Definitions:
Hindians - People whose mother tongue is Hindi; much of Uttar Predesh, Madya Predesh and some surrounding areas in northern India is their homeland.
Khalistan - Name of an independent homeland (a separate country) that many Sikhs in India are seeking. Sikhs primarily live in the Punjab State in India.
IN the article "Rice, Wheat and Hindi" (TAMIL TRIBUNE, April 1999), the author T. Ranganathan discusses how the Indian government, dominated and controlled by Hindian politicians, exploit rice-eating non-Hindi states through lower government subsidies for rice and higher subsidies for wheat. That was a good analysis exposing the reality in India.
The Indian government not only exploits non-Hindi speaking rice-eaters it also exploits non-Hindi speaking wheat eaters. Take the case of Punjab State. Punjab produces more wheat than it consumes, and sells the surplus. The Hindi heartland (Hindi speaking Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh and nearby areas) consumes more wheat than it produces and so it buys wheat from the Sikhs in Punjab. What did the Indian government do? It set the procurement price of wheat (the price at which farmers have to sell wheat) well below world market price. So the Sikhs of Punjab got less money for their wheat and the Hindians got cheap wheat. According to some estimates, between the 1960s and the 1980s hundreds of crores of rupees were thus diverted from Punjab to Hindi speaking states.
Khalistan freedom movement in Punjab came to a peak in the early 1980s and garnered wide support from the Sikh people. Indian government unleashed its army in Punjab and massacred thousands of Sikhs. It also increased the procurement price for wheat hoping to pacify the Sikh people.
Increase in wheat procurement price meant Hindians paying higher price for wheat. So the Indian government increased subsidies for wheat price to consumers in comparison to subsidies for rice (because the non-Hindi south Indians and Bengalis are the primary rice-eaters) as discussed in the article"Rice, Wheat and Hindi". Thus the Indian government bilks the primarily rice-eating people from the south and West Bengal tens of crores of rupees every year.
Thus the primary beneficiary of Indian government's food policies is the Hindi heartland; it is to be expected because the Indian government is dominated and controlled by Hindi politicians. The way out from this economic exploitation (food pricing and subsidies is just one of the many means of exploitations) is for Sikhs to get their homeland Khalistan and Tamils to get their homeland Tamil Nadu as free nations independent of Hindian-dominated India. Let us join our hands and fight for freedom together.
Monday, September 25, 2006
DERAS EMERGING AS PARALLEL AUTHORITY
DERAS EMERGING AS PARALLEL AUTHORITY
KS Dhaliwal, Times News Network
Jalandahar: The dera culture is spreading like poision in the whole of the state, more so in Doaba.
The deras are also virtual vote banks and are patronised by politicians.
The deras in turn patronise intellectuals and get them to write books in their favour. These intellectuals are connected with prominent universities and are never short of money as the deras influence extends into newer and newer spheres.
Political observers feel the deras may soon come to dominate various state institutions to emerge as a parallel authority.
The dera of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara which shot into the news because of its links with prominent political leaders was only the tip of the iceburg. Almost all the famous Dalit deras, according to sources, have links with politcal parties of all hues.
CONGRESS CHIEF SONIA GANDHI'S VISIT TO THE BEAS DERA A FEW WEEKS BACK SEEMS TO ENDORSE THIS VIEW. The visit was kept a closely guarded secret and not even prominent Congress leaders were allow to go near the dera on that Sunday morning, sources reveal.
Chiranjilal Nar, author of Sangramiya lithas, a history of revolutionaries from the times of the Sikh Gururs till 1947, says "THE DERAS ARE BECOMING BUSINESS CENTRES. Recently a prominent dera near Jalandhar was sold to a Sant from the Majha region. Who knows where he got the money from, but he paid over Rs 50 lakh to buy the dera. It must be a profitable cnetre, otherwise why should he buy it."
Dalit thinkers and leaders are worried by the spread of Dalit deras. LR Balley, author of several books of Dalit conscousness says: 'The socalled Sants running these deras in Doaba are the greatest impediment to the Dalit cause. Moreover they are becoming an obstacle in the way of scientific and rational thought.'
Dalit short story writer, Bhagwant S. Rasoolpuri, says, 'These deras have taken the wind out of the sails of the Dalit movement. In the name of ad-dharamk, a movement started by famous Gaddarite Mangoo Ran Mogowalia, way back in 1925, they are misleading the people into believing in miracles."
Bharpur Singh, member SGPC says: "The dera culture is eroding the Sikh rehad maryada (code of conduct). There was a uniformity in this code that kept the entire community together". Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh, said" "We condemn the dera culture as it is against the basic Siokh rehat maryada. Most of the deras have come up on public land anre are encroachments. But the government has no influence on them as they want votes"
The website is TimesofIndia.Indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?.art_id=829898541
KS Dhaliwal, Times News Network
Jalandahar: The dera culture is spreading like poision in the whole of the state, more so in Doaba.
The deras are also virtual vote banks and are patronised by politicians.
The deras in turn patronise intellectuals and get them to write books in their favour. These intellectuals are connected with prominent universities and are never short of money as the deras influence extends into newer and newer spheres.
Political observers feel the deras may soon come to dominate various state institutions to emerge as a parallel authority.
The dera of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara which shot into the news because of its links with prominent political leaders was only the tip of the iceburg. Almost all the famous Dalit deras, according to sources, have links with politcal parties of all hues.
CONGRESS CHIEF SONIA GANDHI'S VISIT TO THE BEAS DERA A FEW WEEKS BACK SEEMS TO ENDORSE THIS VIEW. The visit was kept a closely guarded secret and not even prominent Congress leaders were allow to go near the dera on that Sunday morning, sources reveal.
Chiranjilal Nar, author of Sangramiya lithas, a history of revolutionaries from the times of the Sikh Gururs till 1947, says "THE DERAS ARE BECOMING BUSINESS CENTRES. Recently a prominent dera near Jalandhar was sold to a Sant from the Majha region. Who knows where he got the money from, but he paid over Rs 50 lakh to buy the dera. It must be a profitable cnetre, otherwise why should he buy it."
Dalit thinkers and leaders are worried by the spread of Dalit deras. LR Balley, author of several books of Dalit conscousness says: 'The socalled Sants running these deras in Doaba are the greatest impediment to the Dalit cause. Moreover they are becoming an obstacle in the way of scientific and rational thought.'
Dalit short story writer, Bhagwant S. Rasoolpuri, says, 'These deras have taken the wind out of the sails of the Dalit movement. In the name of ad-dharamk, a movement started by famous Gaddarite Mangoo Ran Mogowalia, way back in 1925, they are misleading the people into believing in miracles."
Bharpur Singh, member SGPC says: "The dera culture is eroding the Sikh rehad maryada (code of conduct). There was a uniformity in this code that kept the entire community together". Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh, said" "We condemn the dera culture as it is against the basic Siokh rehat maryada. Most of the deras have come up on public land anre are encroachments. But the government has no influence on them as they want votes"
The website is TimesofIndia.Indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?.art_id=829898541
Friday, August 19, 2005
‘A big business and tamasha’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2002 12:41:04 AM ]
JALANDHAR: Litterateurs, poets, short story writers, elderly political leaders are all of the view that elections are no longer a serious affair.
Nor does any serious issue get a place for discussion. There is no agenda for serious debate in the election process any more. It has been reduced to a tamasha. Some even feel elections are now a business to be invested into to make profits during the five year term.
LR Balley, Ambedkarite ideologue who once was general secretary of the Republican Party of India, is disillusioned with the election process. He quotes BR Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution when he delivered a speech at DAV college in Jalandhar in 1951, just one year before the first general elections.
“Big business has entered politics and Gandhi had taught them that this is the best business. “He saw the corrupting influence of business creeping into the election process then. Now it is too late. Elections since long have a become lucrative business and businessmen alone are investing in it. Look at the increase in the number of businessmen purchasing tickets and contesting,’’ said Balley, who sat on a humble cot in his simple Abadpura residence.
‘‘A person like me cannot dream of contesting the elections. Only the moneyed can afford to enter this game now. No wonder the long motorcades all over Punjab. Are these going to be free and fair. No not at all. Almost all parties have flouted the basic model code of conduct of sticking to just three vehicles while filing nominations. It was a virtual battle-like scene, with candidates marching to the DC office with a train of up to 500 cars behind them,’’ said Balley.
‘‘The voter has become a commodity in the hands of political parties.There is no political or ideological commitment,’’ says Dr Sarabjit Singh, literary critic. Political thinker and literary critic Dr RB Singh is of the view that ‘‘we are facing a new kind of vulgarity on the political scene. The real issues facing Punjab and missing from the election agenda of various parties.
There is no talk or understanding of the state of agriculture. There is no talk of jobs for the youth.’’ ‘‘The present ‘appodhapi’ indicates that almost all political leaders are lacking in missionary zeal. There is no commitment or ideology left.The way they fought for the party tickets showed that they have no concern for the people,’’ says Waryam Sandhu, short story writer and Sahitya Akademi award winner. Dr Nirmal Singh Lambra, environmentalist, opines that ‘‘not a single candidate has so far raised the issue of deteriorating environment.
A few years ago the kikar trees nearly died and no one has bothered to do research on the phenomenon.The vultures are fast disappearing, which means that their genetic code is getting disturbed due to some environmental imbalance. No one is bothered.’’ ‘‘Election issues like the SYL were coined only to play with the sentiments of the people. Most of these issues are raised when parties are out of power. Once in power, the Akalis forgot all the issues.
For example, they shouted from the rooftops against corruption. But what did they do to root it out,’’ questions Surjit Kaur, renowned painter of Punjab. ‘‘People are being confused when they are given free liquor or cash before the elections. Casteist slogans are raised to give them them the illusion of power,’’ says Prem Parkash. LR Balley who fought the 1962 Lok Sabha elections on a RPI ticket said he had then polled 1.34 lakh votes.
JALANDHAR: Litterateurs, poets, short story writers, elderly political leaders are all of the view that elections are no longer a serious affair.
Nor does any serious issue get a place for discussion. There is no agenda for serious debate in the election process any more. It has been reduced to a tamasha. Some even feel elections are now a business to be invested into to make profits during the five year term.
LR Balley, Ambedkarite ideologue who once was general secretary of the Republican Party of India, is disillusioned with the election process. He quotes BR Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution when he delivered a speech at DAV college in Jalandhar in 1951, just one year before the first general elections.
“Big business has entered politics and Gandhi had taught them that this is the best business. “He saw the corrupting influence of business creeping into the election process then. Now it is too late. Elections since long have a become lucrative business and businessmen alone are investing in it. Look at the increase in the number of businessmen purchasing tickets and contesting,’’ said Balley, who sat on a humble cot in his simple Abadpura residence.
‘‘A person like me cannot dream of contesting the elections. Only the moneyed can afford to enter this game now. No wonder the long motorcades all over Punjab. Are these going to be free and fair. No not at all. Almost all parties have flouted the basic model code of conduct of sticking to just three vehicles while filing nominations. It was a virtual battle-like scene, with candidates marching to the DC office with a train of up to 500 cars behind them,’’ said Balley.
‘‘The voter has become a commodity in the hands of political parties.There is no political or ideological commitment,’’ says Dr Sarabjit Singh, literary critic. Political thinker and literary critic Dr RB Singh is of the view that ‘‘we are facing a new kind of vulgarity on the political scene. The real issues facing Punjab and missing from the election agenda of various parties.
There is no talk or understanding of the state of agriculture. There is no talk of jobs for the youth.’’ ‘‘The present ‘appodhapi’ indicates that almost all political leaders are lacking in missionary zeal. There is no commitment or ideology left.The way they fought for the party tickets showed that they have no concern for the people,’’ says Waryam Sandhu, short story writer and Sahitya Akademi award winner. Dr Nirmal Singh Lambra, environmentalist, opines that ‘‘not a single candidate has so far raised the issue of deteriorating environment.
A few years ago the kikar trees nearly died and no one has bothered to do research on the phenomenon.The vultures are fast disappearing, which means that their genetic code is getting disturbed due to some environmental imbalance. No one is bothered.’’ ‘‘Election issues like the SYL were coined only to play with the sentiments of the people. Most of these issues are raised when parties are out of power. Once in power, the Akalis forgot all the issues.
For example, they shouted from the rooftops against corruption. But what did they do to root it out,’’ questions Surjit Kaur, renowned painter of Punjab. ‘‘People are being confused when they are given free liquor or cash before the elections. Casteist slogans are raised to give them them the illusion of power,’’ says Prem Parkash. LR Balley who fought the 1962 Lok Sabha elections on a RPI ticket said he had then polled 1.34 lakh votes.
In this new world crime there will be no knife or revolver to help get the fingerprints
The Times of India
Wednesday, 26, 2004
By K S Dhaliwal
"In this new world crime there will be no knife or revolver to help get the fingerprints. There are no boundaries, no thanas. So the old practice of pushing the body into the jurisdiction of the neighbouring thana would not be possible. There is no evidence. It comes like a bolt from the blue. We will have to harness the same technology used by the criminal and achieve perfection. It will infect all areas of our life and the police being an accomplice cannot be ruled out. It is a ghastly scenario."
This is how KP Singh, director of the Intelligence Bureau, described the invasion of cyber crime and the dreadful threat that looms large on society.
Delivering his valedictory address on the conclusion of the All India Police Science Congress in which police officers from all over the country had a brainstorming session trying to carve out change in the Indian policing system, KP Singh said that cyber crime is going to affect all areas of society because of its invisible nature. "Even the sovereignty of our country could be threatened. So the police in collaboration with IT experts and law makers will have to develop a networking so efficient that it can fight the new crime," he said.
Dwelling on the second theme of the three-day conference, the IB chief said the uneven ratio of the Indian constabulary vis-à-vis officers was a strategic device created by the British to help protect the Raj. "It had nothing to do with the nation and its well being. At any cost the Raj was not to be threatened. But we are now in free India . The Police Act of 1861 is archaic and inadequate. That policing model was borrowed from the Irish system. It is imperative now that we have a new policing system. We need a more educated and trained constabulary. And this trained constabulary has to be delegated responsibilities of investigations so as to unburden the officers. In short they have to be empowered. At present the constables are insensitive with regard to gender. They do not know how to handle the growing middle class and elite."
Earlier Sarabjit Singh, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development, read out the resolutions adopted by the Congress to be forwarded to the government. On the cyber crime theme the main resolutions were about the setting up of an apex body at the state and national level under the IT Act and a review of the IT Act to identify the shortcomings. On the constabulary-officer theme it was decided that the existing qualification of high school pass for recruitment of a constable may not be changed.
Additional marks or advanced increments may be given for higher educational qualifications in the recruitment test and subsequent promotions. There should be psychological tests at the stage of recruitment. The most important resolution was for the empowerment of constables by assigning them tasks such as investigations, inquiries into complaints and community policing responsibilities. DGP Punjab Dr AA Sidiquie thanked the visitors and the organisers and praised the quality of debate.
Wednesday, 26, 2004
By K S Dhaliwal
"In this new world crime there will be no knife or revolver to help get the fingerprints. There are no boundaries, no thanas. So the old practice of pushing the body into the jurisdiction of the neighbouring thana would not be possible. There is no evidence. It comes like a bolt from the blue. We will have to harness the same technology used by the criminal and achieve perfection. It will infect all areas of our life and the police being an accomplice cannot be ruled out. It is a ghastly scenario."
This is how KP Singh, director of the Intelligence Bureau, described the invasion of cyber crime and the dreadful threat that looms large on society.
Delivering his valedictory address on the conclusion of the All India Police Science Congress in which police officers from all over the country had a brainstorming session trying to carve out change in the Indian policing system, KP Singh said that cyber crime is going to affect all areas of society because of its invisible nature. "Even the sovereignty of our country could be threatened. So the police in collaboration with IT experts and law makers will have to develop a networking so efficient that it can fight the new crime," he said.
Dwelling on the second theme of the three-day conference, the IB chief said the uneven ratio of the Indian constabulary vis-à-vis officers was a strategic device created by the British to help protect the Raj. "It had nothing to do with the nation and its well being. At any cost the Raj was not to be threatened. But we are now in free India . The Police Act of 1861 is archaic and inadequate. That policing model was borrowed from the Irish system. It is imperative now that we have a new policing system. We need a more educated and trained constabulary. And this trained constabulary has to be delegated responsibilities of investigations so as to unburden the officers. In short they have to be empowered. At present the constables are insensitive with regard to gender. They do not know how to handle the growing middle class and elite."
Earlier Sarabjit Singh, Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development, read out the resolutions adopted by the Congress to be forwarded to the government. On the cyber crime theme the main resolutions were about the setting up of an apex body at the state and national level under the IT Act and a review of the IT Act to identify the shortcomings. On the constabulary-officer theme it was decided that the existing qualification of high school pass for recruitment of a constable may not be changed.
Additional marks or advanced increments may be given for higher educational qualifications in the recruitment test and subsequent promotions. There should be psychological tests at the stage of recruitment. The most important resolution was for the empowerment of constables by assigning them tasks such as investigations, inquiries into complaints and community policing responsibilities. DGP Punjab Dr AA Sidiquie thanked the visitors and the organisers and praised the quality of debate.
There's a sting in yoga tale
11 July 2004
Times News Network
By KS Dhaliwal
JALANDHAR: This is going retro with a vengeance. The centuries old science of yoga is now a fad storming the living rooms of a TV-ensnared India. To ape is human and that's just how the portly, the sick and the plain inspired are beguiled by the miracles promised by the idiot box yogis.
Suresh Vij saw an asana on TV. It looked good and promised more. "My knees used to pain. The TV yogi promised relief and I practised it many months. The pain got severe. I had to take to allopathy and even accupressure, but my condition only deteriorated."
Kanta Sharma from Central Town picked up a purported yogic cure for diabetes from TV. The asana involved forward-bending. She was already a slip-disc patient and her condition worsened. Parminder saw pranayam (yogic breathing exercises) on TV and followed suit. Soon he developed hypertension and regular headache. It turned out that his sinuses were already blocked and the pranayam he copied was dangerous for him.
According to professionals clinical application of various asanas of yoga requires a careful screening of the person and then individual treatment. Pranayam, for example, is being wrongly prescribed as a miracle cure for all ills. The professional advice is that there are different types of pranayam depending on individual needs.
Gurbachan Singh, who has been teaching clinical yoga since 1978 is quite cynical about the new-age gurus. "Most of these people have picked up their skills from Divine Life yoga centres and have then begun to act as teachers themselves," he laughs. "Many come to us for cures and then pretend to be experts."
Times News Network
By KS Dhaliwal
JALANDHAR: This is going retro with a vengeance. The centuries old science of yoga is now a fad storming the living rooms of a TV-ensnared India. To ape is human and that's just how the portly, the sick and the plain inspired are beguiled by the miracles promised by the idiot box yogis.
Suresh Vij saw an asana on TV. It looked good and promised more. "My knees used to pain. The TV yogi promised relief and I practised it many months. The pain got severe. I had to take to allopathy and even accupressure, but my condition only deteriorated."
Kanta Sharma from Central Town picked up a purported yogic cure for diabetes from TV. The asana involved forward-bending. She was already a slip-disc patient and her condition worsened. Parminder saw pranayam (yogic breathing exercises) on TV and followed suit. Soon he developed hypertension and regular headache. It turned out that his sinuses were already blocked and the pranayam he copied was dangerous for him.
According to professionals clinical application of various asanas of yoga requires a careful screening of the person and then individual treatment. Pranayam, for example, is being wrongly prescribed as a miracle cure for all ills. The professional advice is that there are different types of pranayam depending on individual needs.
Gurbachan Singh, who has been teaching clinical yoga since 1978 is quite cynical about the new-age gurus. "Most of these people have picked up their skills from Divine Life yoga centres and have then begun to act as teachers themselves," he laughs. "Many come to us for cures and then pretend to be experts."
"Sikhs May Forgive Congress"
"Sikhs May Forgive Congress"
The Times of India, Jalandhar, Punjab, May 22, 2004
By K.S. DHALIWAL
Does Manmohan Singh's appointment as prime minister represent Sonia Gandhi's desire to provide a "healing touch" and "make amends for a historical mistake?" According to the following report, Sikh "intellectuals" are "unanimous" in believing so. However, no one in their right mind would characterize Parsang and Sant Sipahi as organizations representative of the Sikh intelligentia. On the other hand, Dr. Singh might be the only senior Congress leader who does not pose a political threat to Sonia Gandhi and is not inclined to form a power base of his own. Finally, according to a September 2, 1999 U.N.I. report published by Rediff, Dr. Singh "accused the R.S.S. . . . of being involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage in the capital" and claimed that "the Congress as an organisation had no role in it."
Sikh intellectuals, including writers, lawyers and community leaders, are unanimous in pointing out that the decision to make Manmohan Singh the next prime minister has acted as a healing touch for a community which felt incarcerated for decades on account of the Congress, directly or indirectly. What they find worthy of admiration is that the initiative was taken by one who had been humiliated for her foreign origin till just a week ago.
Dr. Sarabjit Singh, convenor of Parsang, a platform constituting progressive Punjabi writers, said: 'Sikhs, who were for long being projected as terrorists or extremists are now being seen as a secular community. By bringing Dr. Manmohan Singh into the limelight the Congress president has foiled the attack of fundamentalists of various dimensions. She has attempted to make amends for a historical mistake. Maybe the community would now forget or forgive the anti-Sikh riots.'
'For the first time the Preamble of the Constitution has been translated into reality and the word secular has become reality,' said Barinderjit Singh, spokesman of Lawyers Forum for Justice. He said: 'It is for the first time that both the president and the P.M. are non-politicians, the former being a scientist and latter an economist.'
'He will not only enhance the image of the country all over the world but would also reinforce the faith of the international community in Sikhs.'
'The Sikh community had been alienated from the mainstream much before the partition. That feeling may become a thing of the past,' said G.S. Lamba, editor of an old community journal Sant Sipahi [Saint-Soldier].
Talking to T.N.N. here, he said: 'On June 12, 1960, the Sikhs were beaten up in Delhi when they were conducting a peaceful movement for Punjabi Suba [a linguistic province for Punjabis]. Time and again the powers in Delhi tried to teach them a lesson, as it was described. They were pulled out of buses and beaten up during the Asian Games [when] Bhajan Lal was the chief minister [of Haryana]. Then came the humiliating Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots. Coming from the Indira Gandhi family, the gesture is all the more an act of expiation.'
The Times of India, Jalandhar, Punjab, May 22, 2004
By K.S. DHALIWAL
Does Manmohan Singh's appointment as prime minister represent Sonia Gandhi's desire to provide a "healing touch" and "make amends for a historical mistake?" According to the following report, Sikh "intellectuals" are "unanimous" in believing so. However, no one in their right mind would characterize Parsang and Sant Sipahi as organizations representative of the Sikh intelligentia. On the other hand, Dr. Singh might be the only senior Congress leader who does not pose a political threat to Sonia Gandhi and is not inclined to form a power base of his own. Finally, according to a September 2, 1999 U.N.I. report published by Rediff, Dr. Singh "accused the R.S.S. . . . of being involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage in the capital" and claimed that "the Congress as an organisation had no role in it."
Sikh intellectuals, including writers, lawyers and community leaders, are unanimous in pointing out that the decision to make Manmohan Singh the next prime minister has acted as a healing touch for a community which felt incarcerated for decades on account of the Congress, directly or indirectly. What they find worthy of admiration is that the initiative was taken by one who had been humiliated for her foreign origin till just a week ago.
Dr. Sarabjit Singh, convenor of Parsang, a platform constituting progressive Punjabi writers, said: 'Sikhs, who were for long being projected as terrorists or extremists are now being seen as a secular community. By bringing Dr. Manmohan Singh into the limelight the Congress president has foiled the attack of fundamentalists of various dimensions. She has attempted to make amends for a historical mistake. Maybe the community would now forget or forgive the anti-Sikh riots.'
'For the first time the Preamble of the Constitution has been translated into reality and the word secular has become reality,' said Barinderjit Singh, spokesman of Lawyers Forum for Justice. He said: 'It is for the first time that both the president and the P.M. are non-politicians, the former being a scientist and latter an economist.'
'He will not only enhance the image of the country all over the world but would also reinforce the faith of the international community in Sikhs.'
'The Sikh community had been alienated from the mainstream much before the partition. That feeling may become a thing of the past,' said G.S. Lamba, editor of an old community journal Sant Sipahi [Saint-Soldier].
Talking to T.N.N. here, he said: 'On June 12, 1960, the Sikhs were beaten up in Delhi when they were conducting a peaceful movement for Punjabi Suba [a linguistic province for Punjabis]. Time and again the powers in Delhi tried to teach them a lesson, as it was described. They were pulled out of buses and beaten up during the Asian Games [when] Bhajan Lal was the chief minister [of Haryana]. Then came the humiliating Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots. Coming from the Indira Gandhi family, the gesture is all the more an act of expiation.'
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