CHANDIGARH: The Panthic Committee (Zaffarwal) has issued a 10-point program of civil disobedience for observance by Sikhs to supplement the militants’ armed struggle for Khalistan.
The committee’s program is contained in a folder in Punjabi published and circulated by “Sikh Information Center” located in 84 Westbourne Park Road London W2 5PL.
Primacy in the program has been given to the call to farmers not to cultivate wheat and rice beyond their own requirements to prevent water from flowing out of Khalistan to the Hindu States and to stop transmission of electricity to India.
The committee has evidently left the question of curtailing wheat and rice cultivation vague in so far as farmers would not know as to how much area is to be earmarked for wheat and rice and how much for other crops. Punjab farmers will start growing wheat from October. They contribute as much as 60% of wheat India annually produce to feed its public distribution system and to maintain price of the commodity at an artificially low level.
Farmers have been asked to diversify into dairy farming horticulture and forest plantation “in order to bring the Center to its senses” The committee has also pleaded with the Sikhs not to cooperate with India’s Hindu government not to help or cooperate with either the army the CRPF or the BSF not to pay any tax including the land revenue Non-resident Sikhs have been asked not to deposit or retain money in Indian banks to stop importing commodities from India and to stop travelling by Indian operated airlines. The committee said its volunteers would check airlines tickets of Sikhs visiting Punjab.
The committee at the same time prescribed a code of conduct for militants. It says none of its men will harass any innocent person women children or old people nor extort money from any one. Protection of the poor should be the primary duty of the militants it said.
The committee suggested the formation of Khalsa panchayats in villages. The militants should lodge their complaints against any person with these panchayats and action could be taken only after giving the person concerned an opportunity of being heard. The nature of punishment would be decided by the panchayat concerned. It also asked militants to respect women be well versed with religious scriptures and honor all directives issued by the panthic committee.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 6, 1991
