NEW DELHI: Indias secret intelligence outfit RAW stands exposed Several such leaders believe that this agency was at the back of the publication of Tariq Mujahideen the aim of which was to provoke Sikh-Muslim notes in India or in any case to drive a wedge between the two communities

It was claimed that the book was published in Pakistan. But it was discovered according to Jang an Urdu dally of Lahore that the books alleged author Sadiq Hussain died more than 30 years ago The book was actually published a few years ago. It made scandalous references (0 Sikh gurus and Sikh institutions publication to Jalandhar-based Punjabi daily in a mystery. The paper prominently displayed the contents of the book without verifying other details. Most Sikh groups in Punjab dismissed the book as of no consequence and expressed a low-key reaction against its contents there was an unexplained realization against its contents. There was an unexplained realization that the production of the publication at this stage was mysterious and mischievous. A perceptive Sikh leader Jasbir Singh Ghuman went to the extent of calling the authors RAW agent with the aim of provoking Muslim-Sikh riots.

Subsequently Manmohan Singh Bajay the London-based chief of Dal Khalsa in a statement said that the book had been reproduced by RAW and had been circulated simultaneously all over the world The likely adverse Sikh reaction was aimed at discrediting Sikhs as a fundamentalist community on the one hand and to cause a rift between the two communities on the other hand Bajaj added.

It is interesting to note that Congress(I) groups and Hindu fascist organizations were much more Violent in their reactions 10 the publication. These groups were also joined in by members of the pro-Indian establishment master Tara Singh group and certain other groups. The Punjab youth Congress (I) inserted advertisements in Punjab newspapers announcing a reward of Rs 1 crore for anyone beheading the Pakistan author. No Sikh group in Punjab however made any such pronouncements workers of Hindu Shiv Sena organized a demonstration at Amritsar against the Pakistani author.

It may be recalled that RAW functions directly under Indias prime minister. The agency gets annually Rs 1200 crore budget which cannot be audited or questioned by any authority in India.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 18, 1994