The three man Supreme Court bench has, as expected, signed on the dotted line and confirmed death sentence awarded to Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh by the trial court in 1986 in the Indira Gandhi assassination case. The decision to acquit Balbir Singh seems to be motivated more to create an impression of impartiality than to meet the ends of justice. From day one, the Defense Attorney Mr. P.N. Lekhi left no one in doubt about the farcical character of the trial. He was neither allowed to cross examine nor summon materially important eyewitnesses, documents and records. No convincing explanation of the discrepancies in the postmortem report and deposition of the prosecution witnesses was furnished in the court and the judges, at all levels, kept subverting normal judicial processes to deliver a judgment that would please the new ruler who happened to be the son of the deceased.
Both Kehar Singh and Balbir Singh were framed to support the prosecution argument that the assassination was a criminal act performed at the instigation of antinational elements and not what it really was — a summary execution by two brave Sikhs of a power drunk maniac responsible for wantonly destroying the sanctum sanctorum of the Sikhs. The execution was carried out in the best traditions of Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh who had beheaded the lecherous Zakria Khan for desecrating the Golden Temple. No one ever believed the prosecution’s cock and bull story and it was expected that both of them would ultimately be acquitted if there was any semblance of justice still left in the Indian courts. But the Supreme Court judgment has come as a rude shock and Kehar Singh’s ‘execution’ would go down in history as the foulest example of a judicial murder committed at the behest of a revengeful ruler.
As for Satwant Singh is concerned, he is only as much guilty as the judges who have sentenced him to hang. He did not commit a murder. His act was not motivated by personal greed, gain or vendetta. He only performed a judicial duty in executing a communal fundamentalist who was directly responsible for the massacre of thousands of innocent pilgrims — men, women and children, and who had committed the unpardonable outrage in violating the sanctity of the Golden Temple. Satwant and Beant had to take upon themselves this unpleasant task as the judiciary had abdicated its responsibility and become a helpless spectator to the most heinous crimes committed by the rulers to perpetuate the dynastic rule in India.
Beant Singh’s name is already among the great galaxy of the Sikh martyrs. Soon Satwant Singh’s name will also shine amidst these illustrious ranks. Time is not far when schools, colleges, libraries and roads will be named to honour and salute their sacrifices. Monuments and memorials are dedicated to those selfless saint soldiers who shape or make history and not to the common murderers. The portraits of these two valiant Sikhs already decorate most Gurdwaras. Folk singers eulogize their courage and commitment, Every Sikh home would deem it a privilege to display their portraits in its living room. Kartar Singh Sarabha, Bhagat Singh are today household names in India. Their statues and portraits, both within and without the National Gallaries, stand as an eloquent testimony of the gratitude and respect in which their countrymen hold them for their sacrifices. Sikhs all over the world also similarly feel indebted to Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, the true saint soldiers. Their memory will forever rule over the hearts of the Sikhs and inspire the youth to emulate them in rehabilitating the honor and dignity of the Sikh Nation.
“Shaheedon Ki chitayon pe lagange har barse melay / quam pe mar mitne walon Ka baki yahee nishan hoga.”
Article extracted from this publication >> August 12, 1988
