February 19 will go down in history as a crucial day. The election in the day unambiguously showed which way the wind is blowing. India positioned half a million armed fore to frighten Sikhs into submitting to its constitutional shackles.

Each polling booth was manned by hundreds of armed men almost each of the 12000 Punjab villages presented a scene of cantonment. The policy actually went to almost every house to compel voters to go to polling booth. The end result: 78% of the Punjab’s 13.17 million voters abstained from voting on a call by Panthic Committees and their associate guerilla groups a backed by almost all over ground Sikh political groups. The on exceptions were Akali Dal (Kabal) the Akali Dal (Sukhjinder and Jagat Akali Dal While A.D.S. made a hasty retreat the J.A.D. was nowhere to be seen. Thus the only Akali group while put up can collaboration with C.PI and C.P.(M) for a overwhelming majority of seats drew almost blank politically The Akali Dal (Kabal) is successor to the Akali Dal (Longowal which had fought in 1985 and had won 74 of the 117 Punjab Assembly seats. The Sikhs during that election had essential recorded their protest against the operation “Blue Star” of Jun 1984 but the clever Indian government through a massive pro paganda blitz convinced the world that the Sikhs had affixed stamp of approval on the Rajiv Longowal accord. By reject in A.D.K candidates (who polled just 1.81 % of the aggregate votes) the Sikhs at the same time repudiated the Rajiv Longowal accord in no uncertain terms.

The massive support to the boycott idea and the related event leave a flood of messages to the world. It will take long for Indi and the international community to decipher the Sikh “enigma But it is quite clear that the Panthic Committees and the associate guerilla groups are leaders of Sikhs and Punjab in their own right. They are no terrorists as is made out by the Indian Gobbles; These groups are not after blood for the sake of blood or for money or for petty conditions to be met. They demand freedom from India. They demand human rights for Sikhs. The; want the Sikh nation to be accepted an equal partner in the community of nations. The WSN respectfully appeals to the western nations and their freedom loving people to show a better understanding of the Sikhs and Punjab and their leg aspirations for freedom dignity and peace.

Another clear signal the Punjab election radiates is the fact that Indias ruling party Congress (I) in particular and other “all India” parties in general represent at best Punjabs minority Hindu community which unanimously as 140.57% of the state’s population. Neither Indias ruling party now the so called all India parties nor the Akali Dal (Kabal) represent Sikhs. The Punjab Hindu controls almost 80% of industry and trade an¢ 75% of high paid prestigious public services as well as private professional services. If Delhi has any support base in Punjab is among the Punjabi Hindu vested interests. This distinct  polarization essentially based on “haves” and “have nots” cannot be camouflaged by a small insignificant coterie comprising Beant Singhs and Harcharan Singh Brars The election helped clarify matters on this count as never before. The world should be wary of Indias propaganda when it presses into service such characters as Zail Singh Buta Singh Beant Singh Justice R.S Sarkaria and the like to parade its secularism. Consequently the world also has to take with a pinch of salt all talk of “national consensus” on Punjab of the political parties who have no following in Punjab.

The Punjab election in short has a clear message for the world that Sikhs have said goodbye to India mentally emotionally an¢ politically. They have yet to do so geographically and physically It is or the newly established Sikh leadership comprising Panthic committees and their guerilla activists to devise ways to involve Sikhs in over ground democratic movement to supplement the Sikh armed struggle. Such over ground movement should be based on certain clearly aid down practical policy programs. The appeal should be directed to the Sikh masses straight without involving any intermediaries and so called leaders. The Sikh leadership cannot afford to waste energies on such slogans a: introduction of Punjabi appointment of Vice Chancellors and Registrars and the like Whatever hits India hard should be done A movement for civil disobedience will have to be built in phases Let Sikhs learn to do without India. The Sikh peasantrys dependence on Delhi for sate of wheat and rice is pitiable. This dependence must stop if Sikhs have to achieve freedom. India i this process is bound to feel the pinch economically. Punjab has a unique trump card in its hands grains and water. Once this card is used effectively and decisively India will go to pieces in two three years. The Sikh leaders have only to act now before it is too late.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 13, 1992