Op/Ed: The (Bias) Tribune and a Peaceful Sikh Cause

13837_the_bias_tribuneThe Tribune finally decided to give publicity to the ongoing hunger strike by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa.  The hunger strike started on November 14 and has continued despite desperate efforts by the State Government to halt it.  The Tribune has covered the release of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh from jail in a very biased manner, something that would not be expected from any news organization.  The Tribune is a well establish agency in India, but its coverage of Sikh politics make it sound more like a tabloid.

Bhai Gurbaksh Singh has been labelled as a “radical” by The Tribune even though his approach to seek the release of Sikh prisoners is totally peaceful and understandable.  There are thousands of Sikhs who are suffering throughout jails in India, and many have not been provided any court hearings.  However, Bhai Gurbaksh Singh is only demanding the release of those Sikhs who have already completed their court sentences.   Is he a radical for bringing up a just demand by totally peaceful means?

Is he a radical for bringing up a just demand by totally peaceful means?

The article further states that the orders for the release of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh were given by the Mohali SDM Lakhmir Singh.  The reporter, who chose to remain anonymous, alleges, “Gurbaksh Singh has been shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, from the Ropar jail. His blood pressure was significantly low when he was admitted but later, his condition was said to be stable.”  This is contrary to what independent observers have stated.  If Bhai Gurbaksh Singh was to pass away in police custody, it would bring a revolt in Punjab that would be hard for anyone to deal with.  If this was not the case, why would the police force his family to sign his custody papers?

The Tribune is published from Sector 29-C, Chandigarh, just about 8 kilometers away from Gurdwara Amb Sahib where Bhai Gurbaksh Singh started his campaign for justice.  Despite the matter attracting worldwide attention, the local newspapers deliberately chose not to provide any kind of coverage.  The Tribune is also known to take news by Sikh organizations and insert words like “radical” and “militant” in front of Sikh leaders names.

Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s approach has been totally peaceful and non-radical, whereas the Punjab Government, along with national media agencies have decided to follow an extreme approach to Sikh issues.  Would The Tribune label India’s God-like founding father, Mohandas Gandhi as a radical leader for fasting multiple times?  Are people like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev also radical for raising their voice through the form of a hunger strike?

Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara said it best in his open letter:

On one hand, long grandiose speeches are made that India is a peace-loving country. Those who feel forced to resort to armed struggle in order to defend their rights are encouraged to engage in non-violent struggle instead. On the other hand however, it has been proven time and time again that those engaging in non-violent resistance will be consistently ignored. Bhai Gurbaksh Singh’s case is yet further evidence of this.

Are the government and mainstream media not endorsing the belief that the only way to send a message through to the deaf ears of the state is through armed struggle? It is undeniable that if instead of a hunger strike Bhai Gurbaksh Singh had set off an explosion, the government, the media, and other Brahmanical forces would have been crying themselves hoarse until now. Now, when one Singh of the Guru has remained hungry for the past two weeks to have his just demands heard, what message is the conspiratorial silence of these institutions sending?

This intentional silence, this state-sponsored message should be clearly understood that “We don’t care about non-violent protest and hunger strikes, we only hear the sound of bullets and explosions.”

Sending this message, how can they then hope for peace?

The following is the “news” published by The Tribune in relation to Bhai Gurbasksh Singh’s relase from Ropar:

Fasting Sikh radical released from Ropar jail

Our Correspondent

Mohali, December 9
The Mohali SDM today gave orders for the release of radical leader Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa — who has been on an indefinite fast to seek release of Sikh youths languishing in various jails — from the Ropar jail. Sources said SDM Lakhmir Singh issued the orders after the police gave in writing that there was no threat to peace.

Gurbaksh Singh has been shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, from the Ropar jail. His blood pressure was significantly low when he was admitted but later, his condition was said to be stable.

Kurukshetra-based Gurbaksh Singh was whisked away by the police from Gurdwara Amb Sahib here on the night of December 5 and taken into preventive custody since the authorities apprehended a threat to peace. He was first taken to the Mohali Civil Hospital and then shifted to the Ropar jail. He has been on fast since November 14.

Acting SAD (Panch Pardhani) president Harpal Singh Cheema said it was not clear how the fasting leader was being released when no surety or bond had been furnished by anybody in the court of the SDM. He alleged that the police was putting pressure on Gurbaksh’s family to sign documents and take his custody. He said members of his family were reluctant to accept Gurbaksh’s custody in the absence of medical reports on the condition of the fasting leader. The family was also not aware of the treatment meted out to him in the Ropar jail, he added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131210/punjab.htm#14

1 COMMENT

  1. Doesn’t matter what he does. He’s radical because he’s Sikh and he’s alive. Living, breathing Sikh = radical militant terrorist. Don’t you know that? /s

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