Page 15 - English Tehelka Issue 6 - March 31, 2018

khalIstan

fringe which itself is sponsored by If the radicals recognition of Sikhs as a separate then the government of India also The idea of laws of our land, and they strive for
one or the other of the above forces. religion — not a separate country, did not exactly cover itself with glory their right to live in patriotic dignity.
Worse, this vilification and demoni- wanted to misuse mind you, just a separate religion. through its handling. If the radi- Khalistan is being They fight against discrimination
zation of the Sikhs is being done on the Trudeau They react strongly to being dis- cals wanted to misuse the Trudeau thrust down the like any other Indian would: through
purpose. If that is true, then we are missed as “not a religion but a mere visit to put the Khalistan issue on peaceful and democratic means.
falling into the trap laid by the arch visit to put the branch of Hinduism”. the front burner, then it seems the throats of Sikhs The only time a hardliner got a
enemy of our country — the ISI of Khalistan issue on Similarly, Sikhs cannot un- government merely obliged them. mandate in Punjab, including from
Pakistan. derstand why their countrymen The government’s handling needed by a combination the Hindus in the state, was in 1989
Ironically, it is obvious to every- the front burner, should object to the description of to be manicured in a manner that of forces none of and then too, the candidates fielded
one in Punjab that the Sikhs are the the 1984 massacre of thousands of it should have denied any media or by the party led by S S Mann actually
only people who really want a quick then it seems Sikhs (just because they were Sikhs) diplomatic mileage to those trying whom have the went around and paid obeisance at
and quiet burial for these Khal- the government as a “genocide”. There is nothing to internationalise a radical cause interest of the Hindu temples during the campaign
istan noises. A vast majority of the in the dictionary meaning of the against India. in order to wash the “radical” tag.
peace loving Sikhs — both in India merely obliged term genocide which can be even As for Trudeau, his mistakes or community at heart This was extremely significant even
and abroad — firmly believe that them remotely construed as anti-national. failures needed to be segregated as symbolism because this conclu-
Khalistan , or a bogey of it, is being Genocide refers to a large number from what suited the radicals. He sively drove home the message that
thrust down the throat of a strongly of people belonging to a particular needed to be confronted on the direct contradiction with the vested in order to win the confidence of
protesting patriotic Sikh commu- the demands of the rest of the coun- nation, ethnic group or religion or diplomatic high table on the causes stakes of the radicals fringe operat- the people of a predominantly Sikh
nity by a combination of evil forces. trymen too: a cry for justice for the community or race being killed of our hurt national sensitivities. The ing from abroad. The Sikhs in India Punjab, one has to take the route of
None of these forces and elements massacre of 1984 and a fair deal for because of their religious, national, Government’s handling of the trip know about this dichotomy. Even moderation. Be it the Panchayats or
represents the Sikh community Punjab, a solution to the problems of ethnic or communal identity. That should never have strengthened the during this trip, all the mainstream the Parliament, the moderate, and
nor do they have the interest of the the peasantry in the country. There is precisely the holocaust that the radical case that the country’s top Sikh voices — from the Akalis led by not the radical, Sikh leaders rule the
community at heart. Whenever are also some grievances specific to Sikhs had to endure in 1984. The Sikh executive suffers from bias against Sukhbir Singh Badal to the SGPC and hearts and minds of the Sikh com-
Khalistan makes headlines, the Sikhs the Sikhs and the community wants grievances are against the Congress Trudeau because of the pre-eminent the DSGMC led by Manjit Singh GK munity. There is a message in this
view it as a sign of some dangerous that these grievances can be and party or against the government positions he has given to the Sikhs in and even Punjab Chief Minister Capt which the country needs to under-
game being played against them. must be resolved within the ambit of of India for its refusal or failure to his government. That’s the message Amarinder Singh — rubbished Khal- stand and respect.
The Sikhs know that these separatist the Constitution of the country. provide justice to the community as that we ended up conveying. istan as a “non-issue for the Sikhs”. The way to understanding Punjab
noises in their name actually deflect The Sikhs also find it hard to per the law of the land and the con- The government needed to Why should our policy makers and the Sikhs lies through the hearts
focus away from their legitimate de- believe that they are subjected to stitution of the country. Why should highlight how the interests of the not be listening to these voices that and minds of the moderate main-
mands and the genuine causes and vilification even on demands which the killers of thousands of innocent peace-loving Sikh community are in actually represent the Sikhs? stream. The Sikh community itself
grievances of the community. If you are perfectly reasonable, humane Sikhs in 1984 be roaming free even The Sikhs regard their stakes is surprised why the successive
look closely at these demands and and within the nationalist and con- 34 years after the tragedy struck the and destiny as firmly tied with the governments’ perception of Sikh
grievances, it is easy to see that these stitutional parameters. One of these national capital? • In limelight Jusitn Trudeau’s trip brought destiny of their country India. They aspirations is always different from
are the causes, the grievances and demands relates to a constitutional The manner in which the govern- the Khalistan issue in limelight yet again seek justice and fair-play as per the how the Sikhs themselves view their
ment of India chose to respond to destiny. But anyway, it is time we
the questionable aspects of Justin corrected our mistakes on Punjab in
Trudeau’s visit to India has left much the past — especially with regard to
to be desired. The government, it instilling a sense of confidence and
seems, chose the wrong language dignity in the minds of the patriotic
to speak the right stuff or chose the Sikh community.
wrong signals to deliver the right It is to be hoped that Prime
message. Their handling of the issue Minister Narendra Modi, who has
further strengthened the impres- considerable direct experience of
sion about our failure or refusal — or Punjab and has close affinity with
both — to understand that Khal- its culture having served his party
istan is a non-issue for a very vast in various capacities in this region,
majority of the Sikh community in would use his understanding and
India and abroad, including Canada. also his dynamism to change the
If Trudeau fumbled, blundered or national narrative on this sensitive
played mischief by violating norms and crucial issue. There is a lot he
of diplomatic decency and did things can achieve in this direction — and
that offend our national sensitivities, all of it would be a great service to
the nation.
• Fatigue hurts Nehru knew about suffering
from extreme political and economic fatigue letters@tehelka.com

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