The defining point for the governance of Quebec arrived on December 5, 1994 when at a momentous gathering of the Quebec Assembly; the Premier of Quebec M. Jacques Parizeau tabled a Draft Bill an Act respecting the sovereignty of Quebec. Almost instantaneously, the debate started and the rest of Canada began to formulate an opinion on this matter. At this time, I could not help remembering the dynamics of the Sikh sniggle to achieve Khalistan. It was on April 29, 1986 that a declaration for Khalistan was made. This Khalistan Declaration perhaps different in content, though not too different, but same in intent, outlined a strategy to achieve similar ends. This Khalistan Declaration was particularly apt if one can supplement it with the First Anandpur Sahib Resolution (Kapur Singh wala); unlike the assembly of Quebec, the Sikh declaration was made at Amritsar the political HQ of the Sikhs. It is ironic that at this time the Panjab Legislative Assembly was in suspension. Further, the squeezing grip of the Indian government was in full lock; they had Successfully killed of virtually the entire Sikh leadership (except their ‘own cronies), imprisoned a large body of the Sikhs (even by government estimates this figure ran into tens of thousands in actual fact it was in hundreds of thousands) and whatever they could not capture were being hunted and murdered in cold blood. A typical beginning of a process. Hundreds of thousands of Sikhs assembled to unanimously pass the resolution for Sikh nationhood.
At that defining moment of Sikh nationalism, the debate heated up not in words but in bullets and) bombs.
‘The Sikhs were not afforded ‘an ‘Opportunity to present their case, the rest of India was not allowed to talk about it and unlike the presenters of the Quebec resolution, Sikh presenters and representatives were butchered in cold blood.
The Quebec leader went on national TV to explain the Act; the Sikh leaders were covered and slaughtered in cold blood and the killings still go on.
Why is there that difference? What is the reason? Quebec the non-signatory of the Canadian Constitution not unlike the Sikhs who have not signed the Indian Constitution either, have contended that the Quebec identity has a better chance of survival in an independent Quebec than being a part of Canada. The precise reason that justify the establishment of Khalistan. The similarity, situation and circumstances of the Quebec affair are astonishingly similar to the Khalistan situation. It does not Matter if Quebec is able to break away or not but what matters is that the people of Quebec have been allowed to express an opinion. This is denied to the Sikhs despite the fact that India claims to be democratic just like Canada. Whereas Sikhs should learn of the Quebec precedent, the Indian government should learn from the Canadian government. If the Indian government does not (for face saving reasons) wish to talk to the Sikhs in India, then let the dialogue start with the Sikhs abroad at least as a start. It will not be difficult to evoke an assembly of Sikhs representing all countries of the world the Far East, Africa, Europe and America. ‘This is what the Israelis did with the PLO in a reverse manner they did not wish to talk to the PLO outside of Israel but only those living in Israel. The South African government did communicate with the ANE which was living out of South Africa; obviously, the advances must be made by the Indian Government. If the British can talk to the Sinn Fein, why can’t the Indian government each out to the Sikhs unless the Indians have a hidden agenda? Gurcharan Singh Ottawa, Ont. Canada.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 23, 1994
