Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Politicians 'incited' anti-Sikh riots of November 1984

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Politicians 'incited' anti-Sikh riots of November 1984

    Over 20 years it has taken for the corrupt and morally bankrupt Indian government and judicial system to admit (albeit partial) responsibility for the murder of over 3000 Sikhs in Delhi alone during the anti-Sikh riots of November 1984. The Nanatvati report is no justice at all and is more salt being rubbed into wounds of the Sikhs. Nothing should be expected more than this farce from the spiritually ill Indian government and Hindustani nation. The only justice will be the independence of Punjab or establishment of an independent sovereign Sikh state of Khalistan.

    -

    Politicians 'incited' Sikh riots
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4130962.stm


    An Indian government inquiry into the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 has said that some Congress party leaders incited mobs to attack Sikhs.

    - Prem Kaur's husband, Balwant Singh, was beaten to death

    The riots were sparked by the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on 31 October 1984.

    More than 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the rioting.

    The inquiry was begun in 2000 amid dissatisfaction, particularly among Sikhs, with previous investigations.

    But the BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava in Delhi says this ninth commission of inquiry into the riots has only added to the confusion and is unlikely to satisfy either the opposition parties or Sikh groups awaiting justice for more than two decades.

    'Credible evidence'

    The 339-page inquiry report by former Supreme Court judge, GT Nanavati, was tabled in parliament on Monday.

    It said that recorded accounts from witnesses and victims of the rioting "indicate that local Congress leaders and workers had either incited or helped the mobs in attacking the Sikhs".

    The investigation found "credible evidence" against Congress federal minister Jagdish Tytler "to the effect that very probably he had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs".

    The inquiry recommended further investigation into Mr Tytler's role.

    But an "action taken report" by the government which was also tabled in parliament, said the inquiry "was not absolutely sure about [Mr Tytler's] involvement in the attack".

    "It may be pointed out that in criminal cases, a person cannot be prosecuted simply on the basis of 'probability'," it said.

    Lack of evidence

    The investigation also found "credible evidence" against Congress leader, Dharam Das Shastri, in instigating an attack on Sikhs in his area.

    It also recommended examination of some cases against another Congress leader, Sajjan Kumar, for his alleged involvement in the rioting.

    Mr Kumar had been cleared of leading a mob by a sessions court in Delhi in 2002 because of lack of evidence.

    The inquiry said there was "absolutely no evidence" suggesting that Mrs Gandhi's son, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, or "any other high ranking Congress leader had suggested or organised attacks on Sikhs".

    The report said that the police "remained passive and did not provide protection to the people" during the riots.

    "There was a colossal failure of the maintenance of law and order," the report said.

    Relatives of the victims of the riots who spoke to the BBC were sceptical about the investigation.

    "What is the use of this report? It practically exonerates most of the Congress leaders we had accused of leading the mobs. Nothing will happen to the big leaders," said Gurdip Singh, whose father Harbhajan, was killed by the rioters.

    Our correspondent, Sanjeev Srivastava, says the lack of evidence the report has found means the Congress government is unlikely to suffer much embarrassment.
    Attached Files

  • #2
    There is a saying give someone a noose and he will hang himself.


    "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

    I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

    HAKUNA MATATA

    Comment


    • #3
      This was common knowledge.

      Comment


      • #4
        The Akal Takht is the supreme political seat of the Sikhs, an institution founded by Guru Hargobind Sahib.

        Akal Takht rejects report
        Tribune News Service
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/main4.htm#2

        Amritsar, August 8

        The Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti today completely rejected the Nanavati report tabled in Parliament .

        Jathedar Vedanti said the community had lost faith in such commissions. He said the findings had given an impression that the Sikhs could not expect justice by constituting commissions.

        The victims including the families who were tortured and butchered, had been waiting for the past 21 years to see those directly involved in the anti-Sikh riots hanged. He said everybody in the country including the judiciary, knew that innocent Sikhs were killed mercilessly.

        However, all those involved in the riots had been roaming scotfree. Jathedar Vedanti said the denial of justice to the riot victims had destroyed the basic tenets of democracy.

        Panthic leaders flay Nanavati report
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/punjab1.htm#4

        A shameful shield for killers, rapists: Badal
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/punjab1.htm#2

        Sikh sentiments hurt, says Akali Dal (A)
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/punjab1.htm

        It’s betrayal, say ’84 riot victims
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/ldh1.htm

        Report on ’84 riots damned
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/cth1.htm
        It is disgraceful that for over 20 years and after 10 commissions there still no justice for the Sikhs. If anyone defends so-called democracy in India and the Indian judicial system they are clearly living in denial and should be strongly condemned and ridiculed. State terrorism and its supporters will live on in India there is no point working within their flawed system. Punjab's independence from India is a must!

        10 commissions, panels probed ’84 riots
        R. Suryamurthy
        Tribune News Service
        http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050809/main6.htm

        New Delhi, August 8

        Since the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in which over 3,000 persons were killed, the government had appointed 10 commissions and committee to inquire into the incident. However, the victims claimed that none of those who perpetrated the crime and instigated the mob have been punished.

        Here is the chronology of different committees and commission, which the government had set up from time to time and their results.

        Marwah Commission: This commission was appointed in November 1984. Ved Marwah, Additional Commissioner of Police, was assigned the job of enquiring into the role of the police during the carnage of November 1984. Mr Marwah almost completed his inquiry towards the middle of 1985 when he was directed by the Central Government not to proceed further as Misra Commission had been appointed by then. Complete records of the Marwah Commission were taken over by the government and were later transferred to the Misra Commission. However, the most important part of the record, namely the handwritten notes of Mr Marwah, which contained important information, were not transferred to the Misra Commission.

        Misra Commission of Enquiry was appointed in May 1985. Justice Rang Nath Misra, was a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India. Justice Misra submitted his report in August 1986 and the report was made public six months thereafter in February 1987. In his report, Justice Misra stated that it was not part of his terms of reference to identify any person and recommended the formation of three committees. There was only one term of reference to this commission, i.e. whether the violence was organised?

        Kapur Mittal Committee was appointed in February 1987 on the recommendation of the Misra Commission to inquire into the role of the police, which the Marwah Commission had almost completed in 1985 itself, when the government asked that committee to wind up and not proceed further. After almost two years, this committee was appointed for the same purpose. This committee consisted of Justice Dalip Kapur and Mrs Kusum Mittal, retired Secretary of UP. It submitted its report in 1990. Seventytwo police officers were identified for their connivance or gross negligence. The committee recommended forthwith dismissal of 30 police officers out of 72. However, till date, not a single police officer has been awarded any kind of punishment.

        Jain Banerjee Committee: This committee was recommended by the Misra Commission for recommending registration of cases. It consisted of Justice M.L. Jain, former Judge of the Delhi High Court and Mr A.K. Banerjee, retired IGP. The Misra Commission held in its report that a large number of cases had not been registered and wherever the victims named political leaders or police officers, cases were not registered against them. This committee recommended registration of cases against Mr Sajjan Kumar in August 1987, but no case was registered. In November 1987 many press reports appeared for not registering cases in spite of the recommendation of the committee. In December 1987, one of the co-accused along with Sajjan Kumar, namely Mr Brahmanand Gupta filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court and obtained a stay against this committee. The government did not oppose the stay. The Citizens Justice Committee filed an application for vacating the stay. Ultimately, the writ petition was decided in August 1989 and the high court quashed the appointment of this committee. An appeal was filed by the Citizens Justice Committee in the Supreme Court.

        Potti Rosha Committee was appointed in March 1990 as a successor to the Jain Banerjee Committee. This committee also recommended registration of cases against Sajjan Kumar.

        Jain Aggarwal Committee was appointed in December 1990 as a successor to the Potti Rosha Committee. It consisted of Justice J.D. Jain, retired Judge of the Delhi High Court and Mr D.K. Aggarwal, retired DGP of UP. This committee recommended registration of cases against HKL Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar, Dharamdas Shastri and Jagdish Tytler. This committee was wound up in August 1993. However, the cases recommended by this committee were not even registered by the police.

        Ahuja Committee was the third committee recommended by the Misra Commission to ascertain the total number of killings in Delhi. This committee submitted its report in August 1987 and gave a figure of 2,733 as the number of Sikhs killed in Delhi alone.

        Dhillon Committee headed by Mr Gurdial Singh Dhillon was appointed in 1985 to recommend measures for the rehabilitation of the victims. This committee submitted its report by the end of 1985. One of the major recommendations of this Committee was that the business establishments, which had insurance cover, but whose insurance claims were not settled by insurance companies on the technical ground that riot was not covered under insurance, should be paid compensation under the directions of the government. This committee recommended that since all insurance companies were nationalised, they be directed to pay the claims.

        However, the government did not accept this recommendation and as a result insurance claims were rejected by all insurance companies throughout the country.

        Narula Committee was appointed in December 1993 by the Madan Lal Khurana government in Delhi. This committee submitted its report in January 1994 and recommended registration of cases against Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler.

        Nanavati Commission was appointed by a unanimous resolution passed in the Rajya Sabha. This commission was headed by Justice G.T. Nanavati, retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The commission submitted its report in February 2004. The report said there was “credible evidence” against the now Union Minister Jagdish Tytler that he “very probably” had a hand in organising attacks on Sikhs and recommended to the government to take further action as may be found necessary. The ATR report, while exonerating Mr Tytler, said, “a person cannot be prosecuted simply on the basis of probabilities.”
        Protests in Delhi over sham Nanatvati report and denial of justice to Sikh victims of Indian state terrorism:
        Attached Files

        Comment


        • #5
          Protests in Punjab over Nanavati ATR
          CHANDIGARH, AUG 9 (PTI)
          http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=315969


          Demanding registration of murder cases against those involved in the 1984 riots, several Akali parties and Sikh organisations in Punjab today voiced their protest against the Nanavati Commission Action Taken Report (ATR) and dubbed it a "non-action report".

          "The ATR of the Congress government is nothing but a non-action report in which everything has been brushed under the carpet," the Punjab Rights Forum said.

          The forum consisting of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), SAD (Longowal), Dal Khalsa, Akali Dal (1920), All-India Sikh Students' Federation (AISSF), Damdami Taksal and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta), has decided to stage a protest in New Delhi on August 13, SAD (A) General Secretary Jagmohan Singh told reporters in Jalandhar.

          Akali Dal (1920) chief and former Punjab Assembly Speaker Ravi Inder Singh said the National Denmocratic Alliance and the Shiromani Akali Dal were responsible for the "current plight" of the Nanavati report and said his party demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "resign on moral grounds for denial of justice to victims of the 1984 riots".

          Calling it a "genocide", CPI-M Secretary Mangat Ram Pasla criticised the Congress-led UPA government for "refusing to take action against those few who have been indicted by the commission on the basis of evidence still available".

          Many of those who took to the streets in protest were demanding that murder cases be filed against those responsible for the riots and raised slogans against the UPA government for failing to take action against those indicted by the commission.

          Several Akali Dal (Badal) youth activists took out a protest march in Moga while in Ludhiana, the BJP and AISSF activists held a demonstration demanding immediate removal of Jagdish Tytler and others from the Union Cabinet for their alleged role in the riots. Protests were also held by political, social and religious outfits in Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and other places with reports of effigies of the commission, the UPA government, Tytler being burnt.
          Anti-India Protests in Amritsar organized by the Sikh Students Federation - August 9, 2005:
          Attached Files

          Comment


          • #6
            Akal Takht is not God's own balls with the sun shining out of the a.r.s.e.

            The Courts are supreme since India is a secular country.

            Those guys if they are guilty which I personaly feel they are, then they should be hung by their balls.

            For Christ's sake, screw all extra judicial bunkum. And stop trying to making religious organisations the last word for legal matters.

            If you do, then why crib about the Sharia or the MUllahs and their fatawas? Akal Takht is similar to Mullahs and fatwas!

            Next you will say that the RSS crap is what should be the law of India or that the Pope is Infallible!

            For God's sake, get real!

            It is time to stuff religious bodies up their ****.

            I am tired of religion ruling supreme to common sense and secular laws!
            Last edited by Ray; 09 Aug 05,, 18:36.


            "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

            I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

            HAKUNA MATATA

            Comment


            • #7
              The Akal Takht as the supreme political institute of the Sikhs in well within its rights to reject the Nanavati report as nothing but a farce since this is the bold truth of the matter. Even the treacherous pro-India, pro-BJP Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has lashed out at the Nanavati report. This speaks volumes about the wide-spread anger among all Sikhs over the failure of the Indian judicial system and continual denial of justice to the Sikhs by the Indian state.

              We know what the solution is and it will not be found within the framework of India.

              WSC-AR Strongly Condemns India's Denial of Justice to Victims of 1984
              Pogroms of Sikhs; Calls Upon World Community to Demand Transparency,
              Accountability, and Restitution from India


              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
              August 8, 2005

              Contact: Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General, World Sikh Council -
              America Region, 614-210-0591, [email protected]

              The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)
              condemns in the strongest
              possible terms the newly released Nanavati Commission report which
              investigated the 1984 massacre of thousands of Sikh men, women, and
              children across India as well as the subsequent Action Taken Report as a
              front for its genocidal attempts against the Sikh people.

              The Commission's report has effectively exonerated the vast majority of
              Indian political leaders alleged to have organized the pogroms and
              identified by survivors, witnesses, and citizen reports. The few political
              leaders indicted by the Nanavati Commission have essentially been cleared
              of murder charges by the Action Taken Report of the Government of India.

              We urge the world community, the United Nations, and international human
              rights organizations to demand transparency, accountability, and
              restitution from India, which claims to be the world's largest functional
              democracy.

              "The planned brutal lynching, massacres, and ethnic cleansing of Sikhs more
              than twenty years ago, and the inability of ten commissions of inquiry and
              various political parties in power at the federal level to fix
              responsibility for this pogrom indicates that justice delayed to Sikhs in
              India is indeed justice denied," said Mr. Amolak Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR.

              "The Sikh community's repeated appeals for transparency, accountability,
              and restitution to the Indian Government have been ignored as not being in
              the interest of peace. We honor the victims of state terrorism and pray for
              the survivors who are still suffering," said Dr. Anahat Kaur,
              Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR.

              "The release of this cover-up report rubs salt into the wounds of a
              traumatized Sikh community. However, this moment is also an opportunity for
              Indians of conscience to stand up and demand that their nation act to end
              impunity against religious minorities and provide justice to those affected
              by such pogroms," said Dr. Tarunjit Singh, Secretary General of WSC-AR.

              The assassination of the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31,
              1984, allegedly by two Sikh members of her security force, triggered a
              planned and premeditated orgy of violence and ethnic cleansing against
              Sikhs in India's capital city of New Delhi and across the country. Sikh
              homes were identified by lynching mobs from government issued voter lists.

              Ms. Barbara Crossette, the New York Times Bureau Chief in Delhi from 1988
              to 1991, writes in "India's Sikhs: Waiting for Justice" published in the
              World Policy Journal, Summer 2004: "Almost as many Sikhs died in a few days
              in India in 1984 than all the deaths and disappearances in Chile during the
              17-year military rule of Gen. Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990…. Not
              only Chile, but also Argentina, Peru, Mexico, South Africa, and Ethiopia,
              among other nations, have been addressing atrocities from decades past.
              India, in refusing to confront its bloody recent history, stands in glaring
              contrast to these nations."

              Printed media and citizen commission reports show that following the
              assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, thousands of Sikh
              men and women were killed and raped across India for a period of at least
              two weeks. These reports show that during this pogrom, thousands of Sikh
              men were lynched and murdered, some necklaced with tires soaked in kerosene
              and set afire by jubilant mobs, and thousands of Sikh women were publicly
              raped, many in front of their male relatives.

              A published citizen's commission report states one Sikh woman's harrowing
              experience: "The women were herded together into one room. Some of them ran
              away but were pursued to the nearby nallah (stream) where they were raped.
              Their shrieks and cries for help fell on deaf ears. From among the women
              held in the room, hoodlums asked each other to select whomsoever they
              chose. All the women were stripped and many dishonored. She herself was
              raped by ten men. Their lust satisfied, they told the women to get out,
              naked as they were. For fear of their lives they did so, hiding their shame
              as best as possible. Each begged or borrowed a garment from relenting
              neighbours and sought shelter wherever they could." (Delhi: 31 October to 4
              November 1984, Report of the Citizen's Commission, January 1985, pp. 18-19.)

              The Indian Government estimated the number of persons killed in Delhi alone
              during the first three days of November 1984 at nearly 2,700. A list of
              3,870 names of Sikhs killed was published by Indian Express, November 1,
              1989. The total for the country is estimated to be about 20,000, with
              10,000 in Delhi alone. Several citizen commission reports have documented
              that the leaders of India's ruling Congress Party and officials of the
              Government organized and encouraged these massacres of Sikhs to "teach the
              Sikhs a lesson."

              The massacre and faked encounter killings of Sikhs has continued since 1984
              in India. In the last 20 years, more than a quarter million Sikhs are
              reported to have been killed.

              "On the strength of…constitutional features, India claims to be the largest
              functional democracy in the world where wide-spread human rights abuses,
              systematic persecution of estranged communities and suppression of
              political dissent cannot occur. However, the experiences of the Sikhs in
              Punjab show that as a demonised community targeted for abuse by the
              authorities, they had no protection from the leaders of the supposedly
              independent institutions, including the judiciary, either in shielding
              their fundamental rights against imminent violations or in obtaining
              acknowledgement and legal restitution of wrongs. Freedom of discourse
              remained an empty promise which even the higher judiciary joined the chorus
              to turn the page and obliterate the victims' memory on the grounds that a
              public discussion and scrutiny focusing on past abuses and the role of
              institutions would undermine the interests of peace and social order,"
              writes Mr. Ram Narayan Kumar, et. al. in a May 2003 report titled Reduced
              to Ashes (Volume One) published by the Asia Forum for Human Rights.
              (www.punjabjustice.org/report/report.htm)

              Dr. Anahat Kaur, Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR further added, "The Sikh
              experience in India demonstrates a relentless pattern of religious
              persecution under the guise of democracy while flouting the ideals of
              peace, justice, and human rights." She added, "These actions hardly seem
              worthy of a democratic nation."

              WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and
              institutions in the United States. Its members include 31 Gurdwaras (Sikh
              places of worship) and 6 other Sikh institutions across the nation.

              ---

              Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:
              1. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
              2. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA
              3. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
              4. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA
              5. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO
              6. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
              7. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
              8. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
              9. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA
              10. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI
              11. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI
              12. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS
              13. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
              14. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ
              15. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ
              16. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
              17. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ
              18. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
              19. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY
              20. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
              21. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH
              22. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH
              23. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH
              24. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
              25. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN
              26. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
              27. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX
              28. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX
              29. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA
              30. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA
              31. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI

              Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR:
              1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA
              2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
              3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY
              4. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH
              5. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
              6. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX

              ---

              World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)
              P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
              Phone: 614-210-0591, Fax: 419-535-6794
              E-mail: [email protected]
              Website: www.worldsikhcouncil.org

              ---

              Comment


              • #8
                It is good news to see that the Indian Govt is finally getting its act together. The courts should launch a formal investigation and the guilty should be sent to jail for ever and approproate compensation should be given to the victims as the state failed to protect them.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Sameer
                  It is good news to see that the Indian Govt is finally getting its act together. The courts should launch a formal investigation and the guilty should be sent to jail for ever and approproate compensation should be given to the victims as the state failed to protect them.
                  later added



                  Half of the Congress Party belongs in jail, from corrupt crooks to riot inciters to just plain dumb politicians and party HQ who seems to care more about staying in power no matter what the cost rather than working for the country
                  things can only get better.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    ’84 recalled
                    When the mob ruled
                    A.J. Philip

                    ON the way to the Patna Junction to see off our parish priest, I took a few copies of the special edition we had brought out to cover Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

                    As we waited for the Howrah Express, a passenger train from Dhanbad arrived on platform No.1. A skeletal Sikh, his wife and two small children got down from the train.

                    As they picked up their luggage and began to move, some lumpen elements assembled there from nowhere and began attacking them.

                    The man abandoned his luggage, clutched at the hands of his children and ran towards the waiting room. His wife kept pace with him. The miscreants, whose number had meanwhile swelled, followed raining blows on the couple.

                    They ran into the first class ladies’ waiting room, which was crowded at that time. They entered the bathroom and bolted it from inside while their attackers bayed for their blood.

                    The anti-social elements stood outside the room shouting something like “khoon ka badla khoon”. When they did not come out, they began to disperse.

                    Finally, when everyone of them was gone, two armed Railway Protection Force jawans went into the waiting room, persuaded the couple to open the door and escorted them out. By then there was no trace of either their luggage or the poor man’s turban.

                    For all one knew, the hapless family would not have even known why they were at the receiving end of the mob. Most probably, they would not have even heard in the train about the Prime Minister’s assassination.

                    By the time I came out of the station, violence had begun in Patna. I saw a mob attacking and looting a shop near the station. I got scared. I had to reach office and bring out an edition.

                    It was exciting to produce the paper. Even more exciting was to get the first copy from the foreman. In any case, I had decided to stay in the office as it was not advisable to travel at night.

                    There was neither pleasure nor excitement to sleep in the chair. Why not go home? And when our typist, Mr Kapoor, sought a pillion ride on my scooter, I took the plunge.

                    We had nearly reached Rajendranagar when we were asked to stop by some rioters. “Sir, take a turn to the left and drive as fast as you can”, advised Mr Kapoor. We did not look back till we reached home.

                    Next morning I left for office as usual. The roads were deserted. At Kankerbagh, I saw urchins carrying sackfuls of chappals, all looted from a factory owned by a Sikh. Last year, I read about the owner of the same factory in a Chandigarh newspaper. He lost everything in Patna, returned to Punjab and started a business, which, fortunately for him, is now thriving.

                    The whole day we had reports of violence in Patna. Most of the Sikh establishments were looted or destroyed. Many of them took shelter in Patna Sahib in the old city area.

                    The police imposed a curfew on the city. I got a curfew pass.

                    When I returned home in the evening, a small crowd had assembled in front of my house. They were waiting for me. They wanted to know the real news as many rumours were floating.

                    I could see at a distance my neighbour, who was a judge of the Patna High Court. After I was through with the others, he called me to his place. He too wanted authentic news.

                    In the course of our conversation, he said something, which shocked me. “These Sikhs had become arrogant. They deserve this!” I could not believe that I was listening to a High Court judge (May his soul rest in peace).

                    As I walked back, I wondered whether the small Sikh community in my village, Ranni, in Kerala, whose hospitality I enjoyed once when I was a child, was safe. I hoped against hope that they were safe. A few weeks later, I learnt to my utter horror that they too were not spared.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sameer
                      It is good news to see that the Indian Govt is finally getting its act together. The courts should launch a formal investigation and the guilty should be sent to jail for ever and approproate compensation should be given to the victims as the state failed to protect them.

                      Amen

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        So much distrust could've been avoided between Sikhs and Indians if this was taken up seriously from the get go. Anyway, PKF, what do you feel now about India? Derr aye, darusst aye?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Since no politicians and other high ranked individuals have been brought to justice, it is the single most biggest reason why Sikhs do not wish to live in India. Although the politicians were corrupt, with hired criminals, the blame is not on India as a whole.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Sikh seperation from India is a dead issue, I have no clue as to how Pakistanis seem to think otherwise. The Khalistan issue is mainly attributed to a minority of Sikhs mainly the ones who live abroad. ALSO SIKHS ARE INDIANS, the creation of Sikhism itself was ment to stem islam in ndia, get your facts right. In fact Sikhs and Hindus marry regularly, you brainwashed kids should really stop smoking that strong stuff.

                            In terms of the Congress, everyone knows that they are pathetic today, God knows about yesterday, these idiots will do anything to stay in power, its good that the courts at least have taken some note of the 1984 situation, for too long Indians belonging to the Sikh community have not been given the right to try those idiots.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Why the F cant Congress make make a scapegoat out of Tytler and bring a sense of finality to this unfortune chapter. People were killed and someone definitely has to take the blame. If nothing is done now, it would cast aspersions on the secular credentials of India....
                              Seek Save Serve Medic

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X