Congressman Dan Burton moved a resolution in the House of Representatives demanding that “Sikhs be guarded against persecution from the Indian government.” The resolution was supported by 52 Congressmen. But it has ceased to be valid in the reconstituted Congress and has to be moved afresh to activate it. According to available indications Mr. Burton will definitely move it again and all the signatories to it continue to be equally keen to ensure that it is adopted by a voice vote. Indian government, on the other hand, is making frantic efforts to stall it. The echo of Mr. Burton’s fiery speech in the House asking Rajiv Gandhi “to wake up and grant the Sikhs freedom” is reverberating in the corridors of the South Block, where the Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry is feeling increasingly nervous and uncomfortable.

To preempt the resolution, Indian Ambassador to the United States and the Consulate Generals in various cities, notably in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, have been advised to lobby hard to move a counter resolution applauding India’s well trumpted but hollow pretension to its so called “democratic secularism.” India is largely relying upon its trusted friend Mr. Stephan J. Solarz, Democratic Congressman from New York, who is believed to be playing a pivotal role in selling Indian yarns to his colleagues in the House. India is being projected as the largest democracy with an ancient culture nourished in “religious tolerance”. At the same time a much distorted picture of the problem in Punjab is presented. Freedom fighters are painted as trigger happy “extremists” and impression is sought to be created that the bulk of Sikh population is contented, patriotic and opposed to the freedom fighters.

Indian Ambassador, Mr. Kaul made a desperate bid to dissuade Mr. Dan Burton and his friends from espousing the Sikh cause, But he failed to cut much ice with them. He failed because the Congressmen are supporting the Sikhs not out of political considerations or expediency but because of their conviction that Sikhs are being unjustly persecuted in India. They have been able to see through the smoke screen of the Indian propaganda and are armed with enough facts and figures to separate the chaff from the grain.

Having failed at the Capitol Hill, Mr. Kaul is now wooing the Senators and Congressmen through Hindus settled in the United States. Instructions aye been sent to the Indian Hindus to involve themselves in the political processes of America so as to develop a direct access to the members of the Senate and the Congress. They have been advised to operate in a subtle way and cancel the growing Sikh influence.

Even though Sikhs are no match to the extensive Indian resources and cannot compete with its unethical use of trade pressures, they have one big advantage over their adversaries. They only need to acquaint the free world with the truth and the historical position of the Sikhs visavis Hindu treachery and betrayals. The Brahmin rulers of India will come to be treated as neo Nazis, the day whole truth is unfolded before the freedom loving people of the world.

Some Sikh Organizations and individuals are already active in this field and have done excellent work in bringing to the notice of their respective Senators and Congressmen unimpeachable evidence about the gross violations of human rights and killing of innocent Sikh youths in fake police encounters. The worst kind of state terrorism is in operation and Sikh men, women and children fall to the bullets of those who kill them for their sport.

 

Under the circumstances it is imperative that every Sikh must actively involve himself in the process of strengthening Hon, Dan Burton’s hands and mobilize maximum support for his resolution. Americans are temperamentally and traditionally for liberty and justice and Sikhs in India are struggling precisely for these basic rights. There is no reason why America’s leading political luminaries should not uphold the Sikh cause. Remember if they show indifference to our sad plight in India, the fault then, would be with us and not with the American leaders.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 20, 1989