This Memorandum is prepared jointly by the political parties, Human rights, religious, social and farmers Organizations representing the Sikhs living in the Punjab And other states of India to place ‘on record their deep appreciation and gratitude to President Bill Clinton, the Congress and the people of the United States of America for their articulation of Sikh grievances from time to time, The latest letter dated Dec,27,1993 by the President was in reply to Representative Gary Condit and other Congressmen who jointly a wrote to the President highlighting persistent state repression and violation of human rights of the Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan, Although Mr. Clinton’s letter was a true though mild, reflection of the State of affairs, it caused a furor in this country. The Congress pany and its government at the Center and some states reacted sharply, criticizing in the vilest language President Clinton, holding government sponsored anti-US demonstrations and burning his effigies. One such demonstration was held in front of the US Embassy in Delhi, personally organized by the Chief Minister of Punjab.
It will be pertinent to note that the Sikh rights which the President has mentioned in his letter have been consistently violated by the Indian state ever since Independence in 1947, For example, the promises made to the Sikhs during Jong years of freedom struggle ‘were broken in letter and spirit once the very same leaders of the Congress who had made solemn commitments became India’s rulers. The constitution framed was so inimical to the Sikh interests that their representatives in the Constituent Assembly refused to Sign that document in protest.
The first 36 years after independence saw intermittent peaceful agitations launched by the Sikhs to secure their right establishment of the promised autonomous region in the Sikh majority area, creation of federal structure, demarcation of Punjabi speaking state and for the protection of the minorities’ interests. All these issues were fully debated and agreed upon at numerous for a before independence, The Sikhs, who were the third equal panty besides Hindus and Muslims during the parleys for transfer of power from
British to Indians had the option to join India or Pakistan. Pakistan leadership had offered them permanent share in sovereignty at the Center and the province of British Punjab which would have resulted in Pakistan’s Eastern border beyond Delhi.
Notwithstanding, the Sikhs threw in their lot with India for historic and contemporary reasons even though 50% of their population uprooted from the fertile lands of Pakistan. It was thus a partnership between India and the Sikhs based on moral, ethical, and mutual understanding. But every term of the partnership was repeatedly vie lated by the stronger partner India. With the use of naked power the Sikhs have been reduced to second class citizens and their homeland turned into a vassal state, far worse than they had expenence during the hundred years British rule over Punjab.
With evil intent to keep the Sikhs under subjugation, their holiest shrines all over the Punjab were attacked by the major part of the Indian army reducing some of them to rubble in June 1984 through the utterly uncalled for Operation Blue Star, killing thousands of Sikhs in the process. After Indira Gandhi’s assassination, a consequence of brutal oppression of the Sikh people, the Indian government headed by her son, Rajiv Gandhi, mounted a genocidal campaign to exterminate the Sikhs later that year in which many more Sikhs perished, large numbers of their womenfolk were rape and abducted and billions worth of properties destroyed
Anti-Sikh policies have been pur sued ruthlessly ever since over hundred thousand Sikhs have been since Blue Star Extra judicial killings, rape, torture, extortion, custodial crimes and various other forms of atrocities have been perpetrated on the community at an enormous scale.
There is total Police Raj in the Punjab which has patronage of the Central government. Security forces have been given carte blanche to commit any crime with impunity. They are accountable to no higher administrative or political authority. The so-called popular government in the Punjab is the result of boycott of elections in Feb.1992 by Sikh political parties. It has no mandate of the people. Even after massive rigging with open help of the police and paramilitary forces, less than 8% voted for the Congress. In effect, it is an extension of the Central rule which had been undemocratically imposed for a record period in the Punjab. Democracy, rule of law and eve the rights enshrined in the constitution have long ceased to apply to the Sikhs. Through draconian legislation, the judiciary has been marginalized The Sikh homeland has been virally transformed into a vast Auschwitz camp.
The Sikhs continue to live under the shadow of bayonets and bullets. Justice political, social, and economic is totally denied to them, for nearly 15 years international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Asia Watch have not been allowed to investigate the Punjab. India has too much to hide!
President Clinton’s statement on violation of Sikh rights has not come a day soon. Had the international community protested in the Saar and genocide of the Sikhs in 1984, tens of how sands of innocent lives would have been saved, the Sikh women would not have suffered the trauma of rape and dishonor and, above all the Indian state would have been forced to establish the rule of law and to observe civilized behavior Being dispossessed and stateless the Sikhs have no means of voicing their anguish to the International organizations like the UNO Likewise, they are greatly hand capped in explaining their case 16 foreign governments. They are therefore, particularly beholden to the United State of America for the concern shown in this critical period of their history. They further seek support in just cause for right of self-determination under the provision of the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights to which India is a signatory.
We would also like to peace on record our appreciation of the American Sikhs, in particular the Council of Khalistan headed by Dr Gurmit Singh Aulukh For their contribution in bringing awareness among the people and the government of the USA of the true situation of the beleaguered Sikh nation of India. Thanks to their sustained efforts, Khalistan has already been admitted to UNPO. 2 milestone in the march toward establishment of a sovereign Sikh state Thank you-President Clinton Thank you the great people of the United States of America Li. Col. Pratap Singh, Retd., President, Khalsa Raj Party
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Article extracted from this publication >> March 11, 1994
