The complete about turn by India on allowing Amnesty International into Punjab and Kashmir speaks for itself.
The enormity of the crimes against humanity by the state dawned on the government only when the main perpetrator of the mass murders, Rajiv Gandhi became hysterical and started yelping like a dog with its tail on fire. The plea used was that Amnesty would interfere in India’s internal affairs. ‘Would it not expose and bring to the attention of the world the glorious work being done by India? And how convenient, the Indian govt often quotes Amnesty International reports on other countries.
Initially there was a shock as incredulous Sikhs went about confirming the authenticity of the report. Then there was suspicion which was well founded. A mass murderer giving himself up? A pro India tabloid on the West Coast was at pains to please its master but could not see how ridiculous it looked to have a headline screaming, “Critics silenced” with the Indian govt retraction in the very next column,
Is VP Singh so much under Rajiv’s thumb? The man who should be prosecuted for the murder of 20,000 innocent Sikhs still calls the shots in India and may never be tried as the criminal he is. This is the state of affairs and Sikhs are expected meekly to become slaves. A Sikh MP recently told the new governor Verma to stop the killing of innocent Sikh youth. The soft spoken governor said he could not as there ‘was no other solution to the Punjab problem.
Let Delhi remember that even Hitler could not get away with it. Repression can never succeed against any people. The greater the oppression the stronger will be the opposition to it. It is not too late for the Babus in Delhi to even casually go over Sikh history. There is only 500 odd years of it but no parallel can be found to the Sikh minority overcoming oppression all along.
The Indian government knows the situation in Punjab and Kashmir is grave but what it does not realize is that it will get progressively worse if it does not change its policies. The rebellion spread from Punjab to Kashmir and is sure to spread further. A time will come when Delhi may find it impossible to keep more than a handful of states which compromise India today.
Many recent actions show that India’s desperation is growing. The west is gradually being forced to take notice of the goings on in this the largest of democracies. The Bush administration has told it to improve its human rights record in Kashmir. There is a bill in the US House for the second time to stop development aid to India. A British parliamentary team recorded the deplorable conditions in Punjab Amnesty has repeatedly sought to be allowed in Punjab to no avail.
Delhi has colonized Punjab and is trying its utmost to break the spirit of the Sikhs. The Sikhs know how to defend themselves. Ironically, they have historically defended the very Hindus who are oppressing them today. The humble, servile people Delhi seeks will not be founding the Sikhs or Kashmiris. Sikhs will never accept second class citizenship in a Hindu Rashtra. India had its chances to use a hardworking, brave and honest people but it blew them. Now the Sikhs want nothing short of independence which they will surely achieve.
The credibility of India is on display. Many in the west who were ignoring and even doubting what the Sikhs were saving are now asking questions.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 13, 1990
