SINCE the outburst of violence in Punjab many groups and people have taken the responsibility to help find the solution to the problems that face Punjab, and the Sikhs. Groups such as The People’s Union for Democratic Rights, People’s Union for Civil Liberties; Citizens for Democracy; and other individual efforts across North America and Europe, have been actively and constructively shedding light on the prevailing situation in Punjab. They have also been giving accurate historical prefaces to help understand the roots of several problems that face Punjab. I am proud to add that along with these efforts the Congress of the United States is also giving some time to debate the Sikh problem. As an American citizen the efforts of Congress and its members much appreciated and illustrate a Democracy at work.
Honorable Norman D. Shumway from California on June 2, 1987, requested time to discuss the violence in India that has claimed thousands of lives, most of them being the Sikhs in Punjab. Sikh News published a full report of the proceedings on June, 16, 1987. I feel it is important, however, to farther Rae some of the relevant points made by the Congressmen who participated in: that debate.
It should be noted that throughout the Congressional debate participating Congressmen did recognize the lack of Democratic processes in the Congress (I) party. India’s close tie with the Soviet Union cannot help in keeping India’s name as the world’s largest democracy. Rajiv Gandhi’s close ties with Nicaragua and Daniel Ortega further contribute to the doubt of India being a democracy. Gandhi also promised $10 million in aid to the Sandinista regime. Poverty-stricken India has consistently aided the Communists and provided thousands of tons of wheat to Nicaragua. How can such a populous country which cannot feed most of its people afford to give $10 million in aid as well as wheat to another country? I think that money would be of better use at home rather than of in a Communist country. Mr. Herger of California clearly put it, “Quite frankly, the Indian government’s assistance to Sandinista, Nicaragua, together with its suppression of the Sikh people and its illegal suppression of the legitimately elected government of Punjab, call into question India’s reputation as the “World’s largest democracy”. What is democratic about assisting Communist totalitarianism consolidating its stranglehold on the
Nicaraguan people? Moreover, what is democratic about India’s oppression of the Sikhs, who are among the nation’s most valuable citizens? Clearly, our role as leader of the free world dictates that we must not accommodate a nation which provides aid to the enemies of freedom and harshly suppresses its own people”.
The Indian government refuses to condemn the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and also refuses to condemn the Soviet backed invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam. India also has full diplomatic relations with the PLO but none with Israel. Congressman Dan Burton from Indiana clearly pointed out. “This is the government that denies oppression of the Sikhs”.
In a memorandum from The Information Bureau of the National Center for Public Policy Research India’s status as a nation in 1987 is clearly stated, “India in 1987 is a nation in which religious persecutions is encouraged by law; where the government does not protect citizens from a system of permanent servitude that is little better than slavery; where prisoners of the state are held indefinitely and sometimes tortured and killed; where the circumstances of one’s birth dictate a citizen’s place in society; and where constitutional protections taken for granted by Americans either do not exist or can be repealed at the whim of a government that has been headed by members of the same family for 38 of the last 40 years”. Amnesty International has also reported, “That a judge visiting Nabha Central Jail in Punjab accused authorities of torturing detainees by rolling logs over their thighs or pulling their legs apart; that in the Punjab, the beating of prisoners suspended from the ceiling on the soles of the feet and on the body was frequently reported”.
Not all the truth has been revealed about the happenings in Punjab. There still exists a total news blackout and no foreign reporters are allowed into the state of Punjab. The U.S. Congress has been trying to find out some truths and is trying to get some response from Rajiv’s government. India is up for a real struggle now. Gandhi has done a good job mimicking the USSR and has created another Afghanistan in India. Gandhi has said that “India vowed to use an Iron Fist” to put down Sikh secessionists. He has taken good lessons from the Soviets, too bad, he can’t think for himself or he would know “Raj Kare Ga Khalsa, Akki Rahe Na Koey”.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 28, 1987
