Indian Government representatives at Sikh Events
Guest blog by: Rocco
One of the highlights of fall in NYC is the Sikh Arts and Film Festival which showcases the story of our community via films and is being held November 2-3, 2012. Along with that is a Heritage Gala which is being held November 3, 2012 “to celebrate the rich heritage, culture and traditions of the Sikhs.” In the past dignitaries and business leaders have been selected as Chief Guest and Guest of Honors. Unfortunately, The Chief Guest this year is Nirupama Rao, India’s Ambassador to the United States and the Guest of Honors include Prabhu Dayal, Consul General India, New York and Hardeep Puri, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
For some, Sikhs having Indian Government representatives as honorees poses no conflict and should be encouraged. One may argue that the attack on Darbar Sahib and Genocide in 1984 are distant events that occurred twenty eight years ago and should be forgotten. One may argue that the civil war which ensued for ten years afterwards in Panjab and led to the death of the tens of thousands of Sikh youth were collateral damage and justifiable in order to preserve the unity of India. One may argue that that struggle for an independent Panjab has reached its nadir and it’s important to “re-Indianize” ourselves and take advantage of the current economic environment.
However the recent Rajoana hanging episode (his sentence was deferred but not commuted), continuing impunity for politicians involved in the 1984 Delhi Genocide, promotion of Sumedh Saini (“Panjab’s Dirty Harry”) to DGP of Panjab and electing former DSP Izhar Alam’s (Alam Sena) wife as an Akali Dal candidate points to recent attempts to stamp out any remnants of Sikh sovereignty as well as the continuing denial of accountability of human rights abuses committed by India.
After the Oak Creek Massacre, Sikhs in the US have united to make sure our rights are better protected, yet little attention is given to events in India over the past 28 years. Though a Film Festival may not be the ideal venue to bring up these issues, honoring officials of a country that has caused so much destruction to our community goes directly against the ethos of our rich heritage, culture and tradition which is based on justice, goodwill and helping those that cannot help themselves. Rather the invitation of the Indian officials smacks in the face these universal values and sends a message of impunity and lack of accountability. The recent US District Court’s summons for visiting Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on the charges of police custodial torture and shielding police officers may not have teeth but any time we can restrict the movement of Indian politicians in the West we put them on notice that they have to abide by the standards of international law. In my humble opinion, the Sikh Film Festival committee should not invite Indian dignitaries to their venue but rather urge them to bring about changes in India to help all suffering minorities including Muslims, Christians and Dalits.
64 Responses to “Indian Government representatives at Sikh Events”
With the recent controversy about building a memorial to 1984, I noticed there is organized anti Sikh propaganda, in the media and on the blogs. There are people trying to condemn the idea as encouraging separatists, without one word about rights abuses of Sikhs and govt sponsored mass killings. It appears like not many Sikhs are fighting back and responding to these attacks. I believe it is coming from supporters of cong leaders who are involved in the anti Sikh riots.
The congress Government is on back foot . To win the next elections they are back to, creating a false alam of Sikh Terrorists, they think all Hindus will vote for them if they start beating the Sikhs. Sikhs should be careful, this is difficult time again.
@ Charanjit ji which blog you are referring to? There was one article by a prominent columnist Kanchan Gupta 'Who's stirring the Khalistani pot in Punjab?' but he clearly mentions "…Congress goons were out in the streets of Delhi (and other cities and towns) extracting a terrible, blood-curdling ‘revenge’: More than 3,000 Sikhs were massacred in Delhi alone."
http://www.mid-day.com/columnists/2012/oct/131012…
Get over your delusions sir, no one has got time to organise "anti-Sikh propaganda" . Hindus are much more mature than, unfortunately, Sikhs who elect communal coalition of Akalis-BJP with such sickening reguarity.
http://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?cat=33&…
Why is Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs and SALDEF all partners in this event, where friends of killers will be honored. That too during the November week of the 1984 Genocide
"One may argue that the civil war which ensued for ten years afterwards in Panjab and led to the death of the tens of thousands of Sikh youth were collateral damage and justifiable in order to preserve the unity of India"
Why radical khalsas always stop at "Sikh youth"? Why they feel it inappropriate to seek justice for EVERY (innocent) civilian who died in the Punjab violence? Is it because such a demand would mean questioning the highly-revered persona of Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, Talwinder S parmar and 100s of terrorists who massacred Punjabis in the name of the flawed concept of Khalistan?
@Sher: you forget that the government, police, paramilitary and the military should be held at a higher standard then so-called 'militants'. The scale of murder, the use of state machinery including the law as well as the impunity with which it was done outweighs any other issues. These are not 'apples for apples' but two different issues.
@Admin….any way are my comments the only ones being moderated? Again?????
[…] week, on the blog The Langar Hall, guest blogger Rocco writes: After the Oak Creek Massacre, Sikhs in the US have united to make sure our rights are better […]
Why is Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs and saldef all partners in this event, where friends of killers will be honored.
With the recent controversy about building a memorial to 1984, I noticed there is organized anti Sikh propaganda, in the media and on the blogs.
With the recent controversy about building a memorial to 1984, I noticed there is organized anti Sikh propaganda, in the media and on the blogs.
The scale of murder, the use of state machinery including the law as well as the impunity with which it was done outweighs any other issues. These are not 'apples for apples' but two different issues.
s it because such a demand would mean questioning the highly-revered persona of Bhindranwale, Amrik Singh, Talwinder S parmar and 100s of terrorists who massacred Punjabis in the name of the flawed concept of Khalistan? http://learn-kurdish.com/
. I believe it is coming from supporters of cong leaders who are involved in the anti Sikh riots. https://learngerman100.de/course/
To win the next elections they are back to, creating a false alam of Sikh Terrorists, they think all Hindus will vote for them if they start beating the Sikhs. Sikhs should be careful, this is difficult time again. https://ciyaye-kurmenc.com/
With the recent controversy about building a memorial to 1984, I noticed there is organized anti Sikh propaganda, in the media and on the blogs.
The scale of murder, the use of state machinery including the law as well as the impunity with which it was done outweighs any other issues. These are not 'apples for apples' but two different issues.
Why is Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs and SALDEF all partners in this event, where friends of killers will be honored. That too during the November week of the 1984 Genocide
I think it is coming from the supporters of the Kung Fu leaders who are taking part in the riots against the Sikhs.