Jupinderjit Singh
Journalists often get opportunities to stand up against the government or the powers that be and say "No, this should not be or can't be done." But it is quite rare to actually do it. I am proud that I grabbed one such opportunity and stood for justice and equal treatment to all. Alas, sometimes, the intended objective goes astray.
This is what has exactly happened with the possibility of return to India of "misguided" Sikhs, who took to terrorism in the 1980s to fight for what they thought was a 'just' struggle against 'Indian' discrimination against Sikhs and Punjab. The beginning has been made with the release of 169 Sikhs, whose names have been deleted from the list of blacklisted terrorists or their supporters. The blacklist denied them entry into India.
Though latest research has supported the always argued about theory that it was Congress party which had planted Bhindranwale against Akalis in Punjab. And that he turned out to be a Frankenstein, who not only led to many killings but even made the Congress pay a heavy price for its ill-conceived plan. Even the Congress party admits it. (ref:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/questioning-indira-cong-history-edited-&-unedited-by-cong/787397/0)
The revised list issued few days ago ( ref :http://www.jknewspoint.com/index.php/j-a-k-news/15124-centre-removes-neeta-among-142-wanted-terrorists-from-blacklist) was a shocker. But before going into it, it would be pertinent how it all started.
As said earlier, a journalist's writing can change the course of history. What was not thought possible for years becomes possible in few hours or days. That is the might of the Pen. So it all began on February 17, 2010, when Home Minister P Chidambram was visiting Jammu. Amoong other things he discussed the modalities of rehabilitation of Kashmiri militants, who vow to Indian constitution and can be allowed to return to India from Pakistan. "But why the policy only for Kashmiri Militants?" we asked him, "Especially because several villages in Jammu had produced more hardcore Sikh Militants than in Punjab. Many of their relatives were also blacklisted, officially, as well as unofficially"
Chidambram said No to any such demand and moved to other questions. Next day, only The Tribune carried the news prominently on Page one. How can there be different policies for different persons in the same country? (ref :http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100218/main2.htm)
I had not anticipated what would happen next. Within hours, the story was lapped by hundreds of websites and Chidambram was forced to eat his words ,"Let Punjab frame a policy, we can see." he said. But as destiny had it, he was scheduled to visit a border district in Punjab, where he had to announce that same policy would be extended to Sikh Militants also, if they return to democracy. The first step was deletion of names of "reformed" persons for which Punjab government had to recommend names. Within six months, the name of 25 such reformed persons were deleted. and few days ago list of over 140 such persons was released.
But there is a serious problem with the revised list. it contained names of not just militants but most wanted militants, whose arrest India was demanding few days ago only. The list was supposed to be of those people, who had vowed to return to democracy and its peaceful ways but not of hardcore militants who as per inelligence reports were still plotting against India.
The government has to answer this now? Have these militants send signals to return to democracyor is it again some design to create trouble in Punjab. people need answer to this question sooner than later. Rehabilitation policy should be for misguided youths, not for their masters, who were masters in misguiding them!!
references:
Centre removes Neeta among 142 wanted terrorists from blacklist
Written by PTI
Monday, 16 May 2011 00:23
New Delhi, May 15
In a significant decision, the Central government has removed from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists and their associates, including the heads of various Sikh extremist groups. The wanted persons whose names have been deleted are believed to be currently based in countries like Pakistan, the US, Canada, Norway, France and Germany, and the government’s step will enable them to move freely around the world and even return home. The names have been deleted in two phases after a review of 169 cases in consultation with the Punjab Government and security agencies. While 25 names were deleted in August last year, 117 names were deleted last month, according to the Home Ministry. Among those removed from the blacklist by the Union Home Ministry are Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of dreaded slain terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and chief of International International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The list also includes names like Ranjit Singh alias Neeta, a native of Jammu and Kashmir who heads Khalistan Zindabad Force, Wadhawa Singh, chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Paramjit Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). Ripudaman Singh Malik, an activist of Babbar Khalsa who is currently based in British Columbia, was accused of having assisted in funding the 1985 Kanishka plane bombing. The Home Ministry decision follows the Delhi High Court order to it on February 9 to take a decision on a petition that pleaded that the list of 169 Sikhs should be reviewed as it has led to “unnecessary harassment” to various individuals at different airports and embassies across the world due to non-renewal of their passports by the Indian government. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna has welcomed the decision. He expressed gratitude to Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the development which he said had “raised a silver line in the hearts of numerous other blacklisted NRI Sikhs” that with his efforts their names would also be deleted soon. Terming as “dangerous” the Centre’s move to remove from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists and their associates, the All India Anti- Terrorist Front today demanded rollback of the decision.“The government’s move to remove from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists, including the heads of various Sikh extremist groups, is dangerous not only for Punjab but for the entire nation,” AIATF chief M S Bitta said. “The Centre should rollback the decision as the move will revive militancy in Punjab,” he said, adding that it is not correct to allow people blacklisted during the days of militancy to return to the country. The Centre’s decision follows the Delhi High Court order to it on February 9 to take a decision on a petition that pleaded that the list of 169 Sikhs should be reviewed as it has led to “unnecessary harassment” to various individuals at different airports and embassies across the world due to non-renewal of their passports by the Indian government.—PTI
Journalists often get opportunities to stand up against the government or the powers that be and say "No, this should not be or can't be done." But it is quite rare to actually do it. I am proud that I grabbed one such opportunity and stood for justice and equal treatment to all. Alas, sometimes, the intended objective goes astray.
This is what has exactly happened with the possibility of return to India of "misguided" Sikhs, who took to terrorism in the 1980s to fight for what they thought was a 'just' struggle against 'Indian' discrimination against Sikhs and Punjab. The beginning has been made with the release of 169 Sikhs, whose names have been deleted from the list of blacklisted terrorists or their supporters. The blacklist denied them entry into India.
Though latest research has supported the always argued about theory that it was Congress party which had planted Bhindranwale against Akalis in Punjab. And that he turned out to be a Frankenstein, who not only led to many killings but even made the Congress pay a heavy price for its ill-conceived plan. Even the Congress party admits it. (ref:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/questioning-indira-cong-history-edited-&-unedited-by-cong/787397/0)
The revised list issued few days ago ( ref :http://www.jknewspoint.com/index.php/j-a-k-news/15124-centre-removes-neeta-among-142-wanted-terrorists-from-blacklist) was a shocker. But before going into it, it would be pertinent how it all started.
As said earlier, a journalist's writing can change the course of history. What was not thought possible for years becomes possible in few hours or days. That is the might of the Pen. So it all began on February 17, 2010, when Home Minister P Chidambram was visiting Jammu. Amoong other things he discussed the modalities of rehabilitation of Kashmiri militants, who vow to Indian constitution and can be allowed to return to India from Pakistan. "But why the policy only for Kashmiri Militants?" we asked him, "Especially because several villages in Jammu had produced more hardcore Sikh Militants than in Punjab. Many of their relatives were also blacklisted, officially, as well as unofficially"
Chidambram said No to any such demand and moved to other questions. Next day, only The Tribune carried the news prominently on Page one. How can there be different policies for different persons in the same country? (ref :http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100218/main2.htm)
I had not anticipated what would happen next. Within hours, the story was lapped by hundreds of websites and Chidambram was forced to eat his words ,"Let Punjab frame a policy, we can see." he said. But as destiny had it, he was scheduled to visit a border district in Punjab, where he had to announce that same policy would be extended to Sikh Militants also, if they return to democracy. The first step was deletion of names of "reformed" persons for which Punjab government had to recommend names. Within six months, the name of 25 such reformed persons were deleted. and few days ago list of over 140 such persons was released.
But there is a serious problem with the revised list. it contained names of not just militants but most wanted militants, whose arrest India was demanding few days ago only. The list was supposed to be of those people, who had vowed to return to democracy and its peaceful ways but not of hardcore militants who as per inelligence reports were still plotting against India.
The government has to answer this now? Have these militants send signals to return to democracyor is it again some design to create trouble in Punjab. people need answer to this question sooner than later. Rehabilitation policy should be for misguided youths, not for their masters, who were masters in misguiding them!!
references:
Centre removes Neeta among 142 wanted terrorists from blacklist
Written by PTI
Monday, 16 May 2011 00:23
New Delhi, May 15
In a significant decision, the Central government has removed from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists and their associates, including the heads of various Sikh extremist groups. The wanted persons whose names have been deleted are believed to be currently based in countries like Pakistan, the US, Canada, Norway, France and Germany, and the government’s step will enable them to move freely around the world and even return home. The names have been deleted in two phases after a review of 169 cases in consultation with the Punjab Government and security agencies. While 25 names were deleted in August last year, 117 names were deleted last month, according to the Home Ministry. Among those removed from the blacklist by the Union Home Ministry are Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of dreaded slain terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and chief of International International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The list also includes names like Ranjit Singh alias Neeta, a native of Jammu and Kashmir who heads Khalistan Zindabad Force, Wadhawa Singh, chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Paramjit Singh Panjwar, chief of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). Ripudaman Singh Malik, an activist of Babbar Khalsa who is currently based in British Columbia, was accused of having assisted in funding the 1985 Kanishka plane bombing. The Home Ministry decision follows the Delhi High Court order to it on February 9 to take a decision on a petition that pleaded that the list of 169 Sikhs should be reviewed as it has led to “unnecessary harassment” to various individuals at different airports and embassies across the world due to non-renewal of their passports by the Indian government. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna has welcomed the decision. He expressed gratitude to Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the development which he said had “raised a silver line in the hearts of numerous other blacklisted NRI Sikhs” that with his efforts their names would also be deleted soon. Terming as “dangerous” the Centre’s move to remove from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists and their associates, the All India Anti- Terrorist Front today demanded rollback of the decision.“The government’s move to remove from its ‘blacklist’ the names of 142 wanted terrorists, including the heads of various Sikh extremist groups, is dangerous not only for Punjab but for the entire nation,” AIATF chief M S Bitta said. “The Centre should rollback the decision as the move will revive militancy in Punjab,” he said, adding that it is not correct to allow people blacklisted during the days of militancy to return to the country. The Centre’s decision follows the Delhi High Court order to it on February 9 to take a decision on a petition that pleaded that the list of 169 Sikhs should be reviewed as it has led to “unnecessary harassment” to various individuals at different airports and embassies across the world due to non-renewal of their passports by the Indian government.—PTI
2 comments:
It is a pity on the country. Few days ago, a group of Sikhs felicitated the Home Minister for removingnames of blacklosted Sikhs. The same Home Minister had said a rude No to it before your story forced him and the govt to act..yet, people thanking him...I wish Chidambram should have admitted it was a Tribune story that moved him and others to be equal to all in this country...
More or less governments and agencies should behave and work seroiusly and responsibly so that youth of the country should not get out of track to join hands with the unsocialand anti - national elements.
Just pouring informations by the agencies and the governments framing policies.....making and breaking.....according to their requirements or conveinence should not be the agenda but youth needs to be directed to the right diection.If the youth gets distracted from the main stream , it is the loss of the country and ultimately the aftermaths of such situation would be devastating.Governments ,governement agencies all will have to act together on the social platform along with the common people to come up with some concrete solution to such problems unitedly.But it has been observed that so called representatives of people after holding resposible chairs turn irresposible towards the people and society.It becomes the game of few vested interested people which leads to unemployment , aggression ,agitations and struggle which later turns to youth falling prey in the wrong hands and that is the turning point where innocent talented minds unknowingly slip off to the other world , the other direction.
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