The Sikh Students Federation is a student organization, whose goal is to make the American public aware of the grave situation of the Sikhs in Punjab, India, and their struggle for freedom.
Sikhism, a monotheistic religion, was founded by Guru Nanak in 1469. Sikhs reject idolatry, ritualism, the caste system, and the use of intoxicants. Sikhism had a succession of 10 Gurus, the last being Guru Gobind Singh who transferred guru ship on to the Adi Granth (Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs). The Adi Granth guides the Sikhs spiritually and morally. Sikhs emerged as brave “‘saint soldiers,” whose moral duty is to protect and uphold the rights of the weak and oppressed.
The courage and strength of the Sikhs was witnessed during the British occupation of India. Hindu India was under British rule for 200 years, whereas Sikh territories were only governed over for 100 years.
Indian Independence from Britain required numerous sacrifices, most of which were given by the Sikh minority (currently 2% then 1.5% of the population). Sikhs were first in initiating peaceful demonstrations and agitations against British rule. Independence cost 2,125 Indian lives, 1550 were Sikhs, 2646 Indians were exiled to Andaman Island, of which 2147 were Sikhs. Out of 127 Indians sent to the gallows, 92 were Sikhs {figures taken from report by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad).
Leaders of the Indian Congress at that ume (Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Motilal Nehru, and Pandit Jewanlal Nehru), assured Sikh leaders that after Indian Independence, no constitution would be constructed which was not acceptable to the Sikhs. This honorary promise was made formal in the Policy Resolution of 1929, and reiterated up until 8-15-47. Soon after this time the promises and resolutions were thrown aside, and the oppression of the Sikhs began. On the advent of Indian Independence, V.B. Patel (Home Minister of India) sent a secret circular to high ranking officials stating that “Sikhs are a nation of criminals and to be treated as such.” To this day Sikhs have not signed the Indian Constitution, and are still treated as second class citizens. Americans must realize that it is the Indian government which is the real criminal.
Illegally, the government diverts 76% of Punjab’s (Sikh state) water and energy to neighboring Hindu states Haryana and Rajasthan. This crime is against Indian and International Riparian Laws. Punjabi (Sikh) farmers are forced by the government to sell their grain crops at one half of the international price, whereas the predominantly Hindu states receive fair market value. The Sikh language (Punjabi) is not recognized as their mother tongue. Sikhs are forced to live under Hindu laws, which in itself is a violation against freedom of religion, The government suppresses the Sikhs politically (e.g. unfair representation), and also interferes in the administration of religious shrines. The list of subjugation is endless.
Has India forgotten the history of the Sikhs? No India has not forgotten, however it is apparent that India does not care about the sacrifices made by the Sikhs during the struggle for Independence from Britain as well as the lives given to protect the Hindu religion from foreign invaders over the past six centuries. That was history today the Sikh state of Punjab provides India with 60% of its food basket. Even as a minority in terms of numbers, Punjab contributes 28% of India’s total ‘gross national product.”
It was these injustices which led Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindrawale to speak out against the Indian Government. He called for the fair treatment of the Sikhs in political, religious, territorial and economic matters. Bhindrawale’s brave and just stance gained national and international attention.
With international media focused on the unjust treatment of the Sikhs, the Indian government started their propaganda machinery which labeled Sikhs as “radicals” and “territories.” In reality it was the Indian government who was terrorizing the Sikh nation.
On June 4,1984 this situation escalated, and in an attempt to emerge as a Hindu Nationalist, Indira Gandhi ordered a military attack upon the Sikh nation. “Operational Bluestar” witnessed the beginning of the genocidal attack upon Sikhs. In this military operation, The Golden Temple (holiest shrine of the Sikhs) along with 38 other Sikh shrines came under bombardment. Upon storming the Golden Temple, the Indian military massacred over 10,000 innocent men, women and children the vast majority of them being pilgrims who had arrived at the holy shrines for a major religious occasion, This incomprehensible and barbaric butchering of the Sikhs sent shock waves around the world, The body of Sant Bhindrawale was found to contain 72 bullets.
Very ingeniously the Indian government had removed all outside media sources prior to the attack. Human Rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Asia Watch were banned from India. Since the attack in 1984 over $00,000 military troops have taken a foothold in Punjab. Since “Operation Bluestar” to this day present, over 100,000 innocent Sikhs have been murdered at the hands of Indian police and military. This number does not include those who are tortured, illegally detained, and those Sikh women who are raped by security forces. The Indian government in addition has created a death squad organization called the “Black Cats.” This secret government agency has been empowered and is responsible for the execution of many Sikhs.
What does the largest “so-called democracy” in the world have to hide? Why doesn’t India allow the international press to enter Punjab? Why doesn’t India allow human rights organizations into Punjab? Amnesty International launched an all-out one yearlong campaign against the Indian government in 1992. Amnesty has published a book titled “Murder, Death and Rape in Custody” which describes the human rights abuses of the Sikhs in Punjab, as well as other minority religions throughout India.
As a result of this genocidal attack, the Sikh people on April 29,1986 declared to the Indian Government as well as to the rest of the world that they were no longer a part of a country which treats its people as second class citizens, The newly declared independent country was named “Khalistan,” which means ‘land of the free.’ Sikhs know that the road to freedom will be a very costly one, but they are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice -their lives in order to prevent the genocide from continuing.
The Panthic (five-member) Committee is spearheading the freedom movement. The Committee is comprised of representatives from freedom fighting organizations within Punjab. Major battles have been won by the Sikhs under the administration and guidance of the Panthic Committee. An all-out boycott of the recent Punjab elections, (1992) (which were ironically staged by the Indian Government) as well as the mass resignation of village and city government leaders throughout Punjab in June of this year (1992) reflected an adamant signal to the Indian government that the massive random abuses to the Sikh people would not be tolerated and with God’s will would not continue for much longer. Khalistan will follow the basic principles and rights as laid down in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. American Sikhs request that you acknowledge the Human Rights Abuses of the Sikhs in Punjab, and the Sikh’s courageous struggle for a democratic free nation.
The Sikh Students Federation adamantly supports that the “only solution” in stopping the rape and genocide of the Sikh nation is through the formation of their independent country “Khalistan.”
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1992
