CHANDIGARH: Sikh youths Sukhdev Singh Sukha and Harjinder Singh Jinda in a Press interview have rebuked Akalis for wasting money on seeking their release and instead have asked them to assist families of those who sacrificed their lives in the ongoing Sikh struggle. The two Sikh militant leaders are lodged in Poone, “Maharashtra, jail in connection with the murder of A.S. Vaidya, chief of the Indian armed forces, who had led the Indian army in attacking Darbar Saheb in 1984. Reacting to the efforts made by Akali groups to seek their release, the Sikh leaders said

they had no remorse for the action taken against the butcher of thousands of Sikh men, women and children at Amritsar, They had admired their“ guilt” before the Designate Court set up under the Terrorist law by India, had put up no defence and had preferred no appeal against their conviction,

The interview was published by Ajit a Punjabi daily published from Jalandhar, It was conducted by two reporters Major Singh and Kanwaljit Singh. The responders claimed that they succeeded in interviewing the Sikh militant leaders despite heavy security in the jail but informed sources here take this statement with a pinch of salt, It is believed that Indian authorities themselves encouraged the newspaper to hold the interview so that it serves the current Akali campaign to whip up feelings on the release issue. The Akalis are trying to divorce the release issue from the causes for which the two Sikh youths killed General A.S. Vaidya.

Evidently seeing through the Akali plans, the militant leaders in the course of the interview not only asked Akalis not to waste resources on seeking their release but also significantly appealed to them to back Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu’s efforts to help form an over ground setup to promote the cause of Khalistan. Most Akali groups, it may be recalled, are trying to sabotage Bhai Daljit Singh’s initiative.

Bhai Harjinder Singh and Bhai Sukhdev Singh emphatically supporting Bhai Daljit Singh’s effort, observed: We whole heartedly appreciate the efforts initiated by Bhai Daljit Singh of the panthic committee to unite all groups of Sikhs students in to one over ground organization aimed at promoting the cause of Khalistan. We appeal to all groups of federations to make all-out efforts to make Bhai Daljit Singh’s initiative a success.” The two Sikh militant leaders asked Ajit’s reporters to convey their message to the Sikh nation that they should not be disheartened at their resolve to sacrifice their lives. “We are determined to follow in the footsteps of Guru Gobind Singh. No force on earth can distract us from our resolve. Martyrdom in Sikhism has a unique taste and we are moving towards that glorious goal.” Speaking in a poetic language in Punjabi, the two Sikh youths spoke philosophically on martyrdom on Khalsa’s goal and world mission and said that martyrdom meant overcoming all fear, allurements and human body’s base instincts, Recounting their routine in jail, the Sikh leaders said that did “path” for 11 hours daily. Bhai Jinda writes letters at night owing to his engagement with “path,”

The day they heard from Indian electronics media that the Supreme Court of India had confirmed their death sentence, they ordered the jail authorities to prepare sweets (boondi) for distribution among the jail staff and other inmates” to celebrate their “victory.”

They reiterated that Khalistan’ would be based on the principle’ of “sarbhat ka bala” (welfare of all) and the fight of Sikhs was” not against any religion as such.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 14, 1992