AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—SGPC President Avtar Makkar has strongly criticized Delhi University’s act of terming Shaheed Bhagat Singh as a ‘terrorist’ in it’s book “India’s Struggle for Independence”. The book was written by Bipin Chandra in 1990. It also refers to other freedom fighters like Chandra Shekhar Azad and Surya Sen as terrorists while referring to the Chittagong Uprising and assassination of Sanders as an act of terrorism.
Seeking strict legal action against the publisher and writer of the book, on May 3, Makkar appealed the Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani investigate the matter and make the required amendments. He sought complete ban on such books and strict action against the publishers of such kind of books.
“This is a very unfortunate incident and students are being misguided by the leading University of India. Such books should be banned. Bhagat Singh is not only a martyr for the Sikhs, his sacrifice is also admired by the entire country,” he told Sikh24.
“Sikh freedom fighters had contributed more than 90% for the freedom of India from Britain,” he added.
“This is a very sad precedent that even after 68 years of Independence such words are used for the revolutionaries, who gave their lives for the freedom of the nation. The Britishers, who hanged Bhagat Singh, described him as ‘true revolutionary’ in their judgment, even they didn’t use words like terror or terrorism.Using such words for revolutionaries in an attempt to stir controversy is very unfortunate,” stated Abhay Singh Sandhu, nephew of Bhagat Singh.
Indian have a sizeable proportion of its population who are Latent
EMPIRIZENS.
BHAGAT SINGH legacy will have to live with this dichotomy of perception.
You are disingenuously insulting Indians by suggesting that after more than sixty years of Independence and several generations being born and living without Colonial rule they are still like children unable to think for themselves and know the difference between right and wrong. I know that certainly does not apply to the Sikhs and you only make the case for the Sikhs to be even more proud and protective of their own history and historical figures lest they be adulterated by the State (and Delhi University is part of the Sarkari as it is funded by same).
For the British Empire he will always be defined as a Terrorist .
For the Indian Nationalist he will be a icon for its freedom from the Empire.
Last time I looked Delhi University (which is feeding this message into impressionable Indian students minds) is an Indian University funded by India in capital of India and employing Indian academics to teach Indian students. No British Empire in sight. But because Bhagat Singh was a Sikh he can be called a terrorist in the very country that he was instrumental in liberating and creating by making the ultimate self sacrifice of giving up his young life.
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