INDIA
Human Right Bodies Concern over the raid on the Golden Temple and 13 Other Sikh Shrines.
Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, and fourteen other historical temples were “raided” by the Indian paramilitary units and commandos on April 30May I with a view to “liberate” the Golden Temple from “radicals”. The Government of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi alleged that “five seditious Sikhs” had declared Khalistan from the precincts of the Temple; No independent or foreign press reporters were present at the alleged declaration. According to official release two revolvers, one gun and 25 swords were recovered from the complex as a result of the attack on the 14 temples. The raiding troops encountered no resistance at any of the temples. A boy aged 16 was killed and two others injured. Mass resignations and protests followed the raid. Chief Minister Barnalas government was reduced to minority with the result that the Congress (I) and some other opposition parties have now extended support to him. On May 1 Rajiv Gandhi appointed Buta Singh as Home Minister and Gurdial Singh Dhillon as Agriculture minister (BBC news).
Some vital questions arise: Why has it become a routine in a secular State to enter and desecrate the holy places of a minority community? How can pilgrims visit their temples under the fear of an unannounced and sudden attack by the troops? How can the constitutional guarantee of Religious Freedom be exercised under such conditions? In the light of results of the raids, can there be any justification for the armed entry of the troops in the Sikh temples? Was the attack entry preceded by “disinformation” by the official agencies? Why the attack was carried out on 13 other temples? If indeed there were radicals inside the temples, why could none be apprehended?
One of the basic and indeed vital principles of democracy, secularism and freedom (unlike the totalitarian systems) is the right to Practice religion without interference from the state, Despite the bloody turmoil in the middle east, both the Arabs and Israelis have meticulously respected the sanctity of mosques and synagogues. During the Second World War no troops of any side desecrated the holy places of other communities at least not as a state policy. One wonders why this exceptionable policy is being pursued in India,
The administration of all Sikh historic shrines is the responsibility of SGPC. The body was created in 1925 by an Act of the Indian Government and operates on the basis of periodic popular elections, If indeed, according to the Indian Government claim, there were “radicals” inside the Golden Temple, then why did the Government not let the matter be resolved by the SGPC? Did the SGPC express its inability to exercise its prerogatives? In any case who is a “radical”? There are many radicals in USA, UK, France and other countries; are they surrounded and attacked by the state forces in churches and synagogues? Desecration of holy places based on political considerations invariably generates fear, mistrust and alienation of the affected community in particular and other minorities in general. Imagine what could happen to the world if troops entered the Holy See routinely to conduct Golden Temple like acts; if certain historic pieces and scriptures belonging to or signed by Christ and the Apostles were destroyed by guns, tanks and helicopters; hundreds (according to the Indian Official figures), if not thousands (according to New York Times and Justice Tarkundes report) of innocent pilgrims including women and children were killed as a result of such acts. Let there be peace in Punjab on the basis of equality, justice and freedom. Iqbal Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 27, 1986
