Dr Awatar Singh Sekhon, Dr Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer and Dr Harbakhash Singh Sandhar

CONTINUED ASSURANCES BY GANDHI

It is strange that some Sikhs were under the illusion that Gandhi was a secular or unprejudiced leader. In fact, the Rajaji Formula had the blessings of Gandhi. Om ‘August 6, 1944, Gandbl said, “Rajajl Formula is a right foundation for’ a ‘compromise with the Muslims, The fears in Punjab are not genuine”. Jinnah also tried to exploit the situation. In x statement, he said, “Sikhs are a separate nation. I assure that Muslim League shall honorably west the Sikhs, The Sikh leaders should send me their genuine demands. The Sikhs belong mostly to Punjab Whereas the League is committed to the protection of interests of every minority either in India or in Pakistan, ‘The Sikhs should beware of the outside influence.” It was strange that the Sikhs were being accepted a5 “separate nation” and still they were being asked to be subordinate to either Hindus or Muslims, The Sikhs rejected the allurements of both leaders. An Akali Conference held on August 16. Sri Nagar rejected the Formula and declared that the Panth was first and foremost for the Sikh nation, ALL SIKH PARTIES DEMANDED IN DEPENDENT SIKH STATE: An All Party Sikh Conference held on August 20, 1944 at Amritsar out rightly rejected the Rajeji Formula, Mangal Singh moved resolution suggesting the creation of an area wherein the Sikhs would not be under the domination of either the Muslims or the Hindu majority. It demanded for the Sikhs the same rights in all provinces as had been given to the other minorities. Mohinder Singh moved an amendment seeking the creation of an independent Sikh State, It was supported by Giani Kartar Singh. Giani Sher Singh said that the Sikhs should not be placed under any body’s domination. If a common rule for all the nations was not possible, the Sikhs ‘Would like to see their own flag flying somewhere in their own territory

On November 24, two Sikh leaders met Jinnah, Jinnah frankly told the Sikhs that Pakistan was a must, and no power on earth would stop it. He told the Sikhs to give up the opposition of Pakistan and demand Khalistan for themselves,

In m Akali Conference, Master Tara Singh, while advocating the demand for Khalistan (in case of the creation of Pakistan) said that the question of a majority of Sikhs in a particular zone did not arise, He [presented the analogy of the Jewish State (israel) and said that if Palestine, which had Been declared the Jewish homeland ‘even though the Jews formed only 10 percent of the population, then why cannot the Punjab be declared Khalistan where the Sikhs formed about 20% of the population in the zone “Azad Punjab”? He demanded Khalistan comprising the Central Punjab as well as the district is of Lahore and Amuitsar and covering prominent (Sikh) Gurdwaras, It was strange on the part of the British regime to talk of majority on tehsil or district level as the basis of creation of a Sikh State. The some principle was not applied to the ‘creation of a Jewish State (Israel) within just few months of this moment. The attitude of the British was unjust and even ungrateful because the Sikhs had made so great sacrifices for the British (and for the French and Belgian people) in the two World wars: The British government’s ungratefulness was (and is) unparalleled in living history, equaled only by the ungratefulness of the Hindus (of Punjab, Kashmir, Delhi in particular and the others in general) who owe the survival to the Sikh Gurus, The British ‘action Was the repetition of the situation of Norway in 1814, After the defeat of Napoleon, Norway, which had, by then, been occupied by Denmark (an ally of Napoleon in war) was “gifted away” to Sweden against the wishes of Norwegians, The Sikh Homeland, which was occupied by the British (since 1849), was gifted away to Hindu India against the wishes of the Sikhs, The Sikhs were told even by the Viceroy, to keep quiet or be prepared for genocide by the British army.

A nice choice: “Commit suicide or be ready to be butchered”

To be continued

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 20, 1996