Re: Betrayal Of Sikhs In The Hindu Empire ...
OK, Tariq, I here try to find some reasons….I am answering without looking into books, or material, so there can be mistakes, have patience…
Points 1 to 4. Indian constitution is not unfair to anyone, minority or majority….there can be mistakes, done deliberately in implementation.
Promises made to Sikhs….name any Sikh leader who had been elected to any governing body or assembly by popular vote prior to freedom. Tara Singh and Co. had no popular support. They could not convince the Sikhs that they were separate nationality.
It is very easy to say that Sikhs are mistreated…but in what sense? Are they not given proper education atmosphere, barred from jobs, compelled to change religion…anything if you can inform us?
Sikhs remained in Lahore till complete partition was carved out because Sikh leaders assured them that they would kill themselves if Lahore goes to Pakistan….Sorry, over partition Sikhs were just butchered in Lahore…but it is not our topic.
Later Sikhs leaders opted for a Punjabi speaking State and there was nothing wrong in that. This movement finally ended in trio partition of Punjab.
Again the same followings tried to carve out a Sikh homeland…Khalistan as you know…but this movement never had any popular support.
If you pick up the records of killed by Bhinderwalan forces in Punjab…you will find that its target were basically Sikhs, who opposed the Bhinderwalan ideology.
Bhinderwalan movement had no popular support. That’s why when a final decision was taken By PM Narsimah Rao and the CM Byant Singh and the task was given to Gill….the police force took only three months to get rid of the so called movement that was disturbing the nation for last 15 years.
Just imagine….is it possible to crush a 15 year old movement in3 months if it has popular support?
It is absolutely true. Sikhs opposed the emergency powers of Indira Gandhi. What is wrong in that? 50000 Sikhs were in jail….I think more. As per some rumors 2% of total India population was in jail.
What do you want to criticize here…..Emergency, or breach of constitution by Indira Gandhi? No one will oppose you. Ultimately our constitution won. Indira had to go through elections and people of India gave her a thumping defeat.Here you are wrong. First of all there was nothing peaceful in Khalistan movement. And as I told you earlier that it had no popular support.
Army attack on Golden Temple….yes, a crime which Indira Gandhi had committed. Our armed soldiers could easily tackle this problem without entering the temple but Indira Gandhi was interested in creating a sensation, as her eyes were on the forthcoming elections. She misunderstood the history of sacred Golden Temple and paid a correct price for that mistake.
One point you did not mention…Riots after Indira’ assassination. General people took part in riots against Sikhs. It is non-sense to blame one party or some miscreants. Yes the party goons started it, but people anger was also seen in the riots. You know the Bhinderwalan violence took a start in 1978..many innocents were killed…and all these years from 1978 to 1984 no one from Hindu side attacked or harassed any Sikh in general public, but the anger broke out when Sikh hands killed Indira Gandhi….basically not for Indira but it was an outbreak against eight years of ugly scenario by Bhinderwalan forces.
Off course innocents became target for none of their fault.
I assure you that those riots also could not destroy the Indian cultural integration. Sikhs who lost their relatives or home, property etc have grievance against court system, as they got no justice…but talk nothing against Hindus. (Except those living at some streets in London, or in Canada, who have been a financial force for Bhinderwalan movement but lost no body in Khalistan movements or in riots.)
I think, I am fair enough….if you have more arguments…you are welcome. After so many conflicts India is not disintegrated…it is real victory of our constitution.