Indian spokespersons are not tired of parading their so-called democracy. In a recent media interview, Indian ambassador S.S, Ray said while India and the USA are democracies, China is not. But the Indian state’s real face is exposed by nothing else than its handling of the anti-Sikh Delhi riots of 1984. More than 3000 Sikhs were butchered in about a week by the state ‘Sponsored crowds of criminals in the wake of Mrs, Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Not a single criminal has been brought to book even after 12 ‘years of the black week, The reason why it so happened is not far to seek, ‘The criminals and their ringleaders enjoyed the patronage of the then hilling family. The case in point is the role played by Congress (1) lender H.LK.L, Bhagat who was taken by Rajiv Gandhi into his cabinet, this gentleman was last month arrested for one of the killings, and there is nothing to show that any elaborate justice is underway. The arrest at best is a token ‘action to woo Sikh voters in favor of BJP candidates on thieves of Lok Sabha ‘elections, Bhagat was in detention for hardly a month, Most of these days, ‘he remained in hospital rather than in jail pretending sickness.
Finally, he is out on bail. The judiciary has granted him the concession of bail owing to his old age and poor health, The condition attached is that he ‘will do nothing to win over or intimidate witnesses, The whole world knows that Bhagat is an influential politician. That is why he escaped action for 12 Jong years. During his arrest, he was escorted by hundreds of his old collaborators in an attempt at intimidating the police and the judiciary. How will he refrain from intimidating the helpless Sikh widow and her handful of supporters? Another relevant question that begs for an answer is that of ‘double standards adopted by the Indian and its agencies towards Hindus and Sikhs. Bhagat is involved in crime. He is out of jail within one month. Dr. Sohan Singh is not involved in any case of murder. He only faces politically motivated cases; He is many years senior to Bhagat in age. Dr. Sohan Singh has been suffering from several ailments. While Bhagat was routinely given medical treatment at specialized medical centers, Dr. Sohan Singh had to go to courts seeking directions to provide him bare minimum treatment. Dr. Sohan Singh had been in jail for more than two years while Bhagat hardly spent a month behind bars, and is now out. Which democracy in the world practices such blatant discrimination?
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1996
