Waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh.
Guru piari sadh sangat ji, Human Rights is a vast subject and touches several countries and minorities all over the world, The main emphasis of my short speech will be “Human rights of the Sikhs” in India. I will, however, barely touch and refer to other minorities, because of restrictions of time allowed to me.
I am sure that all of you are aware of the fact that how the human rights of the Sikhs are being violated by the Indian security forces in Punjab, Right to life seems to have been suspended for Sikhs. The way they are being hunted and killed, it looks like an open season has been declared by the Indian authorities, on the Sikhs. Any Sikh can be killed and then branded as a terrorist. Sikhs have no human rights what so ever, Murder torture, rape and fake encounter killings are the order of the day. The victims are subjected to inhuman treatment of torture under the state sponsored terrorism. Women, children and old people are no exception.
Let us pause for a while and think, a simple question can be asked. Are these the same Sikhs who went to the gallows with smiling faces to force the British to quit India? Over 80% who lost their lives during the freedom struggle were Sikhs, How can such faithful and loyal citizens of India turn against the state and become terrorists? The answer is simple, ever since India became independent; Sikhs have faced discrimination, suppression and economic injustice. So much so even religious freedom was being denied to them, When the Sikhs protested against this injustice they were branded separatist and disloyal. Hard work by the Sikhs brought some prosperity to Punjab that was not tolerated by “the Modern Mughals of Delhi.” Any legitimate demand of the Sikhs was met with a stone wall attitude by the authorities. Sikhs were left with no choice but to start agitation called “Dharam Yudha”” ruthless suppression of the Sikhs began, culminating in the attack on Darbar Sahib and other 38 Gurdwaras. Thousands were mercilessly butchered. Idea was to crush them and teach them a lesson. What followed after Indira Gandhi’s death was hardly any parallel in the history. Innocent Sikhs were burnt alive under the very eyes of the authorities in Delhi. Women were gang raped and male children were also killed. These crimes were well planned and master minded by the Congress “Hiders™ of Delhi, who were richly rewarded by their master Rajiv Gandhi by giving cabinet posts. This Camage against the Sikhs was condoned by Rajiv Gandhi saying, “when a big wee falls the earth trembles,”
Human right violations are going on unchecked, International organizations such as Amnesty International and Asia Watch have not been allowed in Punjab and Kashmir so that the truth about the hollowness of Indian democracy may not be known to the world. On August 11 a woman, Harjinder Kaur, from village Latala was beaten to death by the S.H.O. of Deth on police station in Ludhiana district. Such atrocities are common. The Sikhs have learnt their lesson and have been pushed to the point of no return. The lines have been drawn it is a question of “Do and Die.”
The other day one Chandu Krishan’s letter appeared in paper India Abroad, he writes “Punjab and Kashmir are integral parts of India” I like to remind such people that one time West Punjab and East Bengal were similarly integral parts of India. It is a matter of time when Punjab and Kashmir will cease to be integral parts of India Human rights of Muslims, Sikhs. Scheduled casts and Dalits are being trampled. The authorities do not see the writings on the wall therefore the dismemberment of India, in to small states, seems imminent, The minorities have no rights in India and they have been wronged for a long time and many of them feel ashamed to call India as their country. | am reminded of a couplet by Iqbal, the famous Urdu writer.
Muddten Guzrin Zulum O Sittam Sehte Hooe Abto Sharam Si Ati Hai, Is Watan Ko Wattan Kehte Hooe” Thank you for giving me a chance to speak to you.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 23, 1992
