The Hindu game plan of bulldozing the Sikhs into the oblivion of perpetual poverty has hopelessly failed. But the leaders in Delhi are bent on pursuing the idea. History judges Hitler to be insane. The Hindus have for 1300 years, despite their great numbers, been slaves and in 40 years are again ready. Insanity does not preclude intelligence, stupidity does.
The Indian economy is still largely agrarian but the farmer does not have any voice in any decision making. The Sikhs of Punjab were particularly singled out for special treatment. The water of its rivers, ignoring the needs of the farmers of the state, is given to neighboring states dominated by Hindus. All riparian rights guaranteed even by the Indian constitution are flouted.
Ironically, whenever there is talk of a healing touch, old wounds are gouged open and salt sprinkled on them. At the height of Punjab’s uprising against operation Blue star Rajiv Gandhi engineered the infamous accord with Longowal. After signing it Rajiv is said to have removed his bulletproof vest and given it to Longowal saying “Santji you will need this more than me now.” To protect his sense of humor Rajiv Gandhi lives like a rat scurrying about behind 1,000 armed commandos.
The Satloj Yamuna Link canal is again center stage in Punjab politics. Even a Sikh henchman of Rajiv Gandhi said it should be filled up rather than quickly pushed through. Parkash Singh Badal said to have been granted many favors by Haryana, to let the SYL be built, is now against it because he knows he will not have a leg to stand on in Punjab if he does not. Simranjit Singh Mann quotes the constitution on riparian rights to the Indians which they are clearly violating.
The militant youth leaders have all along been clear that there can never be a compromise on the primary and basic issue of sovereignty. They are willing to talk on this and if India agrees to such talks all other problems become non-issues.
Southern California buys water from the northern part of the same state. Even counties pay each other for use of riparian rights. Punjab’s water is sought to be given away at the expense of Sikhs farmers. Is it then hard to see why the Sikhs want no part of Hindu justice?
The rivers of Punjab have been virtually reduced to flood channels, in the dry season Sikh farmers dig ever deeper for underground water to irrigate their crops. In the monsoon, the flood gates of reservoirs are opened without warning inundating Punjab villages. Despite such hardships the resilient Sikh farmer has survived. But he is asking what I will give to my children a barren desert which was once the most productive land in the ‘world?
The industrial policy of India, needless to say, has always discriminated against Punjab on the flimsy pretext that it borders Pakistan. Why is the capital of India not shifted to Madras by the same token?
The situation today is that there is no communication between India and the Sikhs. This is more to the detriment of India. Already, the Kashmiri’s have risen to a man to throw of Indian hegemony. Discontent simmering in several areas will flare up as more and more people realise the truth about Indian “secularism and democracy.”
Article extracted from this publication >> August 10, 1990
