To make your opponent dissipate his energies and resources over nonproductive nonissues is an old practice. The fact of its being old has not in any way reduced its effectiveness. It continues to be the most favorite strategy both on the battlefield and on the chessboard of power politics. The success of this strategy depends upon the extent of subtlety and finesse employed in beguiling’ the opponent. The secret lies in craftily selling an idea or a plan that would divert him from the center of arena to some peripheral and exhausting exercise.
The ruling majority community in India had always managed to detract and dilute the Sikh aspirations till the valiant Saint Soldier, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale neutralized all their cunning strategies with his forthright nonpolitical approach. His characteristic truthfulness made each of their moves to recoil upon them. They were so incensed that in sheer desperation they ordered a full-fledged army attack on the holiest of holy Sikh Shrines | solely to murder a superior man.
The ruling majority community has again adopted the old game of making Sikhs dissipate their resources upon non issues. Various teams and individuals have been detailed to involve Sikhs in distracting projects. A senior Sikh Congress party man, who had a passing flirtation with Akali Dal also, is currently touring America and Canada. Interestingly, he is trying hard to persuade Sikhs that installing the statue of S. Beant Singh, the alleged killer of Indira Gandhi, either in Chandigarh or in his (Beant Singh’s) village can reinvigorate the movement and can also add to the glory of the Sikh Students Federation.
Nothing can prove more suicidal for Sikhs than such motivated sabotage of their struggle. S. Beant Singh is the revered martyr whose name would forever shine in the history of Sikhs along with such illustrious names as that of S. Sukha Singh and S. Mehtab Singh. No statue can add to his glory and greatness. Besides, installing a statue is not in keeping with Sikh traditions. It would only lead AISSF to a head on collision with the Punjab Government. Sikhs today are not fighting the Punjab Government. Their quarrel is with the Central Government, It is immaterial to the Sikhs whether there is Barnala ministry of Darbara Singh ministry as long as it is controlled from Delhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 23, 1990
