The World Sikh News firmly opposes mindless violence in pursuit of political goals. But the hard reality in India’s specific context is that the ruling class of that country is basically fascist despite its democratic face. It does not heed the voice of reason. The Sikhs demanded in terms of pro-independence assurances of the formation of a Punjabi-speaking state But they had to struggle for at least 16 years to have the demand accepted The peaceful movement for Punjabi Suba took a heavy toll of Sikhs time and energy and several lives But what was conceded with one hand was refused with the other in practice. Several Punjabi-speaking tehsils were left out of the state to benefit the Hindu-dominated states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Punjab was denied its legitimate rights to its river water and hydro-electric projects like the Bhakra and Beas projects. Punjab became the only riparian state in India which had to share its water and power with such non-riparian states as Haryana Rajasthan Delhi and even U.P and Bihar.

Then from nowhere India under the Nehru dynasty brought in the controversial Sutlej-Yamuna canal. Initially the Punjab governments protested against the proposal but eventually the powerful Mrs. Gandhi (and later her son) had her way forced the then state of Punjab to withdraw its cause in the Supreme Court and imposed on the state unequal terms of apportioning Punjab’s constitutionally non-apportion able river water and power resources. An inter-state agreement was signed by the then chief minister Darbara Singh which virtually got done by Mrs. Gandhi at gun point. Her son later made Harchand known as the Rajiv-Longowal accord. The most essential provision of that infamous accord was completion of the S.Y.L. canal by the Punjab government led by Akali Dal. This party ensured during the 1985-86-87 period the completion of about 80% work on the canal. This was done despite opposition from Sikh militants and all those who stood for Punjab’s rights. The Congress (I) Akali unholy alliance disregarded all objections and went ahead not only with the work on the canal but also introduced totally unconstitutional provisions in the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act to constitute the Enadi Tribunal with its illegal and infamous report.

It was left to the Sikh militants to defend Punjab’s interests against heavy odds. They warned the forces opposed to Punjab’s legitimate interests to see reason and stop work on the canal but to no avail. Finally they had to eliminate a chief engineer and his deputy to ensure that work on the anti-Punjab project was stopped. The Sikh militants rightly argued that no other state had any right to Punjab’s river water. But the argument fell on deaf ears. They were left with no option other than causing breaches in the canals illegally taking away Punjab’s water to Hindu states. This has become a major issue. Sikh militants are getting enthusiastic support from farmers because they face major water crisis on their farms with subsoil water level in Punjab going down deeper and deeper. Although Punjab is owner of three rivers it has canal water facility for a bare 20% cultivated area. As much as 70% of Punjab water has been fraudulently transferred to Hindu states over the past few decades.

The Sikh militants stand on the water issue not only won them support from the peasantry but also served as catalyst to shake Punjab’s ruling politicians as well as its bureaucracy. The chief minister in an important memorandum has distanced himself from the dangerous provisions of the Rajiv-Longowal accord and has virtually abandoned the S.Y.L canal (although soon after assuming power he had pledged to complete the controversial canal for Haryana) and has demanded abrogation of the so-called inter-state agreement of 1981. These are welcome though inadequate developments. Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Babbar Dr. Sohan Singh Bhai Daljit Singh Khalsa and their dedicated colleagues deserve full credit for these developments.

True these developments do not take Sikhs closer to Khalistan but they constitute an important achievement for the militant movement. They are today closer to the hearts of peasantry and well-wishers of Punjab as never before. They have emerged as legitimate defenders as well as promoters of the interests of Sikhs and other people of Khalistan. No wonder the Sikh peasantry joins thousands in mourning the loss of Sikh militants. This is borne out by the manner in which ordinary Sikhs including women and children claimed bodies of such Sikh heroes as Bhai Amrik Singh Kauli Bhai Rachhpal Singh Chhandran and others and immersed their ashes into the Sutlej and attended the last prayers held in their villages.

Significant of the militant stand on water is the deprivation of traditional Akalis from using this issue as the bargain counter for striking deals with Delhi. This was precisely what they did in the past. There was an Akali-Congress agreement on the eve of the Move to dig up the Bhakra Mainline canal as well as the Rajasthan canal; there was another Akali-Congress (I) accord to facilitate the completion of the S.Y.L. canal. No wonder the hardened Akalis are unhappy with the militants stand on the water issue. They jeer at them saying that the water and territorial matters are “no issues.” The traditional Akalis or persons dyed in their dubious culture are not tired of supporting one or the other candidate in India’s presidential election. Is the Sikh support to Jethamalanis or Chander Shekhars an issue? The militants will do well to pursue their policies on the water issue relentlessly irrespective of the Akalis opportunist and mischievous stand.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1992