Khalistan discourse stages comeback on Bluestar anniversary, this time via Akal Takht Jathedar

Khalistan discourse stages comeback on Bluestar anniversary, this time  via Akal Takht Jathedar

Thirty six years after Operation Bluestar, the demand for Khalistan has staged a comeback, this time via Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh. Today was the anniversary of that unprecedented army action in independent India. The demand for Khalistan had not been raised by any main politicio-militant formation till 6 June, 1984.

The issue cropped up in reply to a question at the press conference after the anniversary function was over at the Akal Takht that is organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

He started with the remark of every government at the centre being anti-Sikh.

The issue of Khalistan came up in reply to a question about the raising of Khalistan slogans after the function was over. He justified raising the slogans thereby providing legitimacy under the present situation.

When asked about his stand on the demand itself, he said, “In case it is given, we will take it. Every Sikh in the world in his heart longs for it”.

He also called upon the people to keep the memory of Sant Bhindranwale and his associates alive who were killed during the army attack.

It may be mentioned that martyrs memorial in the Golden Temple complex in the name of Sant Bhindranwale perpetuates the memory of that brutal tragedy that changed the discourse of Punjab. At the same time, it provides legitimacy to that struggle.

What is important in the present context that it is for the first time that Akal Takht Jathedar has talked about Khalistan.

Sitting  alongside was Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal who also agreed to what the Akal Takht Jathedar had stated. The SGPC is dominated by Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal.

It is pertinent to compare his comments with Sant Bhindranwale who otherwise never raised this demand formally.

Here is from his speech of 27 March 1983:

“The Punjab Chief Minister says he is very wise and intelligent. The issue of ‘Sikhs as a separate nation’ is being talked about; I was not here when the resolution was passed and the details are known to the leaders. The newspapers raised hue and cry. Every effort was made to communalise the issue at the global level. (It was said) Sikhs want separation; I stayed in Delhi for ten days where this question was asked to me repeatedly; the journalists coming from outside question me daily on it. They ask me whether I want Khalistan or not..

I say, “I neither oppose it nor so far support it. I am silent. Yes, it is definite that if this time it is offered by the Indian rulers (The world used was Hindustan Di Ranee), we would positively take it; would not reject the offer; we would not repeat the blunder of 1947. But we so far don’t demand it”.

Indira Gandhi should tell us, “Whether we are to be kept within India or not. We want to remain in India, she should tell whether she wants to keep us or not”.

He thus threw the ball in the court of Indira Gandhi but never committed himself directly to the demand. All along, he had pressed for the acceptance of the demand for state autonomy on the basis of Anandpur Sahib on which the struggle had been launched by the Akali Dal on 4 August, 1982 and not Sant Bhindranwale.

He never directly raised this demand in any of his speech  till his death.

Giani Harpreet Singh’s comment on Khalistan at the news conference has to be seen in continuity with his earlier speech at Akal Takht at the conclusion of the Bluestar anniversary function. He talked about the objective of that struggle that led to Bluestar.

He said this was the time for the Sikhs to join their heads and deliberate upon the objective for which “our fighters” (Saade jarnail) sacrificed their lives. He stressed on “right intentions and strategy” to achieve those aims. He called upon the Sikhs to rise above parochial considerations and unite as that was the demand of the situation.

His comment on Khalistan was continuation of this very thought process that he had articulated. The martyrs memorial in the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) not only commemorate the struggle but also provides it the legitimacy.