Sir,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khelsa,
Waheguri Ji Ke Fateh.
It is often said that the character of a society is characterized by its interest in sports. But this can be only true when a society is flourishing peace fully. In my view at present due to the grave situation in India the very existence of Sikhism is threatened. I think that the Sikhs have every right to take part and enjoy sports but in present circumstances we cannot afford the meager resources at our disposal to promote anything which doesn’t help us to cast away the yoke of oppression. Our freedom should always be our first priority.
Kabaddi is a game which clearly reflects the robust nature of Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular. No matter what one feels but in today’s world nothing can be free of political undertones, not even sports. At the height of the cold war United States and its allies stayed away from the Olympics in Moscow and likewise Soviet Union and its al lies stayed away from Olympics in Los Angeles.
Few weeks ago an International tournament of Kabaddi was organized in Vancouver, Canada and Yuba City, California. Unfortunately everything about these tournaments was tainted from the start to finish.
The tournament in Vancouver, Canada was organized by senior leaders of International Sikh Youth Federation, a member of the Panthic Committee was also somewhat involved in the organizational process, and Tournament in Yuba City California was organized by well-known Khalistani leaders. As any objectively thinking Sikh has serious reservations about this tournament even though I am an ardent fan of Kabaddi.
Firstly I don’t know how these Khalistani leaders can invite a Kabaddi team which represented India to these tournaments when the Panthic Committee these guys represent over here had declared Khalistan its only goal.
Secondly the Indian team was accompanied by an individual named Balbir Singh, who) the chief patron of this tear and who is a former in the Cong-I government of Punjab.
Thirdly nearly all the players of the Indian team were employees of Indian government unfortunately majority of the team comprised of Punjab police officers. Of these five the Punjab police players in Indian team one is deputy superintend in Police. I don’t think there is any Sikh who doesn’t know how the Punjab police has brutalized the Sikhs in Punjab in the last 10 years, Punjab police is the most important anti-Sikh perpetrator in Punjab and has exploited the tragedy befallen on the Sikh nation. Punjab policemen kill, rape, murder, rob, torture and ploit Sikhs with impunity India. Only God knows that when I am writing this letter, the very Punjab police men who were sponsored by these foremost proponents of Khalistan are not killing an innocent Sikh in Punjab. This very moment the police men who came here could easily be passing away the information to their superiors they must have gathered while they were over here.
To my knowledge about one hundred thousand dollars were spent to organize these tournaments. Whereas due to lack of resources the Sikh or phans of 1984 Delhi carnage are in a pitiable state, Noble Peace prize winner Mother Teresa has come to their res Cue and has adopted some of them, While Sikhs were en Joying Kabaddi over here Christian missionaries are looking; after Sikh children.
It is hard for any God fearing Sikh to justify and forgive such blatant mistakes of Sikh leaders. I am not against the organizing of any kind of Sports or cultural activities, but I urge all Khalistanis to leave such activities to other cultural or sports organizations and instead use all their
Resources towards the Sikh Cause.
Kamaljit Singh,
Stockton, California s
Article extracted from this publication >> October 18, 1991
