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L
E T T E R
Misinformed
Ranbir Singh
August
31, 2003: Connecticut, USA
Re:
State
Department Tells School Children Sikhs are Terrorists
Sardar Puneet Singh appears to be quite misinformed.
His commentary is highly damaging to the Sikh image.
The Anandpur Sahib resolution was not a creation of Sant Jarnail Singh.
He did not even know its contents till the middle of August 1983. He supported
it merely because the Shromani Akali Dal was behind it and the Sant considered
the Akali Dal to be the political voice of Sikhs. When the Akali Dal wanted
to renege on the resolution, the Sant was opposed on the simple grounds
that they had said Ardaas at Akal Takhat Sahib on August 4, 1982 that
they would accept nothing less than the Anandpur Sahib resolution and
that as Sikhs they could not renege on that ardaas.
Sant Jarnail Singh never was a separatist. He never had control of Darbar
Sahib. He never held anyone hostage. In fact after September 1983, the
Shromani Akali Dal would not let him speak from Manji Sahib Diwan Hall.
The Akali leaders made public statements defaming him. He complained to
SGPC and the Akal Takhat who were powerless to help.
Sant Jarnail Singh started carrying weapons only after the 1978 Vaisaakhi
incident. His contention was that if the Nirankari Baba could have a number
of people carrying weapons - who had actually shot and killed 13 Sikhs
and wounded 78 others, escort him why could he not have a group of people
around him carrying arms. Also, Indian law allows licensed weapons to
be carried in public. The Sant broke no laws in carrying his licensed
weapons. In fact there were no charges against him when the army attacked
Darbar Sahib.
It is ironic that the most vocal separatist, Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan,
is safely back in India living comfortably while so many innocent people
were killed after being labeled separatists and terrorists.
I invite Sardar Puneet Singh to read the book "Struggle for justice:
Speeches and conversations of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale".
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