The struggle between the Punjab militants and the Govt of India is not confined to armed clashes the two sides are also involved in a diplomatic and political tug-of-war. While Delhi’s effort has been to project the Punjab situation as a mere terrorist enterprise deserving of a law and order approach the militants have been trying hard to prove that theirs is a movement for freedom from

Indian imperialism in the clash of opposite strategies Delhi obviously had been having an upper hand all these years. It had at its disposal vast financial resources and a world-wide network of diplomatic personnel The Punjab militants had none of these advantages. Their task was made much more difficult by certain elements among Sikhs who acted in a manner that nearly was to the Indian govt’s liking some of these elements operated away from India also. True the Indian govt authorities never quite bothered about scruples. Even trade and pay offs were used to malign the Sikh movement internationally. No major power showed any sympathy for the Sikh struggle thanks largely to Delhi’s aggressive diplomacy.

Back home in Punjab Delhi promoted traditional Akalis willing to sign on the dotted lines in a grand strategy aimed at isolating and defeating militancy. Thus the late Rajiv Gandhi discovered the Harchand Singh Longowal’s Surjit Singh Barnala’s Balwant Singhs Darshan Singh Ragis and the like. The Rajiv-Longowal accord was a symbol of the success of this approach. At least for a year or two Delhi almost was able to convince the world that the Sikh militancy was a minor nuisance compared to the pro-India aspirations of a vast majority of Sikhs of Punjab. Most Akalis played second fiddle to the govt of India. They thought the Indian security forces would eliminate the Sikh militants one by one to pave the way for the return of normalcy which in other words meant the restoration of Akali power under the present constitutional dispensation or with minor cosmetic changes. This Akali dream remained just that a dream The Akalis assembled on one stage at Fatehgarh Saheb on December 25,1990 made a show of merger of the various Akali Dals and authorised Simranjit Singh Mann to talk to Delhi. A letter from the then Prime Minister had already been delivered to Mann was took in next available plane for Delhi to hold a secret 90-minute meeting with Chander Shekhar.

The Aug.11 convention at Anandpur Saheb attended by representatives of more than 30 major Sikh organisations is a watershed in the Delhi -Sikh struggle. It showed beyond any doubt that scales have tilted heavily in favour of Sikh militancy. The traditional Akali approach stands completely discredited and defeated. The convention’s view that Sikh militants are the ‘main political force is a convincing repudiation of not only the Indian govt’s worldwide claims but also of the promise of the Anandpur Saheb resolution of the Akalis that the Shiromani Akali Dal is the only spokesman of the Sikhs. The convention perhaps unwillingly but surely put aside the Anandpur Saheb resolution as a piece of history a thing of the past and a non-agenda for the present. What is on the agenda is Punjab’s secession from India for that is what the Sikh militants stand for.

 But it will be a mistake to believe that Akalis all of them have abandoned their traditional politics and have opted for the political approach or objectives of the militants. That may be wishful thinking. However the changed situation offers an opportunity to the militants not only to regroup themselves but also to strengthen their bases and to take political and diplomatic mileage out of the favorable turn of the events Let the world be informed of the tables turned on the Indian government by the brave Sikh militants. At the same time the militants will have to rise to meet new political challenges from Delhi which will not take the new situation lying down. Political agenda should be set by the Sikhs and not by Delhi. That could be done by a multipronged strategy so that a vast majority of Sikhs get actively involved in the current Sikh politics. This politics cannot be limited to the use of arms alone;. The Sikh masses need an over ground program to supplement the armed Sikh movement.

This is possible there could be several suggestions. One Punjab should not allow a drop of its water to be transferred out of the State; second Punjab’s farmers should drastically cut the wheat and rice production; third there should be an economic boycott of Indian industrial and consumer durable goods etc. These measures if effectively imposed will paralyze India and its already bankrupt economy. Essentially peaceful in nature these measures will go a long way to supplement and strengthen the Sikh movement. These will have the added advantage of setting up political agenda for Sikhs. The message from Anandpur requires to be carried forward.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 16, 1991