CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal who is known for following the political strategy of ignoring something until it does not rise as a threat for him has been ignoring the NRI Sikhs’ demand for separate Sikh homeland. However, until this past yesterday, he recognized the growing demand and advised the attendees to shun so-called “radicals.”
No doubt Badal’s advise witnesses the growing influence of the Sikh Diaspora in the fight of Sikhs for their right to freedom. In the case of Badal, the uprising yields many difficulties and complications for the Badal family. The movement is considered as a threat for the Indian state as well, as international media agencies reveal.
When the Sikh freedom struggle had been weakened up to the point of complete stagnation by Indian security forces and intelligence agencies in Punjab, Sikhs living outside India have contributed a lot to carry on the struggle in their respective countries with democratic and peaceful means. Their persistent efforts have internationalized the Sikh issues—Sikh genocide 1984, human rights violation in Punjab, death sentences faced by Prof. Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana and inhuman detention of Sikh political prisoners. Such a movement gains unprecedented support from the governmental bodies and lawmakers of many countries. Representatives of various nations have been raising their voices at an international level for Sikhs. Sikh genocide petitions were lodged in legislative assemblies of various countries including Canada and Australia.
Most importantly, Sikh groups led by the U.S.-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva seeking specifically an international investigation into the November 1984 massacre as well as the Council’s recognition of the killings as ‘genocide’ under Article 2 of the U.N. Convention on Genocide. The petition was followed by a ‘Justice March’ by hundreds of Sikhs from Europe, Canada and the U.S.
The Indian government has expressed concern many times on the growing influence of the Khalistan movement internationally. Aghast at the launching of a Sikh Congressional Caucus in May 2013, the Indian goverment cautioned the Obama administration and US Lawmakers to shun this group which is also pro Khalistan.
As for Parkash Badal, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a leading Sikh advocacy group, has filed cases of human rights violations—illegal detentions, extra judicial killings, oppressing political descent and abuse of the right to speech and expression—in Punjab against Parkash Badal in American courts of justice.
Keeping in view hard opposition from the Sikh Dispora, the Punjab government has planned many times so far to woo the former but these efforts have gone in vain. In August, 2013, Sukhbir Badal planned to visit Canada to meet with a Sikh residing there, but he cancelled the visit in fear of opposition from Sikhs, litigation, and possible detention by the Canadian legal system. However, his representatives have said that the reason behind this cancellation was that special security consideration was denied by Canadian authorities. Thus he had run away from facing the Sikh Diaspora.
In September, 2013, Manjit Singh GK, president Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, had been confronted in public debate by the Sikh Diaspora on the question of abandoning the Anandpur Sahib resolution by the Badal Dal, and on the issues of Human rights violations, appointment of alleged human rights abuser cop Sumedh Saini as Director General of Punjab Police and on the issue of the Sikh homeland often addressed as “Khalistan.” Besides this, Badal Dal also has sent its various delegations led by its senior leaders including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Rajinder Singh Mehta to improve its image among NRI Sikhs but could not achieve its goal.
NRI Conferences are another tactic by Badal to woo NRIs but the latest reports reveal failure in the efforts as it left participants unimpressed.
Upon being unsuccessful in wooing the Sikh Dispora, Badal has forced to out his frustration against Sikhs. Now it is very difficult for Badal to win the hearts of Sikhs.
