Many of us consider Chandigarh as the major cause of Sikh’s confrontation with the Indian Government and probably believe as the solution also.
After the attack on the Golden Temple and the carnage carried ‘out outside Punjab, we have not been given even the death count, eave aside the bodies. Leave that for a moment, we don’t even know how many Sikhs are jailed (rotting, there) and for what reason. We have been denied Human rights ‘because we are Sikhs and wish to say (complain about) the excesses done to us.
Many of capable Sikhs like Simranjit Singh Mann and Prof. Darshan Singh have been put into jails for no reason. If a court releases them today, next day they are arrested,
Many such individuals are the assets (of Sikh community), left over after government’s best efforts to silence the community. We ‘ought to be concerned about them as well as the basic rights of Sikhs within India.
Next is the freedom of foreign press in Punjab. Should these be the priorities or Chandigarh?
In early February, 86 n0 one expert could forecast Marco’s ouster from Philippines, today they wonder why? Since they can’t ‘blame themselves, they try to explain why the unexpected happened. They “blame” this on:
(i) Presence of press (foreign) during Philippine’s’ elections.
(ii) People’s strong resolve to get back the basic rights (suspended by Marcos).
“Deprivation is the motivator”
(iii) Presence of and support of Catholic Church.
It is not that Chandigarh is not important to us but we need basic freedoms first. I don’t think that requires a commission or negotiations with a chief minister or prime minister. It is a fundamental right in the Indian constitution if it to Sikhs too.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 11, 1986
