Punjab's Struggle for Rights and Equality: A Call for Justice and Unity

Gursewak Singh Toor

 

There are many causes of unrest in Punjab. It starts with Punjab's rights regarding Chandigarh and Punjab's waters. According to international law Punjab's free-flowing waters belong to Punjab but still, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi are getting this natural resource free of cost and even during British times the princely states use to pay for water to Punjab.

 

The killings of innocent people by the state in 1947, 1966, 1984-1995, and drug genocide from 2000 till today. Sikh prisoners are still in jail after 30+ years, and many have not been released even after serving their sentences. Many youngsters have also been jailed on dubious charges or for just saying Khalistan or on other minimal allegations. They are not being released. While culprits of the Gujarat riots in 2002, including the rapists, are getting bail on the grounds of showing good character and moral behavior, and powerful people like Ram Rahim who have been involved in proven cases of rape and murder are being released and granted bail just a few months after the arrest.

 

Also, being sent to jail for saying Khalistan (as ruled by the Supreme Court that the Sikhs have the moral and constitutional right to say whatever they want, even a separate state of Khalistan) and keeping Sikh literature (as in opposition to when someone says Hindu Rashtra nothing happens as it is being normalized). The main thing is why people don't want to be in India. When Sudhir Suri, a small leader of the hardline Hindutva party, was killed in Punjab. The other leaders threatened to attack the Golden Temple again, as was done in 1984, and repeat the Sikh genocide of November 1984. Nothing happened after that; no action was taken against them, as if it is normal if someone says that, but if a Sikh says something that is even allowed as per the constitution, he is being sent to jail without bail.

Fake charges, unconstitutional arrests

 

And according to Amritpal Singh, not only Sikhs but Muslims and even Hindus of Punjab support him. The local media interviewed many Hindus who supported him as they said he is doing nothing wrong and preaching Sikhism. He is encouraging addicts to stop using drugs. Not only the Sikhs but all especially Hindus showered rose petals in Ludhiana on his arrival during Khalsa Vaheer a few months ago. Many Sikh and Hindu parents brought their young kids so that they can come to their senses and stop doing drugs. 

 

And the Hindus who are baffled in Punjab as something good is being done like a fight against drugs are not normal people living their lives. They are the associates of Shiv Sena and RSS in Punjab who live by pressing hard Hindutva on the people of Punjab. They give hateful speeches against Sikhs who are demanding their rights. And national channels spreading fake propaganda like Uganda radio. They will make the situation worse. For the national media, Punjabis are nationalist if they are silent in everything whether it is the looting of Punjab's resources or their young ones dying by the overdose of drug or their young one's getting shot (martyred) at the borders every day for the country.

 

To the point that Indian media calls out to "why there are so many supporters of Punjab or Khalistan outside India and not in India". It is true in some sense as the youngsters living in foreign countries feel freer to express themselves to speak for the rights of Punjab and the rights of the Sikhs as they couldn't be targeted by police on the fake charges in India. Though the Sikhs living in Punjab protest for their rights and legitimate demands, and for the rights of their state but in many cases, they get cornered by media propaganda labeling them terrorists. Police also arrest them by lodging FIR on fake charges and as a result (we saw the fake arrest of Toofan Singh a member of Waris Punjab de and then his release after clashes with police and police) giving them a sense of being outsiders, which makes them feel second class citizens. 

 

The rules and regulations should be the same for everyone irrespective of their religion or ethnicity. Everyone living in the country should be treated equally by all. Sikhs cannot be and will not be ashamed or threatened for demanding their rights. They would not accept being treated like second-class citizens. These events are observed worldwide hence India is sliding down in the free media and democracy index. Nothing good will come out of blaming the people of Punjab or Sikhs if they speak against the bad and biased behavior and doings of the Center government towards them or their Fatherland Punjab.

 

(The author is based in New Zealand and has a keen interest in the history of Punjab and Europe and can be contacted at sewak.toor97@gmail.com)