STOCKTON CA: Bibi Bimal Kaur Khalsa in an emotion charged speech declared: “Sikhs are slaves in India it is a crime in the eyes of India to just be a Sikh All Sikhs have been branded terrorists despite the fact that 90% of the sacrifices made for India’s independence were made by Sikhs. We must not waver from the goal set for us by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who roused the sleeping Sikh nation to the grave danger facing the Panth. We must not go back to sleep. Sikhs were born to rule or to become martyrs but never claves.”

The widow of Sikh hero and martyr Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh Bibi Bimal Kaur is also an elected member of the Indian Parliament. She was appreciative of the support she had received to be able to sit in front of Rajiv Gandhi in Parliament. Speaking to a packed Gurdwara Sahib here on March 17 her speech was often punctuated by full throated choruses of “Jo bole so Nihal Sat Sri Akal” and “Khalistan Zindabad.”

She recounted the Sikh struggle in India since 1978 when 13 Sikhs were murdered by government agents in the garb of Nirankan is.” “What atrocities has not India heaped upon Sikhs since then? Sikhs are murdered with impunity and the perpetrators of the November 1984 Sikh massacres had been rewarded rather than punished. There is no legal recourse for Sikhs. The houses of Sikhs are searched at will and young men are taken away for questioning. They are often tortured to death or killed in fake encounters. The jails in Punjab are full of thousands of Sikhs many held for years together without trial or charge. Even the bodies of the Sikhs who are killed are not returned to the relatives. Often parents beg the police to just let them know if their sons are dead so that they could perform last rites.”

‘The attack on the holiest Sri Harmandir Sahib on June 41, 984 was a deep-rooted conspiracy to finish the Sikhs altogether she said. June 4 was the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev and hundreds of thousands of Sikh pilgrims visit the Golden Temple on this auspicious occasion. Bibi ji said in a raised voice no human power on earth could destroy the Sikhs but those who have tried have always been finished themselves It was to avenge the affront of Operation Bluestar that Saheeds Bhai Beant Singh Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh had to lay down their lives.

Bibi Bimal Kaur described the situation in Punjab as very grim. The army police CRPF and BSF were everywhere There was no security of life or property. Not only homes but Gurdwara’s are also searched by the police who desecrate the holy places with their hobnailed boots. Even the Golden Temple was in police custody she said.

In giving examples of Indian oppression she cited the case of Bhai Sukhminder Singh and Bhai Ranjit Singh who had raised their voice against oppression. They are now in a New York detention facility The Indian courts could find no evidence against them and virtually declared them innocent but the Indian government refilled the case against them after having lost it last year just so the voice of the Sikhs remains repressed

Parliament passed a resolution expressing grief at the Bhopal gas tragedy but the Sikh massacres have not even mention a mention she said.

Bibi Bimal Kaur appealed to Sikhs in western countries to come together in this time of struggle. She made particular reference to the tussles among local groups over control of Gurdwara’s and said Our resources should not be wasted in courts.

Bihi Bimal Kaur was presented with a siropa bv Dr Harbhaian Singh on behalf of the Sangat

Earlier S Gurcharan Singh president WSO said that every Sikh child knew Bibi Bimal Kaur so she needed no introduction He said Bibiji was the daughter ‘of the Sikh nation.

S Balwinder Singh secretary of the Gurdwara thanked S Gumam Singh Pamma for providing the congregation the opportunity of meeting the widow of a great Sikh hero. S Ajit S Panny and S Lachman Singh Aujla also eulogized Bibiji in glowing terms.

Bibi Bimal Kaur who is accompanied by her father S Gurbachan Singh and S Jagir Singh Bains vice president of the Sikh Cultural Society of New York had earlier addressed a gathering in Live Oak Yuba City. She left Stockton for Fremont where a similar function was held. S Amarjit Singh Nirman and S Gurmit Singh Walia were the main speakers who outlined the need to beware of India’s nefarious designs and that the hour of victory was near.

On March 18 local Sikhs again honored Bibi Bimal Kaur at the house of Dr Harbhajan Singh Shergill. She was presented a plaque on behalf of the World Sikh News and WSO by the host.

She has already met Sikhs in Saramento and will be in Caruthers and LA this week before leaving for Canada.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 22, 1991