Sikhs’ betraying their countrymen for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver are not new,

In 1947 businessman, Baldev Singh convinced representatives to sign onto Indo-British partition plans to protect their financial interests. Today Sikhs with the night looks but wayward hearts are threatening to sabotage the inroads that militants have made toward the creation of a free and independent Khalistan,

Their efforts may be well meant but like Beant Singh, they thwart the goals of the boys who daily sacrifice their lives so that someday the Nishan Sahib can fly freely.-Editor

DHUN(AMRITSAR):Journalist Khushwant Singh has said that there should be no talks with the militants at this stage, The militants who are using the gun to fulfill their ambition should not be invited for negotiation unless they lay down arms,

The writer and journalist were among 2 panel of four persons invited here to interact with senior police officers participating in a five-day “Vertical Interaction police department.

Khushwant Singh said that militancy and civilized society cannot coexist under any circumstances, “Therefore, for the security forces it is a fight to the finish. There is no other way out,” he said.

Quoting examples from the world history of terronsm, Khushwant Singh said that nowhere in the world has terrorism ever succeeded. Its defeat is certain though i may take some time. He said militancy ultimately loses its ideological grounding, ending up as a organization of “looters, robbers and rapists,”

Singh said that such a form of militancy which is under the control of dacoits and waiters should be treated as a law and order problem

The main cause of fresh recruitments to the militants ranks, Singh pointed out was the “harassment of innocent people and misbehavior by the police.” He said the government should not read too much in the Pakistani hand in the Punjab problem but set “its own house in order,”

Dr.Baldev Prakash. the Bharatiya Janaya Party MP, said the erosion in political values has led to the Punjab problem. The Akalis in the garb of religion had been demanding Khalistan even before Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale came on the political scene, He said that excesses had been committed at all levels and it was not fair to blame only the police for “whatever is happening in the state,”

Harkishan Singh Surjit, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) complimented the Punjab Police, especially the Director General, K.P.S.Gill for breaking the backbone of militancy in the state.

He said it was the night time for the police to involve the public in its operations against the militants. This would acquaint people the inhuman face of the various militant outfits.

Surjit said that these gains should be further consolidated by announcing an economic and political package. He again stressed the need to take action against those guilty in the November 1984 riots.

Santokh Singh Randhawa, a senior Congress leader said that the determined and tough fight given by the police had wiped out the top-ranking militants in the state.

Randhawa criticized some police officials for indulging in corruption. This has led to an increase in the ranks of militants, he said.

The participants were shown a demonstration of an encounter organized by the state commando units in the Mand area. An exhibition of weapons and ammunition recovered from the militants was also on display.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1992