Ankhila Punjab Program on Vision TY in Canada was the most popular program for the Sikhs in Canada. It is unfortunate that Vision TY has decided to shut it down. Vision TV has done this because of the com plaints from Indian Government stooges, like Balwant Singh Ramuwalia & Co. Charges against Mr. Billu Hansra are that he called Indira Gandhi a “Pappan” (sinner) for attacking Golden Temple and lately he called 15th of August 1946 a black day for the Sikhs. His comments are not purely political these are entirely religious ISSUES.
When Government of India at tacked the Holiest shrine of Sikhs and killed Sikhs just because they are Sikhs, it is natural for a Sikh to express his views and feelings. Mr. Hansra, the host of the TV show, was expressing his views and feelings as well as the feelings of his viewers, If somebody disagrees, they can request equal time or pay for the time and express their news. It is done every day by other religious organizations. If discussing crucifixion of Jesus Christ on TV and Radio is not considered a political issue, if holocaust of Jews is not considered a political issue, if discussion of persecution of Mormons in U.S. is not a political issue then why Vision TV and Government of Canada consider Sikh religious issues to be political issues only.
To raise voice against any kind of oppression is a moral responsibility of all human beings, Especially in Sikhism politics and religions issues are not necessarily considered separate. Mr. Hansra needs to be congratulated for courage and convictions, I am confident that if Sikhs persecuted any other religious minority that minority will raise its voice against the oppression the oppression by the Sikhs the same way. The right to Freedom of Press in the Western countries also did not come that easily either. Ruling elite has always tried to take the right away from the people. King Charles I in England put heavy restriction (including li censing) on the press. In 1628 Parliament led by John Pym passed the “Petition of Right.” After King Charles I was executed in 1649, and King Charles Il was restored to kingship in 1660, licensing provisions and other restrictions were gradually ended. In 1690 the first American Newspapers “Public Occurrences” published in Boston was suppressed by the then Governor of Massachusetts, In 172526 John Peter Zeneger an Editor of “New York Weekly” was arrested on charges of Sedition and libel for criticizing the governor. In 1971 New York Times began publishing the Pentagon papers. When the government tried to prevent their publications, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of the newspaper to print the material.
This is a challenge not only for Ankhila Punjab Program and Mr. Hansra but a challenge for all the Sikhs in Canada. Ever since their arrival in Canada the Sikhs have gone through a long process of systematic discrimination. Early in the century there was a plan to deport all of them to British Handuras where they would have died of yellow fever. A Saint soldier Professor Teja Singh, at the time, who was a student at Colombia University, New York , was invited to British Columbia. He was able to convince the Canadian authorities not to take such a drastic step against the Sikh and he succeeded in pre venting this ordeal.
By stopping Ankhila Punjab Program Vision TY is not only taking away the freedom of the press but also taking away our press also. Time has come for all of us to stand united for our rights enough his enough. Let us fight for our right at whatever level we have to. World Sikh News will stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Hansra until his TV program is resumed. W.S.N. also requests both the Canadian Sikh MPs to take up this issue in the Parliament.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1996
