JODHPUR: “Our release from jail is not an issue. The real issue is the grant of autonomy to Punjab in accordance with the principles laid down in the Anandpur Saheb resolution.” This summed up the political attitude of the local jail inmates belonging to Punjab whom I, accompanied by Mr. Gurdev Singh, a friend from Ludhiana, met on December 6, 1985. We had a talk for about an hour with the representatives of Sikh youths who have been detained here since June, 1984, and have been accused by the Government of India of w: against the Indian Star representatives included Bhai Manjit Singh, President of the All India Sikh Students Federation, Mr, Harminder Singh Sandhu, General Secretary, Mr. Amarjit Singh Chawla, Joint Secretary, Mr. Rajinder Singh Mehta, Organizing Secretary, Mr. Wirsa Singh Valtoha, Office Secretary and Mr. Jasbir Singh Ghuman, an executive member.

A relaxed atmosphere

The meeting atmosphere was quite relaxed. The jail authorities no longer breathe down your shoulders although before allowing we in we were thoroughly searched to the extent to touching our private body parts. Paper wrappers of soap cakes are opened by the authorities. Even toothbrushes cannot be allowed in with packing’s on. No paper, pen or currency is permitted to be taken in.

All the six leaders of the A.ISSF greeted us with j when they were brought small interview room with as many chairs as we were inside. All of them had kesri turbans and were brimming with confidence.

We asked the boys whether they faced any difficulty in receiving their parents and relations their answer was that not much difficulty was faced now by them. However, they pointed out, for persons like Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia it was So easy to meet them but * like-minded persons”” could not meet them so smoothly. Earlier, the food supplied to them was substandard but there has been improvement in the situation. An S.G.P.C. van brought their parents or relations from Amritsar every fortnight, they revealed.

Mr. Tohra in the course of his meeting wanted to know from the A.I.S.S.F boys their “next program” and their reply to him was that while they were in detention it was for outsiders to lead the community. There all aim of the S.G.P.C chief, the boys pointed out, was to “assess our mood and he did oat the instance of the Government of India”. They continue to hold Mr. Tohra and the late Sant Longowal responsible for inviting the Army in the Golden Temple.

Held no talks with G.O.I

They denied they ever conducted talks with the Government. They were taken to Delhi on the pretext of the proceedings in connection with the Manchanda murder case but were confronted with Governor Arjun Singh or one or two other representatives of the Government. “Our view has been that the Government must first set free all the detents before talks could be held on principles and that does not seem to be acceptable to the Government.” Sandhu told us. “The Government wants to make an issue of our release to get out of the Sikhs key demands of autonomy” Sandhu and others nodded.

The boys asserted in no uncertain terms that they had nothing but contempt for the accord

Answer: Mr. Sandhu quoted Dr. Iqbal.

We then asked for the new program of the A.I.S.S.F and the Taksal and the reply was evasive again. It was in verse:

The boys stressed the importance of enlisting the co-operation of Dalit’s, Muslims and Christians. “The Dalits have done us so proud by the manner in which they took revenge for the destruction of Akal Takhat and that too so soon!”

They denied they fought any against the Government of India war Dalits Dalits, tance was and program Dr. and the up never and the Baba impliedly the by Explaining their attitude towards Baba Joginder Singh, the boys “Wars are not fought that way,” they said: what they did was to protect their place of religious worship. “It was the Government of India’s war on the Sikh minority.” The boys pointed out. The boys thanked the western Sikhs for their support to which, they equate with a unilateral announcement by the Government of India and endorsed by collaborators.” It was wrong to believe that the Sikh masses had supported the accord. This impression was created by a big political blunder by Baba Joginder Singh namely the poll boycott decision said they should always hold the Baba in esteem for his relationship with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, But politic alters were dealt with by a committee formed by the Damdami Taksal and the A.I.S.S, The two organizations, they stated, were inseparable, made so the supreme sacrifices made by Sant and Bhai Amrik Singh the A.I.S.S.F Leaders rejected Joginder Singh’s insistence on Sant being alive. The Taksaal the A.I.S.S.F they said would give up the path shown by Sant Bhindranwale.

Question: Do you think your demand for autonomy squares with the situation created by Army attack on Akal Takhat the Delhi riots? the struggle of the Sikhs of Punjab as well as leaders and workers of the P.S.U. They said they were happy with the success of student strikes.

Gurdev Singh and I also met four of the seven alleged hijackers headed by Mr. Kamaljit Singh Sandhu at Ajmer jail. Mr. Jaspal Singh Sodhi a local Advocate accompanied us. The Jail Superintendent told us that the boys were angry a lot and they misbehaved” with Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra who came to see them recently. On account Of that incident two boys had been confined within the jail while others had started a hunger strike in sympathy with: the two.

The boys described Mr. Toha a “traitor” and abused him for his actions on the eve of the Army attack. They regretted that the S.G.P.C had sent civil lawyers to defend criminal cases against them. However, they praised Mr. Sodhi for his services.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1986