The people saying "forget 1984", "the constant reminders aren't helping anyone", and "the Sikh community should move on" are missing the point entirely.
When a major crime is committed, does the victim let the criminal get away with it, and let them walk free? Or does the victim seek justice?
When a child dies, does the mother seek comfort in her memories, and share her feelings, or does she throw all her photos away so she doesn't have to remember? Does she forget that her child ever existed, just so she can 'move on'?
Would anyone dare tell the Jewish to forget the holocaust, because it's stopping them from 'moving on'? Because the 'constant reminders aren't helping anyone'? Because 'it's a thing of the past'? Or will they help raise awareness so that it never happens again?
The Indian Government wants us to forget because they know they're guilty... they don't want to be known as the criminals that they are. Indians want us to forget because they don't like their country being criticised, and frankly, they don't care unless it happened to them.
If injustices are swept under the carpet, no one will know that injustice still exists. If no one knows it's happening, then it'll happen again. Fact.
And for the clueless idiots saying that the reminders are "reopening healed wounds", you make my blood boil. The wounds were never healed.
29 years on. Still no justice. Never forget 1984.
Showing posts with label Panjab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Panjab. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Sunday, 13 January 2013
An Open Letter to the Citizens of New Dehli - Must Read
T. SHER SINGH
My heart bleeds over the brutalities suffered by Jyoti Pandey and her friend, and the suffering that their families are going through.
I also feel the pain of the women in your city and of their families: the terror of having to negotiate the world every time you step out of your home to go to work or school, to step out in your neighbourhood, or to move from one to another to shop or visit or play or merely enjoy the amenities of life in a city.
Your leaders, both political and religious, have already played their cards. They’re not about to let you change anything around you, because if they did, they’d be the first ones to be locked behind bars.
Your media has no interest in helping you change things for the better, because they represent corporate interests first and foremost. And those interests are now commingled with the interests of the political and religious hierarchy. Maintaining the status quo is seen to be best for them, even though it may not be for you.
But, unfortunately, you have an even bigger elephant in the room.
Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Yes, yes, I know. You want us Sikhs to move on and stop harping on 1984.
Well, we have moved on. We are forever in chardi kala — it’s in our DNA. We have forgiven, though not forgotten. We’ll pursue the culprits as long as they are alive, but we will never be their victims. Don’t forget, for better or worse, your country is being led by a Sardar who has dragged you all, kicking and screaming, into the 20th century. [No, this is not a typo … you have another century to go before you can lay claim to the 21st, I’m afraid.]
As I was saying, we’ve gotten over it.
But you haven’t.
You never will.
1984.
You can deny it, ignore it, pretend it never happened, whatever … but it will follow you wherever you go. It will haunt you in your sleep. It will be your nightmare day and night. And it will sit on your head, monkey-like, on the heads of your children, and the children of your children …
Why?
Given the thousands of innocent men, women and children killed in your streets and our homes in 1984 — in your city alone, without even getting into what happened in the villages, towns, cities, even moving trains, of your land — and the thousands of women who were raped then, it requires no complicated arithmetic to figure out that a hundred thousand and more of your city were involved — directly! — in the rape, murder and mayhem.
Remember the mobs, some in hundreds, some in thousands, that roamed the city for three days, unfettered, unchecked?
Well, they are all alive, free still, never charged, never tried, never punished, and they live amongst you. They are your fathers, your brothers, your husbands, your sons, your lovers. A hundred thousand of them.
One of your own religious leaders said the other day that your men need to have sex every 15 to 20 days, no matter where or how they get it. He must know his flock.
That’s why, isn’t it, that a rape occurs every 20 minutes in your land? That’s the official figure! Three every hour, 36 every day, 252 every week, 1080 every month, 12,960 every year … give or take a few. Now, please keep in mind that these figures, being ‘official’, are but the tip of the iceberg.
The terrible tragedy of December 16, 2012 will not change anything. Simply because those who are now raping you have nowhere else to go.
You are the true inheritors of 1984. And your inheritance is that your children and the children of your children will hound you. And stalk each other.
Because it is the law of nature.
As revealed by Krishna, and by Jesus. By Mohammed, Buddha, Moses, Mahavir. And Nanak.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
That’s the law.
And the law applies to individuals and it applies to communities, societies, and nations.
In case you think I’m making this up, here are a few reminders.
Pakistan was created through murder and mayhem. In the name of religion. Tens of millions of innocents suffered gravely because their leaders had no patience to try peaceful means.
Today: their own mullahs murder them. Every day. The country is a pariah of the world.
Israel. Walked roughshod over the lives of millions of innocent Palestinians, because it was able to buy the military might it needed to do it. To establish a state in the name of religion.
Today: missiles of modern fire and brimstone rain on them at regular intervals with biblical fury. Almost seven decades later, and there’s no peace to be had. Even in sleep.
Britain. And Europe. They raped and plundered the world for five centuries, each pretending to spread the word of God, but in reality pillaging the wealth of others and murdering their true owners.
Today: they are surprised to see that people of all the lands they brutalized have arrived in their homelands. There are no ifs and buts. Britain’s demographics is changing to make way for a new majority. And it won’t be Anglo-Saxon. The rest of Europe is not far behind. The colonies are knocking on the gates.
America. It has rained death on other nations, and has built its wealth on the corpses of countless children wherever they’ve gone to plunder.
Today: they simply don’t know how to prevent their own children from murdering them in their own homes. Every day, new barricades have to be raised … to defend against themselves. A nation … at war with itself.
There’s a reason why there’s no hope for peace on earth. Because we’ve all committed atrocities, we’ve outdone each other.
What you sow is what you reap.
So, remember 1984, as you lock yourselves up in your homes in New Delhi and get accustomed to moving around in human convoys.
I was at a party the other day. My hosts were Indian. And so were all the other guests.
I was the only Sikh-Canadian.
At one point, emboldened by liquor and the fact that he saw I was alone in a sea of desis, one of them cleared his throat and, in a raised voice, confronted me:
“So, Sher Singh ji,” he said, in feigned politeness, ”where are all the Sikhs and their kirpans now when we need them again to protect our daughters in India? Where were the saviour Sardars when the girl was being raped on a bus in Delhi the other day?”
He stood across the room, glowering at me, waiting for my response. The room turned quiet suddenly. They were all waiting for my answer.
I stood there, facing him. Seconds ticked by.
He stared at me. Others stared at me.
I stared at him.
Finally, I said: “Where do you think the Sikhs of Delhi have gone, and why do you think they are unable to save your women?”
I continued looking at him.
Gradually, ever so gradually, his eyelids fell. He looked at the floor. His shoulders slumped. His head sank, as if he was checking the polish on his shoes.
Quietly, ever so quietly, he shrugged his shoulders. Didn’t peep a word. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he turned around and staggered towards the bar.
In a room of almost 40 people, I swear I have never heard a louder silence than I did that night.
January 10, 2013
My heart bleeds over the brutalities suffered by Jyoti Pandey and her friend, and the suffering that their families are going through.
I also feel the pain of the women in your city and of their families: the terror of having to negotiate the world every time you step out of your home to go to work or school, to step out in your neighbourhood, or to move from one to another to shop or visit or play or merely enjoy the amenities of life in a city.
Your leaders, both political and religious, have already played their cards. They’re not about to let you change anything around you, because if they did, they’d be the first ones to be locked behind bars.
Your media has no interest in helping you change things for the better, because they represent corporate interests first and foremost. And those interests are now commingled with the interests of the political and religious hierarchy. Maintaining the status quo is seen to be best for them, even though it may not be for you.
But, unfortunately, you have an even bigger elephant in the room.
Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Yes, yes, I know. You want us Sikhs to move on and stop harping on 1984.
Well, we have moved on. We are forever in chardi kala — it’s in our DNA. We have forgiven, though not forgotten. We’ll pursue the culprits as long as they are alive, but we will never be their victims. Don’t forget, for better or worse, your country is being led by a Sardar who has dragged you all, kicking and screaming, into the 20th century. [No, this is not a typo … you have another century to go before you can lay claim to the 21st, I’m afraid.]
As I was saying, we’ve gotten over it.
But you haven’t.
You never will.
1984.
You can deny it, ignore it, pretend it never happened, whatever … but it will follow you wherever you go. It will haunt you in your sleep. It will be your nightmare day and night. And it will sit on your head, monkey-like, on the heads of your children, and the children of your children …
Why?
Given the thousands of innocent men, women and children killed in your streets and our homes in 1984 — in your city alone, without even getting into what happened in the villages, towns, cities, even moving trains, of your land — and the thousands of women who were raped then, it requires no complicated arithmetic to figure out that a hundred thousand and more of your city were involved — directly! — in the rape, murder and mayhem.
Remember the mobs, some in hundreds, some in thousands, that roamed the city for three days, unfettered, unchecked?
Well, they are all alive, free still, never charged, never tried, never punished, and they live amongst you. They are your fathers, your brothers, your husbands, your sons, your lovers. A hundred thousand of them.
One of your own religious leaders said the other day that your men need to have sex every 15 to 20 days, no matter where or how they get it. He must know his flock.
That’s why, isn’t it, that a rape occurs every 20 minutes in your land? That’s the official figure! Three every hour, 36 every day, 252 every week, 1080 every month, 12,960 every year … give or take a few. Now, please keep in mind that these figures, being ‘official’, are but the tip of the iceberg.
The terrible tragedy of December 16, 2012 will not change anything. Simply because those who are now raping you have nowhere else to go.
You are the true inheritors of 1984. And your inheritance is that your children and the children of your children will hound you. And stalk each other.
Because it is the law of nature.
As revealed by Krishna, and by Jesus. By Mohammed, Buddha, Moses, Mahavir. And Nanak.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
That’s the law.
And the law applies to individuals and it applies to communities, societies, and nations.
In case you think I’m making this up, here are a few reminders.
Pakistan was created through murder and mayhem. In the name of religion. Tens of millions of innocents suffered gravely because their leaders had no patience to try peaceful means.
Today: their own mullahs murder them. Every day. The country is a pariah of the world.
Israel. Walked roughshod over the lives of millions of innocent Palestinians, because it was able to buy the military might it needed to do it. To establish a state in the name of religion.
Today: missiles of modern fire and brimstone rain on them at regular intervals with biblical fury. Almost seven decades later, and there’s no peace to be had. Even in sleep.
Britain. And Europe. They raped and plundered the world for five centuries, each pretending to spread the word of God, but in reality pillaging the wealth of others and murdering their true owners.
Today: they are surprised to see that people of all the lands they brutalized have arrived in their homelands. There are no ifs and buts. Britain’s demographics is changing to make way for a new majority. And it won’t be Anglo-Saxon. The rest of Europe is not far behind. The colonies are knocking on the gates.
America. It has rained death on other nations, and has built its wealth on the corpses of countless children wherever they’ve gone to plunder.
Today: they simply don’t know how to prevent their own children from murdering them in their own homes. Every day, new barricades have to be raised … to defend against themselves. A nation … at war with itself.
There’s a reason why there’s no hope for peace on earth. Because we’ve all committed atrocities, we’ve outdone each other.
What you sow is what you reap.
So, remember 1984, as you lock yourselves up in your homes in New Delhi and get accustomed to moving around in human convoys.
I was at a party the other day. My hosts were Indian. And so were all the other guests.
I was the only Sikh-Canadian.
At one point, emboldened by liquor and the fact that he saw I was alone in a sea of desis, one of them cleared his throat and, in a raised voice, confronted me:
“So, Sher Singh ji,” he said, in feigned politeness, ”where are all the Sikhs and their kirpans now when we need them again to protect our daughters in India? Where were the saviour Sardars when the girl was being raped on a bus in Delhi the other day?”
He stood across the room, glowering at me, waiting for my response. The room turned quiet suddenly. They were all waiting for my answer.
I stood there, facing him. Seconds ticked by.
He stared at me. Others stared at me.
I stared at him.
Finally, I said: “Where do you think the Sikhs of Delhi have gone, and why do you think they are unable to save your women?”
I continued looking at him.
Gradually, ever so gradually, his eyelids fell. He looked at the floor. His shoulders slumped. His head sank, as if he was checking the polish on his shoes.
Quietly, ever so quietly, he shrugged his shoulders. Didn’t peep a word. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he turned around and staggered towards the bar.
In a room of almost 40 people, I swear I have never heard a louder silence than I did that night.
January 10, 2013
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Congress opposes Operation Bluestar memorial - THEY WANT US TO FORGET!
**MUST READ**
With a day to go for municipal corporation elections in the state,
Congress on Wednesday took an aggressive stand opposing Bluestar
memorial and honouring of Beant Singh's assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana
at the Akal Takht. The party also said that there was no need for a
memorial to the victims of anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
DO YOU
NEED ANY MORE PROOF? NOT ONLY DOES THE GOVERNMENT NOT CARE ABOUT OUR
SHAHEEDS, BUT THEY ALSO WANT US TO FORGET ABOUT THE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF
1984! THE HUMAN LIVES THAT THEY TOOK! EVEN OUR OWN SO CALLED SIKHS, WHO
ARE SLAVES TO THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT, ARE TELLING US TO FORGET ABOUT OUR
DEAD MOTHERS, FATHERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THEY DON'T WANT US TO
REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THEY KILLED!
Opposing memorial to victims
of Delhi anti-Sikh riots of November 1984, Amarinder Singh (state
congress president) said it would be like opening up healed wounds.
HEALED WOUNDS? WE HAVE NOT HEALED! OUR WOUNDS HAVE BEEN BLEEDING FOR 28
YEARS! NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO HEAL THEM... THEY HAVE SIMPLY BEEN
IGNORED!
"Nobody ever justified these riots and people are
leaving the tragic events behind, but Akali leaders are doing things to
keep the old wounds festering to vitiate the atmosphere," he said.
THE RIOTS WEREN'T JUSTIFIED? WELL THEN WHY DID THEY HAPPEN! THEY
WEREN'T STOPPED OR CONDEMNED EITHER... THEY WERE AIDED BY OFFICIALS. THE
GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT TO COVER UP IT'S CRIMES! WE WON'T LEAVE THESE
EVENTS BEHIND UNTIL JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED!
"These tragedies
are part of history and it is absolutely foolish to make such a
statement, which can disturb peace in Punjab," Amarinder said.
THIS SICKENS ME. WE ARE BEING OPPRESSED. THEIR IDEA OF 'PEACE' IS
TREADING US INTO THE GROUND. PUNJAB IS A BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF...
THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF PEACE! GIVE US JUSTICE AND THEN THERE WILL BE
PEACE!
"The memorial and Rajoana's felicitation are bad for
Punjab and the country and are happening at a time when Punjab required
focus on building its economy," Amarinder said.
WHAT MORE CAN
BE SAID? THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT ECONOMY... MONEY IS WORTH MORE THAN
JUSTICE, MORE THAN HUMAN LIFE. THEY DON'T WANT JUSTICE TO INTERRUPT
ECONOMIC PROGRESS. THEY DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS THEIR MISTAKES, THEY DON'T
WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND ANY REMAINS OF THE SIKH GENOCIDE... IT THREATENS THEM. THEY WANT US TO
FORGET!
*****
We are being oppressed. They are trying to silence us. They don't want to give us justice. They don't want to pay for their mistakes. They don't care. They're covering up their crimes. They're telling us to ignore the past. Get over it. Forget. They want us to forget the dead. They don't want any remainders of their mistakes to be seen. They'd rather focus on the economy. They won't even allow us to put up a memorial. They say there's no need to remember. They say we should forget. How can we forget? The victims are still dead. The killers still roam free. The mothers are still crying, suffering in poverty and neglect, insane with the trauma and their memories, still waiting for their sons to come back, still waiting for justice, still waiting for answers. Our wounds have been bleeding for 28 years, and they won't heal. We must remember our shaheeds and the innocent victims of the anti-Sikh genocide. We must remember what they did to us. We must remember that we never got justice. We must continue fighting. We must continue raising our voices, raising awareness. We musty continue the struggle for justice!
WE WILL NEVER FORGET 1984!!
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Global Protests for Bhai Balwant Singh Ji Rajoana
The global unity shown over this cause is unbelievable!!
Friday, 30 March 2012
My thoughts on the Current State of Panjab
I haven't got any work done over the past week. I can't think about anything except what's happening to our brothers and sisters in Punjab.
I can't get over how corrupt the Indian government is and how unnecessarily violent the police are. Why are peaceful protests seen as such a crime? Why are the police beating protestors when all they've actually done is turn up? Why are the police acting violently and provoking reaction at a perfectly safe, peaceful protest? Why are youth being fired at, from behind? Why are the voices of the minorities immediately suppressed? Why are so called Sikh police officers failing to support the Panth? Why aren't these so called Sikh police officers showing loyalty towards their Guru and their Panth? Why is it okay for completely innocent boys to be shot? Why the hell is the Indian system so messed up?!
But I also can't get over how much support people are showing, and how much awareness we've managed to raise. The protests were shown on the news. People involved in British politics are showing their concerns. Seas of orange flooded areas of the country. Handsworth, Smethwick etc. were absolutely covered in orange, with orange material tied on every post, railing, streetlight, shop etc. Nishaan sahibs are adorning the cars and houses of Sikhs. Orange Dastaara are everywhere.... even the Raagis at Harimandir Sahib pledged orange. People are being asked by work colleagues about why they have nishaan sahibs on their houses and cars. I've been repeatedly asked about the orange band around my wrist at school. Even Facebook showed a video about Rajoana in the advertisements bar at the side of my page. People are shocked by the injustices of the Indian government.
All of this is simply a question of Humanity. The death penalty itself is a breach of human rights. The inconsistent use of the death penalty in certainly unjust. Needlessly beating and firing at innocent protestors is disgusting. Killing unarmed youth is completely unnacceptable. What's it gonna take for India to bring justice to its people? This is not about political/ religious factions opposing one another. The fight is for Justice.
"For the last ten years grave human rights violations have been perpetrated in Punjab by the police in their efforts to suppress an often violent campaign for the establishment of a Sikh homeland in a state called "Khalistan". These violations include scores of "disappearances", extrajudicial killings, widespread torture, unacknowledged detentions as well as deaths in custody. Amnesty International has documented its concerns about these human rights violations for many years. The state and central governments continue to deny the occurrence of virtually all these human rights violations. For example, K.P.S Gill, the Director General of Police, Punjab, claimed during a visit to London in June 1994 that allegations of "disappearances" were entirely unfounded since they concerned young men who had left the country and were living abroad. However, there were often eye-witnesses to their arrest and court orders to produce some of the victims of such practices in court have been routinely ignored by police and senior officials."
- Amnesty International
Bhai Balwant Singh Ji Rajoana
Bhai Balwant Singh Ji Rajoana. This Singh was one of the masterminds behind the killing of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Sinh, who was responsible for the death of over 50,000 young Sikhs (in extra judicial killings by the Indian Govt). This Singh was to be hanged till death, but his punishment would have been less severe if he asked for mercy, which this self-respecting Soorma rejected. Instead this Lion of the Guru requested that the government should execute him when they want to.
He shows no fear of death, like a true Guru ka Singh. His last wish is that any parts of his body be donated to those who need them, and that his eyes be donated to the blind Raagi of Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. In this way, his eyes can continue to have Darshan of Maharaaj even when he's gone.
"His is a rare case where an accused in a murder case, after being awarded death penalty, had not only chosen not to go for an appeal but even kept on asking to hang him as early as possible."
One more name to the long list of Sikh Shaheeds... Please remember him in your prayers...
He shows no fear of death, like a true Guru ka Singh. His last wish is that any parts of his body be donated to those who need them, and that his eyes be donated to the blind Raagi of Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. In this way, his eyes can continue to have Darshan of Maharaaj even when he's gone.
"His is a rare case where an accused in a murder case, after being awarded death penalty, had not only chosen not to go for an appeal but even kept on asking to hang him as early as possible."
One more name to the long list of Sikh Shaheeds... Please remember him in your prayers...
The first part of Bhai Sahib Jee's will:
Ik Onkar
Oh Kabir, there is nothing of mine in this life,
Whatever is there, is yours.
If I surrender what is yours, unto Thee,
What do I lose or pay?
Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib
Accepting the Omnipresence of Akal Purakh (God Almighty), I hereby swear an oath that, after my death, all the parts of my body which can benefit any person are pledged to the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
It is my earnest wish that after my death, my eyes may kindly be given to Hazuri Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib Harmandar Sahib, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, who is blind, so that through him, my eyes continue to revere holy Darbar Sahib. For medical or other reasons, in case this is not possible, then my eyes may be given to any other needy person.
In addition to this any other part of my body (heart, kidney or any other) which can be beneficial to any other person, may be given to that person.
How beautiful and abundant is the pyaar of this Gursikh??
Ik Onkar
Oh Kabir, there is nothing of mine in this life,
Whatever is there, is yours.
If I surrender what is yours, unto Thee,
What do I lose or pay?
Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib
Accepting the Omnipresence of Akal Purakh (God Almighty), I hereby swear an oath that, after my death, all the parts of my body which can benefit any person are pledged to the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
It is my earnest wish that after my death, my eyes may kindly be given to Hazuri Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib Harmandar Sahib, Bhai Lakhwinder Singh, who is blind, so that through him, my eyes continue to revere holy Darbar Sahib. For medical or other reasons, in case this is not possible, then my eyes may be given to any other needy person.
In addition to this any other part of my body (heart, kidney or any other) which can be beneficial to any other person, may be given to that person.
How beautiful and abundant is the pyaar of this Gursikh??
Young Hindu Panjabi Apologises to Sikh Nation
A Hindu Panjabi who has been watching the peaceful protests against the execution of Rajoana is talking about how yesterday a group of Sikh students was fired at by police after being provoked by the Shiv Sena (through burning and stamping on a Sikh's turban), in which two youth, much like himself, were killed. He expresses the distress he felt when he heard about the killing of Jaspal Singh, an 18 year old innocent Sikh student, and Ranjit Singh, who was only 16, who were peacefully protesting. He is deeply upset by the deaths and he expresses the pain he feels for the families. He cannot understand how and why the police can commit such atrocities. He asks his Sikh brothers to see the difference between the Shiv Sena and the rest of the Hindu population. He says that the Shiv Sena supporters cannot call themselves Hindu, and they are tainting the name of Hindus. He was angered that the Shiv Sena could commit such a disgusting act as to disrespect and set fire to a Sikh brother's turban. He requests for his Hindu Brothers not to fall into the trap of the Shiv Sena. He says if anyone is fighting for their justice (i.e. the Sikh Panth), please let them fight. He doesn't understand why the Shiv Sena got involved. Sikhs want justice for the massacres of 1984, and for these shaheeds, from the government, so why are the Shive Sena getting involved? He says these interferences are all just dirty politics. He says if you think Sikhs are bad, then answer this question: When Aurangzeb was forcefully converting the majority Hindu population to Islam, who did we (the Hindus) run to? To Dhan Guru Tegh Bahadur Jee Maharaaj, who was martyed for us. Where was our bravery then? When our sisters and daughters were being abducted, where was our bravery then? Where was the Shiv Sena then? At that time the Sikhs saved us. Now today, when they are being targeted, why are we not standing with them? Although he doesn't personally support Rajoana, he strongly objects to the injustices that occured yesterday with the killings of innocent protesters and the involvement of the Shiv Sena in disrespecting Dastaars. He personally, from the entire Sikh Sangat, puts his hands together and asks for forgiveness, as a Hindu, that people are taking his name of God and committing these disgusting acts. His last message for his Sikh brothers is to please hate the Shiv Sena, not Shiv Ji. They are not Hindus; they are animals taking the name of Hindus. After 27 years there was finally peace in our Panjab, and we were beginning to live in harmony. When the Son of a Mother dies, he's not a Hindu or a Muslim or a Sikh, he is simply the Son of a Mother.
The Story of Bhai Balwant Singh Ji Rajoana
This is the story of Bhai Balwant Singh Jee Rajoana. The Indian government intends to hang this man. He was the back up assassin of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beanta, who was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Sikhs.
Why Balwant Singh Rajoana Never Appealed Against His Death Sentence
Why Balwant Singh Rajoana Never Appealed Against His Death Sentence
Ruchi Gupta
Balwant Singh Rajoana was to be executed on March 31. This would have been the first execution in India since 2004. His execution has been stayed - for the time being - in response to the rising whirlpool of politics that's engulfed Punjab on this issue. That India should sully its record again after 8 years with state sanctioned murder is a matter of distress, but this consideration seems largely removed from the politics of Rajoana's execution. However even in addition to principled opposition to the death penalty, the cynical considerations swirling around his execution, the specifics of the case itself are significant.
Opposition to capital punishment is removed from the specifics of the case, basing the argument on human rights, the range and extent of power given to the State, citizen's right to equality before law, the inherent arbitrariness in the exercise of power by individual state functionaries, and irrevocability of the punishment especially given the possibility of wrongful conviction. In contrast, the proponents of capital punishment argue on the specifics, seeking justification in the heinousness of the crime, recidivism, retribution, and deterrence. In this the proponents are almost vigilante in their perspective, with their preoccupation with punishment for the alleged lawbreaker than the state, its powers and processes, and civil liberties
Nevertheless in this instance, the specifics too raise some disturbing questions. Balwant Singh is on death row for his role in the suicide bombing of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh in 1995. 17 persons, including the Chief Minister were killed. The history has some relevance. Punjab had been racked by insurgency since the seventies, with the regional autonomy movement progressively hardening into a secessionist movement over the decades. President's Rule was established in 1987 in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar and the Sikh pogrom in Delhi in 1984. After five years of President Rule checkered by militancy and heavy police crackdown, elections were called in 1992, but were postponed twice. Protesting that the elections were unlikely to be "free and fair", the Sikh parties boycotted the elections. With voter turnout in the low twenties, Beant Singh's ascendancy was widely disparaged by the Sikhs as lacking legitimacy. Militancy and consequent police clampdown continued unabated. Beant Singh was assassinated in 1995 by suicide bomber Dilawar Singh, aided by Balwant Singh and others.
During trial, Balwant Singh refused counsel, asking instead to be allowed to represent himself. He did not cross-examine witnesses. He was awarded the death penalty. In 2009, when his death sentence came for conviction in the High Court [as part of the legal process], he again refused counsel and asked to be allowed to argue his own case. His intent in each instance was not to seek acquittal. In the 14 years that the case made its way from the trial court to the High Court, Balwant Singh held to his story, claiming that he strapped the bomb on to the body of Dilawar Singh. The High Court, noting that there was no evidence in favour of Balwant Singh in order to "have a second thought on the murder reference of Balwant Singh, coupled with his three confessional statements, there is no other alternate with us but to confirm" the death penalty. Balwant also refused to appeal against the death penalty administratively through mercy petition to the Governor and/or President. In a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, he writes, "legal system, judicial system of this Country and the rulers of this Country have been discriminating" [and that] "slavery of such system is not acceptable to me". In embracing 17 years of imprisonment including solitary confinement and ultimate execution, Balwant Singh is making a political statement.
In his letter and statements, he brings out his search for justice in the democratic framework, his feeling of marginalization and his desire for rebellion. He sees the injustice of the swiftness of response when a five star hotel in Mumbai is under siege and the dilatory tactics of commissioning enquiry committees without any accountability for the thousands who perished in the 1984 Sikh pogrom. He writes, "thousands of Sikhs were massacred. It is submitted that these murderers have neither been punished nor been punished by any Court of law of the country even after 25 years [...] Here I would like to ask your Lordship that the persons who have killed thousands of innocent xxxx, xxxx, and xxxx [redacted] are not the terrorists. Why not the law of the nation, [redacted] try to interfere in the matter. On the contrary, when the hotels of Mumbai are attacked then the military of the country immediately interferes. The commandos of Delhi initiate immediate action after reaching Delhi. This is made to known as to which in which village the assailants reside in [redacted]. Contrary to it, the [redacted] of [redacted] of people in Delhi could not be identified. How the security can be assured without the law when everybody knows the killers" [sic]. He locates the justification for the suicide bombing in this persecution by the state (as per his contention) and the lack of accountability saying in a statement to the District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, "conscience of a person have self respect refuses to accept the authority of callous rulers. Such feels instigate a person for becoming human bomb rather than to become a human being [sic]"
The purpose of this article is not to romanticize Balwant Singh or terrorism. But surely some introspection is required when an obviously bright individual seeks political expression in the rejection of the "democratic" government itself even at the cost of his own life? Our democratic systems are discriminating - on class, caste, and religious lines. After 64 years of democracy, which by definition means people's control over the state to ensure propagation of their interests, more than 3 quarters of our country still ekes out a living on just Rs 20 per day. In our ostensibly secular state, all significant minorities have been persecuted (1984, 1992, 2002, 2008) without any accountability. Likewise the constitutional promise of equality before rule of law is flouted routinely. The poor are routinely displaced, their rights violated, their very being often declared illegal. The poor overwhelmingly populate our jails; around 70% are under-trials, not convicts. The death penalty too is disproportionately administered to the poor. Balwant Singh's execution is now embroiled in cynical politics from all sides, however whatever the outcome, we all share some blame in perpetuation of a system where meaningful political expression, redress and justice is denied to all but a small minority.
(Ruchi Gupta works in a think tank in Delhi. The views expressed are her own. She can be reached at gupta.ruchi@gmail.com)
Balwant Singh Rajoana was to be executed on March 31. This would have been the first execution in India since 2004. His execution has been stayed - for the time being - in response to the rising whirlpool of politics that's engulfed Punjab on this issue. That India should sully its record again after 8 years with state sanctioned murder is a matter of distress, but this consideration seems largely removed from the politics of Rajoana's execution. However even in addition to principled opposition to the death penalty, the cynical considerations swirling around his execution, the specifics of the case itself are significant.
Opposition to capital punishment is removed from the specifics of the case, basing the argument on human rights, the range and extent of power given to the State, citizen's right to equality before law, the inherent arbitrariness in the exercise of power by individual state functionaries, and irrevocability of the punishment especially given the possibility of wrongful conviction. In contrast, the proponents of capital punishment argue on the specifics, seeking justification in the heinousness of the crime, recidivism, retribution, and deterrence. In this the proponents are almost vigilante in their perspective, with their preoccupation with punishment for the alleged lawbreaker than the state, its powers and processes, and civil liberties
Nevertheless in this instance, the specifics too raise some disturbing questions. Balwant Singh is on death row for his role in the suicide bombing of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh in 1995. 17 persons, including the Chief Minister were killed. The history has some relevance. Punjab had been racked by insurgency since the seventies, with the regional autonomy movement progressively hardening into a secessionist movement over the decades. President's Rule was established in 1987 in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar and the Sikh pogrom in Delhi in 1984. After five years of President Rule checkered by militancy and heavy police crackdown, elections were called in 1992, but were postponed twice. Protesting that the elections were unlikely to be "free and fair", the Sikh parties boycotted the elections. With voter turnout in the low twenties, Beant Singh's ascendancy was widely disparaged by the Sikhs as lacking legitimacy. Militancy and consequent police clampdown continued unabated. Beant Singh was assassinated in 1995 by suicide bomber Dilawar Singh, aided by Balwant Singh and others.
During trial, Balwant Singh refused counsel, asking instead to be allowed to represent himself. He did not cross-examine witnesses. He was awarded the death penalty. In 2009, when his death sentence came for conviction in the High Court [as part of the legal process], he again refused counsel and asked to be allowed to argue his own case. His intent in each instance was not to seek acquittal. In the 14 years that the case made its way from the trial court to the High Court, Balwant Singh held to his story, claiming that he strapped the bomb on to the body of Dilawar Singh. The High Court, noting that there was no evidence in favour of Balwant Singh in order to "have a second thought on the murder reference of Balwant Singh, coupled with his three confessional statements, there is no other alternate with us but to confirm" the death penalty. Balwant also refused to appeal against the death penalty administratively through mercy petition to the Governor and/or President. In a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, he writes, "legal system, judicial system of this Country and the rulers of this Country have been discriminating" [and that] "slavery of such system is not acceptable to me". In embracing 17 years of imprisonment including solitary confinement and ultimate execution, Balwant Singh is making a political statement.
In his letter and statements, he brings out his search for justice in the democratic framework, his feeling of marginalization and his desire for rebellion. He sees the injustice of the swiftness of response when a five star hotel in Mumbai is under siege and the dilatory tactics of commissioning enquiry committees without any accountability for the thousands who perished in the 1984 Sikh pogrom. He writes, "thousands of Sikhs were massacred. It is submitted that these murderers have neither been punished nor been punished by any Court of law of the country even after 25 years [...] Here I would like to ask your Lordship that the persons who have killed thousands of innocent xxxx, xxxx, and xxxx [redacted] are not the terrorists. Why not the law of the nation, [redacted] try to interfere in the matter. On the contrary, when the hotels of Mumbai are attacked then the military of the country immediately interferes. The commandos of Delhi initiate immediate action after reaching Delhi. This is made to known as to which in which village the assailants reside in [redacted]. Contrary to it, the [redacted] of [redacted] of people in Delhi could not be identified. How the security can be assured without the law when everybody knows the killers" [sic]. He locates the justification for the suicide bombing in this persecution by the state (as per his contention) and the lack of accountability saying in a statement to the District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, "conscience of a person have self respect refuses to accept the authority of callous rulers. Such feels instigate a person for becoming human bomb rather than to become a human being [sic]"
The purpose of this article is not to romanticize Balwant Singh or terrorism. But surely some introspection is required when an obviously bright individual seeks political expression in the rejection of the "democratic" government itself even at the cost of his own life? Our democratic systems are discriminating - on class, caste, and religious lines. After 64 years of democracy, which by definition means people's control over the state to ensure propagation of their interests, more than 3 quarters of our country still ekes out a living on just Rs 20 per day. In our ostensibly secular state, all significant minorities have been persecuted (1984, 1992, 2002, 2008) without any accountability. Likewise the constitutional promise of equality before rule of law is flouted routinely. The poor are routinely displaced, their rights violated, their very being often declared illegal. The poor overwhelmingly populate our jails; around 70% are under-trials, not convicts. The death penalty too is disproportionately administered to the poor. Balwant Singh's execution is now embroiled in cynical politics from all sides, however whatever the outcome, we all share some blame in perpetuation of a system where meaningful political expression, redress and justice is denied to all but a small minority.
(Ruchi Gupta works in a think tank in Delhi. The views expressed are her own. She can be reached at gupta.ruchi@gmail.com)
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