CHANDIGARH: Sikh militants struggling for an independent Khalistan state are reported to be regrouping after suffering serious reverses at the hands of the Indian security forces in the recent past.
Dr. Pritam Singh Sekhon has assumed command of Khalistan Liberation Force following the death of Bhai Gurjant Singh Budh Singh wala, The K.L.F. is an important fighting wing of the Panthic committee associated with Dr.Sohan Singh, Bhai Daljit Singh and others. In place of Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar who, too, was killed last month by the Indian forces, Bhai Wadhawa Singh has taken over.
These two key militant formations have been lying low all these weeks not only owning to intense pressure from the Indian forces but also due to the need to change secret places of shelter and to reorganize the ranks, according to observers here,
Dr. Sekhon is a science post graduate of the prestigious Punjab Agricultural University while Wadhawa Singh is a grass roots realist with strong dedication to the cause of Khalistan, They are busy contacting their following, issuing fresh guidelines and analyzing the causes of the recent reverses. According to reports, Sikh militants are no longer planning blind killings of innocent persons, They appear to be inclined to strike at well-chosen targets to punish the “guilty” and to demoralize the Indian state and its political functionaries including the police force, That is why, it is explained, there has been no major strike all these weeks. However, the militants are continuing their relentless fight against the relations of police officers as a retaliatory measure against the arrest, harassment and killings of militants’ relations by the Indian authorities.
Meanwhile, the Indian authorities admit that the striking power of the Sikh militants remains unimpaired despite the killings of several important functionaries. The police continue to strain itself by stepping up patrolling at night. This anti-militant tempo is likely to be maintained until at least the proposed election to panchayats to be held some time towards the end of this year or early next year, By then the Indian government would also like to reward police chief K.P.S. Gill. He would most likely to be elevated to the post of governor which is a big achievement for a mere second-rate civil servant.
On the other hand, major Akali groups have geared up their organizational machinery. The Badal group is holding small public meetings in villages to test his acceptability by the Sikh masses. He is heavily guarded by the Indian security forces because the Indian state perceives considerable threat to his life. Badal is said to be getting a fairly satisfactory response but the militants have yet to react against his schemes in public.
Bhai Manjit Singh who recently floated in Akali Dal to be known after his name is also holding small congregations but the response to him has not been encouraging. That prompted him to issue calls for “Panthic unity.” In fact, he appears to have formed the Akali Dal merely to serve as a bargain counter in the eventual understanding among or merger of all traditional Akali groups.
What distinguishes Bhai Manjit Singh from Badal is that while the former is a novice in the game of politics, the latter is an expert. Badal breathes militancy in his public talk, he speaks tough against the Indian state mostly on nonissues to mislead the public about his real game plan, Bhai Manjit Singh, not articulate in his public expressions.
He can not conceal his political ambitions despite the fact that he often talks of Khalistan as his
target. That is perhaps why this group has not so far taken off the ground.
Simranjit Singh Mann appears keen on inheriting the assets of militants and has succeeded in building up a good propaganda machinery. But he is said to be surrounded by non-entities who, in turn, are infiltrated by Indian intelligence,
Another weakness of Mann is that his group has failed to focus On any issue that could mark him OUL as a practical politician out to promote the Sikh cause. The Babbar Akali Dal which started off with high hopes has still to make its presence felt. It lost heavily by associating itself with the so-called six “Panthic Organizations.” Its nominees failed to project any issues through the forum of Panthic groups.
On the other hand, this group became instrumental in the advancement of others’ game plans, either this group will have to say goodbye to the so-called Panthic groups Or raise political issues of relevance, according to observers,
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1992
