Indian Political Blunder: Sikh Genocide 1984

General Sinha was the General Officer Commanding Western Command, a prestigious appointment in the early eighties, and was transferred to Delhi as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, with the expectation that he would succeed General K. V. Krishna Rao as the Army Chief.

He was supposed to familiarize himself with the office of the Army Chief. It was a surprise when he was superseded and Lt.-Gen. A. S. Vaidya, the GOC-in-C Eastern Command was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff. After which General S. K. Sinha submitted his resignation. This is a narration by a close associate of Gen Sinha. This all happened in the backdrop of Operation Blue Star.

Wikipedia accounts, Indira Gandhi first asked Lt. Gen. S. K. Sinha, then Vice-Chief of Indian Army, to prepare a position paper for assault on the Golden Temple. Lt. Gen. Sinha advised against any such move, given its sacrilegious nature according to Sikh tradition. He suggested the government adopt an alternative solution. Henceforth, a controversial decision was made to replace him with General Arun Shridhar Vaidya as the Chief of the Indian army. General Vaidya, assisted by Lt. Gen. K Sundarji as Vice-Chief, planned and coordinated Operation Blue Star.

S. K. Sinha had advised the government against the operation. He later criticized the Government’s claim that the attack represented a “last resort”. He also stated that the operation would have been conducted in an entirely different manner if he had planned it.

He also pointed out that a few days before the Operation; the Home Minister had announced that the troops would not be sent to the Golden Temple. There was no need to issue such statements when the government was to act in a manner contrary to what had been said.

But, the Operation seems to have been in plans much earlier. The General has alleged that the army had been rehearsing the operation in a replica of the Golden Temple at a secret location near Chakrata Cantonment in the Doon Valley.

The timing of Operation Blue Star coincided with a Sikh religious day, the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the founder of the Golden Temple. Sikhs from all over the world visit the temple on this day. Many Sikhs view the timing and attack by the Indian Army as an attempt to inflict maximum casualties on Sikhs and demoralise them, and the government is in turn blamed for the inflated number of civilian dead for choosing to attack on this day.

Mark Tully in his dispatches during and just after the bloody massacre of Sikh community in 1984 states: even if the arguments against a siege are accepted, they don’t justify the army’s decision to mount the operation while Sikhs were celebrating the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan, who had built the Golden Temple and compiled the Guru Granth Sahib. This inevitably compounded Sikh anger about the operation. It also meant that the temple complex was particularly crowded and this was why so many civilians were killed.

The Sikh community’s anger and suffering was further increased by comments from leading newspaper editors, such as Ramnath Goenka, terming the operation as “A greater victory than the win over Bangladesh, this is the greatest victory of Mrs. Gandhi”.

Indira Gandhi could have delayed action against Bhindranwale but she realised voters were beginning to think she lacked the will to act. In search of political gain, countless Sikhs were murdered and no one was held accountable.

Massacre At Sikh Temple In Wisconsin Could Have Been Inspired By Operation Blue Star 1984

Sikh is the nation with which from the very long ago, Hindus are showing discriminatory behavior. They are against Sikhs.

Today, another brutal act of “Domestic terrorism” left 7 individuals dead and 30 injured, of a Sikh minority community in Oak Creek Wisconsin.

Month ago, a case of Surbajeet Singh came in the media. He got free from imprisonment in Pakistan and when he came back to India, he admitted that he went to Pakistan for spying as RAW agent. Soon after he admitted this, Indian government and RAW clearly disowned him by saying that they had not sent him to spy. The person who worked for them, the one had been jailed for more than 20 years, is totally disowned by our own government and RAW agency. After this incident, there was no one to help him out. This tells us that Indian culture is dominated by Hindu majority and is not secular in nature as being portrayed globally.

After that, Karan Singh, a waiter in a hotel was killed just for bringing order a bit late. He was killed by some officers of the private company. This shows that Hindus don’t want Sikhs in their country.

These 2 are the stories of our own country. Hindus don’t want that Sikhs live in peace in any part of the world. That is why they have started killing them. Involvement of RAW can be suspected in this case, just as it happened in Peshawar 2 years back when 2 Sikh brothers were brutally murdered just in the name of dirty politics and proxy wars.  

UN and Human Rights Watch are completely silent on this. Sikhs are being discriminated from a long time but nothing has been done so far to ensure equal acceptance of them in the world. They are quiet and just watching the killing of innocent Sikhs. This is the time when UN and Human Rights Watch have to do something and have to take some proper action because every human being in this world has the right and if their rights are being violated. The time has come when UN and Human Rights Watch must show some concern over this issue and show Sikhs that they are with them. If they can take action against killings in Afghanistan, Israel, India, UK then they must take action on this as well. Sikhs have all rights to live in the world.

President Thomas Jefferson’s motto, “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God”

Musings on last month’s worldwide Sikh protests in support of, Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana, who has been named ‘Zinda Shaheed’- Living Martyr’ by Akal Takht Sahib, for putting an end to the reign of terror of an Indian Quizling, Beant Singh, in the Sikh Homeland of Indian occupied Punjab

Washington D.C. Wednesday April 11, 2012: Thanks to the spontaneous and brave reaction of millions of Sikhs (captive in Indian occupied Punjab – the Sikh homeland) who poured onto the streets late last month, with the words ‘Khalistan, Khalistan’ on their lips and saffron colored miniature Khalistani flags in their hands, (and the synchronized sympathetic protest rallies organized by their 3 million strong prosperous brothers/ sisters, in the Sikh diaspora, living free all over the world – North America, Europe & Australasia et al. – also with the word ‘Khalistan; on their lips) has made the world’s print and electronic media to take notice of the plight of the 28 million strong Sikh ‘nation’ captive in India, since 1947, when an exhausted Imperial Britain quit South Asia in haste, after the end of World War II, and passed on the instruments of state power to an evil nexus of the polytheistic minority Brahmin and Bania castes of Hinduism, who now claim that India is the world’s largest democracy. Some demoNcracy!
Since the British left the South Asian subcontinent in August 1947, this morally repugnant Indian ruling elite has been using state terrorism against India’s monotheistic minorities like the Sikhs, Christians and Muslims to keep them under control. The Sikhs, unlike the others, have a clearly demarcated Homeland in India – Punjab – which is food and water-rich (with a flag, national anthem, language, history, light industries etc., etc.) and is a nation in every sense of the word and therefore, aspires to become a democratic buffer state, strategically located between warring India and Pakistan, which will be called Khalistan. It would be a Sikh majority buffer state which is destined to act as a bridge of commerce between the nations of South Asia and the many oil-rich Stans of Central Asia – Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbeckistan, Tajikistan, Turkmanistan, Kyrgistan, Kazakistan and Pakistan.
This above mentioned world wide protests last month have forced the international media to investigate and tell its viewers and readers about the Sikhs, the history of India’s state-supervised anti-Sikh pogroms – June 1984 and November 1984 – and its record of using state-sponsored terrorism against its Sikh, Christian and Muslim monotheistic minorities. This Indian state terror against the Sikhs, from 1984 to 1995, made Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana – serving in the Punjab Police at that time – and his brave comrades to do what they did in 1995 when they resisted tyranny by dispatching India’s ‘Quizling’, the Punjabi tyrant, Beant Singh, to kingdom come, whose death immediately put a stop to the decade-long killing spree of thousands of innocent Sikh men, women and children in the Sikh homeland of Indian occupied Punjab. Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana and his comrades were obviously inspired by the words of great men like President Thomas Jefferson whose motto read, “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.”
Illiterate Beant Singh, the puppet Chief minister of Indian occupied Punjab, the Sikh Homeland, was a tyrant of the worse kind as he had given corrupt mercenary police officers in the Punjab the authority to carry-out extrajudicial executions, targeting and killing civilian Sikhs on the spot – thousands were murdered – as the Sikhs demanded justice for the June & November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms and wanted punishment for the guilty. No wonder the Sikh religion’s highest authority in the Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, India, a witness to the decade-long ‘Beant Singh’s’ state terror, has bestowed the title of Zinda Shaheed – living martyr – on Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana, when he bravely announced that he was indeed ‘guilty’ and would not defend himself in any Indian court, as the corrupt Indian judiciary was incapable of dispensing justice and that he would willingly and gladly offer himself for hanging. Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana was sentenced to death, as was expected, by a Kangaroo court in India for his 1995 action. Unlike his other comrades he filed no appeal, hired no lawyer and did not defend himself in court and said that he was indeed guilty and he rather hang as the unjust Indian judicial system has failed the Sikhs by not punishing the guilty who carried out the anti-Sikh pogroms of June and November 1984 during which thousands of innocent Sikh men, women and children were murdered. Despite passage of nearly twenty eight years no one has been found guilty by the Indian judicial / political system for the two anti-Sikh pogroms of June 1984 and November 1984 till date.
The things remained in limbo for years after the death sentence was passed on Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana until March 2012, when a Chandigarh court, for some reason, all of a sudden issued a death warrant and fixed 31 March, 2012, as the day of hanging of Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana who remained unrepentant and unapologetic and declared time and again that he was ready to face the hangman’s noose on 31 March, 2012. This high drama aroused the Sikh masses in the Punjab who came out in the streets in the thousands with saffron flags in their hands in protest. The 3 million strong Sikh diaspora was also touched and they too organized public protests in Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver in North America and various cities in Europe, Asia and Australia. The Indian government sensing the Sikh anger, cancelled the death warrant for the 31 March, 2012, hanging. Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana once again declared that he was indeed guilty, was proud of his actions, and preferred to hang than hire an attorney for his own defence or file a mercy petition addressed to India’s corrupt judiciary or its figurehead President, in all of whom he had no confidence as they have done nothing to find the guilty who organized the anti-Sikh pogroms of June and November 1984, in which thousands of innocent Sikh men, women and children were murdered.
A concerned Canadian Sikh academic has written in the Canadian Post newspaper, on March 30, 2012, that Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana case is about the rule of law in India. (> http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/03/30/counterpoint- balwant-singh-rajoana-case-is-about-the-rule-of-law-in-india/ >) He writes that, “There are many questions surrounding the stay of execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced for his involvement in the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh — the former chief minister of Punjab who spear headed the genocide against Sikhs in the region. Beant Singh gave police officers the authority to carry-out extrajudicial executions, targeting and killing civilian Sikhs on the spot. This led to fake ‘encounter’ killings, illegal detention, torture and rape. Beginning in 1984, and continuing until his assassination, an estimated 9,000-30,000 Sikhs were murdered in Punjab. During Beant Singh’s reign, thousands of Sikhs were killed for being ‘suspicious,’ despite claims that there were only approximately 300 armed Nationalist Sikhs. After the death of Beant Singh in 1995, the senseless murders of Sikhs stopped. Why is the Sikh population displaying insurmountable support and rallying to stop the execution of Rajoana, who many consider a terrorist? The fact of the matter is that Sikhs do not support terrorists or terrorism, but are looking for equal treatment and justice in the so-called secular democracy known as India… Sardar Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence has since been stayed at the last minute by the Indian government. He, now a ‘zinda shaheed’ living martyr, still stands tall, ready to face death.

Operation Blue Star - A Sikh Carnage

June have passed but no TV channel or any newspaper has expressed solidarity with Indian Sikhs and condemned Indian government for its attack on Sikh’s central religious site “Golden Temple” in 1984 though we do celebrate many days from Valentine to Father’s Day, no matter these are related to our culture or not.

Shaheed Sant Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala

                I am sure our new generation and readers do not know what was Operation BLUE STAR and on whose authority Indian army attacked Sikh’s Golden Temple with tanks; Why Indra Gandhi (so called mother of democracy), adopted a dictatorial approach to Sikh Issue; and why world community neglected this fascism as in case of 1971. At last she met her end at the hands of her two loyal Sikh guards on 31 October 1984. To avenge this, notable congress leaders supervised massacre of Sikhs for four days and performed a symbolic bath by rubbing Sikh blood against their bodies. It is not only part of history but a proof as well that India is fascist despite its claims of secularism and democracy. Why Sikhs want separation from India? What was Khalistan Movement? It is quite a long story, however, organized massacre of Sikhs in 1984 is enough for eye opening.

                In 1982, when Sikh political leader Jarnail Singh Bhandranwala felt that he has unnerved Indian Prime Minister Indra Gandhi and established himself in “Guru Nanak’s Niwas” attached to golden temple and started reaching out to world at large through international media and reporters. He knew well that Sikh's religious leadership is not yet ready for separation and Indian local media does not have courage to stand against Indra Gandhi. On 23 April 1983, DIG of East Punjab Police, A K Atwal was assassinated by RAW when he was leaving Golden Temple after meeting President of Akaal Dal, Harchand Singh Langwal. Langwal blamed Bhindranwala for this murder in order to cleat himself. Indra Gandhi made intelligent moves and religious leadership of Sikhs started pressurizing Bhindranwala to vacate Guru Nanak Niwas. On 15 December 1983, supporters of Peer Khalsa and Langwal tried to force him out but he entered into Golden Temple along with his loyal followers.

                Indra Gandhi Government was not prepared for this because Sikh guards of golden temple supported Bhindranwala. Government thought that it would be easy to tackle Bhindranwala outside Guru Nanak Niwas. However, his entry into Golden Temple strengthened his position. Sikh youth started paying attention to his idea of separation. Golden Temple proved to be Bhindranwala’s stronghold and headquarter. At this time, Indra Gandhi decided to eliminate Bhindranwala and his followers because he was being called as Jarnail or General.

                On 1^st February 1984, Indian intelligence agency RAW forced newspapers to broadcast news that Bhindranwala has prepared a motorcycle borne armed group that would target Hindus in Amritsar. Not only Amritsar but other major cities also came under grip of fear due to this news. Bhindranwala declared such a scheme a conspiracy of Hindus and Congress against Sikhs. However, this explanation could not find any place in Indian media. After taking the decision for operation in Golden Temple, Indra Gandhi asked Indian Army Vice Chief General S K Sinha to work out timings and details of the operation. He was promised the post of Chief of Army Staff after this operation. But he advised her to solve the problem through dialogue. She dismissed him immediately violating all military norms. General Arun Shridhar Vadhya was promoted as army chief in his place and was ordered to eliminate Bhindranwala no matter Golden Temple is destroyed in the process. He promised the operation and asked Indra Gandhi to promote General Sunderji as Vice Chief that was agreed.

Civilized Extremists of Congress

On the night of 1^st June both the General officers arrived in Amritsar. The whole province was placed under curfew for 36 hours and all communication links including telephone and electricity were disrupted. In other words, the province came under martial law by the order of Prime Minister Indra Gandhi. Media was warned before hand not to broadcast any news against wishes of the government otherwise media owners and reporters would not be spared. The whole province of Indian Punjab was cut off from rest of the world.

On night of 5^th June, Indian Army under the command of Major General Kuldeep Singh Barar assaulted Golden Temple. Followers of Bhindranwala offered stiff resistance but could not withstand for long against artillery guns and tanks. All seventeen houses were demolished by cannons with in one and half hour. Contrary to that only front five houses were being used by followers of Bhindranwala. Shabak Singh, Leader of front line defense of Bhindranwala was killed along with his other fighters. An exact figure of casualties has not been declared so far because Indian Army frisked away hundreds of dead bodies including those innocent Sikh devotees who were caught in the fire. These also included women and children. Many of these devotees had come from Europe.

Tanks in Golden Temple

In second stage, Indian Army entered the Golden Temple. Bhindranwala and his followers were armed with small arms including machine guns. They fought the Indian Army bravely. At one time General Barar hesitated targeting Akal Takht in middle of pond. However he had example of General Sinha in his mind and ordered the Army to attack Akal Takht. Bhindranwala and his follower had taken refuge in Akal Takht and were engaging Indian Army with machine guns. Some armored vehicles were also destroyed by rocket launchers. Tanks were brought forward. Two tanks entered the Golden Temple. The Akal Takht was engaged with tank fire. The whole building was destroyed before sunrise. As per Indian Army’s claims, 4 officers, 4 junior commissioned officers and 75 soldiers were killed. 13 officers, 16 junior commissioned officers and 220 soldiers were injured. If 83 all ranks of an army supported by tanks and armored vehicles were killed in a night than you can imagine how many Sikhs would have been fighting against them. As per Indian Army, Bhindranwala with his 59 followers was killed along with 492 Sikh civilians. More than 4000 Sikhs were killed as per independent sources. Some of these were killed in Golden Temple. Others Sikh youth were killed by Indian Army on a mere suspicion accusing them as supporters of Bhindranwala. These were killed in cold blood with out any proof or judicial proceedings. 

Golden Temple after Operation Blue Star

Thousands of Sikhs were killed. Operation BLUE STAR met with success and calmed dictatorial instincts of Indra Gandhi. One of her political opponent was eliminated. Human right organizations chose to remain silent. International media only broadcast the news for information. No one condemned or protested against this. After 148 days, on 31 October 1984, Indra Gandhi was killed by her own guards walking from her government residence to offices. The news spread like a wild fire that Sikh guards had avenged killing of Bhindranwala. Sikh were attacked by Hindus in all major cities including New Delhi. For four days, Sikh were attacked and killed in the streets.

On the 31^st, every Sikh on streets was killed and burnt. Even babies and aged people were not spared. However, form 1^st to 4^th November, Sikh population and business centers were targeted in an organized manner. Parliamentarians were seen supervising such attacks. Congress government even freed professional criminal from jails on the condition that they will kill maximum Sikhs. Hindu extremists committed acts of violence against uniformed Sikh Police officers while their other comrades kept looking at it. All Sikhs in police and army were disarmed beforehand.

General Sunderji; Mastermind of Operation Blue Star

As per proofs presented in Indian courts, congress parliamentarians and leaders called their supporters on special meetings handed over weapons, petrol and money for the ugly job. List of Sikh residents were prepared through voter lists, children enrolled in government schools, ration cards, registers of trade unions and records of income tax. These lists were distributed as an electoral roll and groups were organized area wise for attack on Sikh population. This whole planning was completed before 1^stNovember. (it must be remembered that same techniques are adopted against Muslims in India).

Golden Temple; Holy place of Sikhs in Amritsar

On 2^nd November, the riot hit cities were placed under curfew, but not for these Hindu extremists, rather for those unfortunate Sikhs who were trying to escape the violence. On 4^th November, when storm of revenge was over, the so called secular leaders of Congress apologized for Sikh holocaust and assured no further killings. They asked Sikhs to forget what had happened and move forward as they have to live together with the Hindus. As per Indian estimates, 20,000 Sikhs were killed in these riots and 80,000 were displaced. A judicial commission was also organized to investigate these killings. This judicial commission has created so far eleven more commissions but with no results. However, a US based NGO named “SIKHS FOR JUSTICE” has filed a case against Indian Congress, now in government, in a New York court for carrying out organized massacre of Sikhs in India. US court has asked Indian Congress and its leader Kaml Nath to appear in the court.

Will this case be decided or USA will use this as bargaining tool for political concessions from India? Time will decide it. Did we avenged holocaust of 1947 by handing over of list of leaders of Khalistan Movement to India or were there some other reasons? May be this question will also remain unanswered as in case of Sikh holocaust...