As a index of business confidence, what could be more revealing that the decision by India’s leading
industrial houses – the Tatas, Reliance, Bharti – to make colossal investments in the state. Bharti chief, Sunil Mittal who is famous for transforming the telephone landscape in India by introducing mobile phones, now wants to bring about Punjab’s ‘second’ agricultural Punjab farmers will be growing the fruit, vegetables and herbs that will be sold in retail outlets all over the country.
Mittal wants to export Punjab’s produce. Reliance, which has mammoth retail plans for a nationwide chain of supermarkets, is also planning to source its fresh supermarket produce from Punjab.
The situation as we (I and Mark Tully) saw it in our book `Amritsar, Mrs Gandhi's last battle' has changed. ``The Punjab crisis showed just how unsuitable the institutions of the Raj were for coping with the problems of modern India. The police were helpless because their ranks had been undermined by years of inadequate pay and its corollory, corruption - both features of the raj's police force too.'' Quite a sea change nearly three decades down the line.
'Bhindranwale more popular than Bhagat Singh'
Daljeet Singh Bittu belongs to that breed of separatist leaders who have greatly influenced young minds. In the 1980s and 90s, he remained underground for 10 years and played an important role in continuing the movement for an independent Sikh nation. After his arrest in April 1996, he spent ten years in prison at Nabha and Tihar jails, as guests of the Indian state. After his release, he has worked towards reigniting the old fire in the youth by democratic means. The aim, though, remains the same: a separate Sikh nation. He spoke to Anil Pandey on the critical decades beginning with Operation Blue Star to current developments.
Your take on Operation Blue Star?
Instead of calling it Operation Blue Star, we term it as an attack on ‘Darbar Sahab’. It was an attack on Guru Granth Sahab, Sikh identity and Sikh nation. We can never forget this attack. We want to carry on the wounds inflicted as an inspiration for our demand for a separate nation. Akal Takht and Darbar Sahab have been attacked before as well. Sikhs never forgot it, instead they took revenge.
Military action was taken against terrorists hiding in the Golden Temple.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala was not a terrorist but a great Sikh. He gave a new definition to Guru Granth Sahib. The state may consider Bhindranwala as terrorist, but the common Sikh accepts him as a priest warrior who revisited Sikh glory. He was and will remain to be a hero for Sikhs
There is no evidence of popular support to a separate Sikh nation. Does it mean the movement is dead?
No, this movement is not over. Instead, it is just below the surface. Even today every Sikh prays ‘Khalsa will rule’ (`raaj karega Khalsa’). If you want to know the truth of this movement, then go talk to the youth. You can see pictures of Bhindranwale on the mobile phone screens of students, his songs set as ring tones. His pictures are sold even more than Bhagat Singh.
Is formation of a Sikh nation not anti-Indian?
This demand is not against Hindus or the state. It is being wrongly presented. Establishing Khalsa rule is the desire of every Sikh. Khalsa rule means life as per Sikh religion. But, instead of giving us our rights, the government commits atrocities. During the process of being underground, whichever house I lived, police killed those people brutally.
Will you ever again pick weapons to get your demand accepted?
See, the method to fight depends on time. At present we are demanding our right according to democratic means. But if the situation becomes like the one in 1984 then this method can change.
Do you feel that Indian government will accept your demand?
Establishing a Sikh nation is difficult but we will achieve it.
Is it right the way you use weapons for your demand to be accepted?
Our Sikh religion preaches the use of arms against injustice but not for exploitation. Kripaan is put before the Guru Granth Sahib as a symbol of weapon. We have a tradition of Raaj kare ya lad mare (either rule or die).
Bhindranwala used the Golden Temple as his hiding place.
During the wars against Mughals, Sikhs waged it by taking refuge in the guru’s dwellings or gurudwaras. Bhindranwala also started living in Golden Temple only when he was attacked six times in two months. He had fear of getting killed by the police
industrial houses – the Tatas, Reliance, Bharti – to make colossal investments in the state. Bharti chief, Sunil Mittal who is famous for transforming the telephone landscape in India by introducing mobile phones, now wants to bring about Punjab’s ‘second’ agricultural Punjab farmers will be growing the fruit, vegetables and herbs that will be sold in retail outlets all over the country.Mittal wants to export Punjab’s produce. Reliance, which has mammoth retail plans for a nationwide chain of supermarkets, is also planning to source its fresh supermarket produce from Punjab.
The situation as we (I and Mark Tully) saw it in our book `Amritsar, Mrs Gandhi's last battle' has changed. ``The Punjab crisis showed just how unsuitable the institutions of the Raj were for coping with the problems of modern India. The police were helpless because their ranks had been undermined by years of inadequate pay and its corollory, corruption - both features of the raj's police force too.'' Quite a sea change nearly three decades down the line.
'Bhindranwale more popular than Bhagat Singh'
Daljeet Singh Bittu belongs to that breed of separatist leaders who have greatly influenced young minds. In the 1980s and 90s, he remained underground for 10 years and played an important role in continuing the movement for an independent Sikh nation. After his arrest in April 1996, he spent ten years in prison at Nabha and Tihar jails, as guests of the Indian state. After his release, he has worked towards reigniting the old fire in the youth by democratic means. The aim, though, remains the same: a separate Sikh nation. He spoke to Anil Pandey on the critical decades beginning with Operation Blue Star to current developments.
Your take on Operation Blue Star?
Instead of calling it Operation Blue Star, we term it as an attack on ‘Darbar Sahab’. It was an attack on Guru Granth Sahab, Sikh identity and Sikh nation. We can never forget this attack. We want to carry on the wounds inflicted as an inspiration for our demand for a separate nation. Akal Takht and Darbar Sahab have been attacked before as well. Sikhs never forgot it, instead they took revenge.
Military action was taken against terrorists hiding in the Golden Temple.
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala was not a terrorist but a great Sikh. He gave a new definition to Guru Granth Sahib. The state may consider Bhindranwala as terrorist, but the common Sikh accepts him as a priest warrior who revisited Sikh glory. He was and will remain to be a hero for Sikhs
There is no evidence of popular support to a separate Sikh nation. Does it mean the movement is dead?
No, this movement is not over. Instead, it is just below the surface. Even today every Sikh prays ‘Khalsa will rule’ (`raaj karega Khalsa’). If you want to know the truth of this movement, then go talk to the youth. You can see pictures of Bhindranwale on the mobile phone screens of students, his songs set as ring tones. His pictures are sold even more than Bhagat Singh.
Is formation of a Sikh nation not anti-Indian?
This demand is not against Hindus or the state. It is being wrongly presented. Establishing Khalsa rule is the desire of every Sikh. Khalsa rule means life as per Sikh religion. But, instead of giving us our rights, the government commits atrocities. During the process of being underground, whichever house I lived, police killed those people brutally.
Will you ever again pick weapons to get your demand accepted?
See, the method to fight depends on time. At present we are demanding our right according to democratic means. But if the situation becomes like the one in 1984 then this method can change.
Do you feel that Indian government will accept your demand?
Establishing a Sikh nation is difficult but we will achieve it.
Is it right the way you use weapons for your demand to be accepted?
Our Sikh religion preaches the use of arms against injustice but not for exploitation. Kripaan is put before the Guru Granth Sahib as a symbol of weapon. We have a tradition of Raaj kare ya lad mare (either rule or die).
Bhindranwala used the Golden Temple as his hiding place.
During the wars against Mughals, Sikhs waged it by taking refuge in the guru’s dwellings or gurudwaras. Bhindranwala also started living in Golden Temple only when he was attacked six times in two months. He had fear of getting killed by the police
