother Indira Gandhi are in the habit of making false promises and then withdrawing them. There can be no dialogue until an enquiry by a U.N Committee or a body of Independent lawyers is made. He made it clear that Khalistan is not bargainers.

  1. Gurcharan S. Dhillon President WSO, USA declared that only solution of the Punjab problem lies the establishment of Khalistan. Mr. Dhillon was conveying on the recent announcement of Rajiv Gandhi. These petty concessions are no solution to the problem. These concessions have been made under compulsion of forthcoming elections and the international pressure.

 

Dr. Gurinder S. Grewal member governing council WSO described these measures as gimmicks to stall international pressure and it will meet the fate of Longowal accord.

Jagjit Singh Mangat the president of the Sikh Cultural Society told the World Sikh News that these moves were not substantive enough to make any impact on the Punjab situation. “It is too little too late,” he added saying he could not understand how innocent people being released after five years under detention without any compensation could be called a concession.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 10, 1989