SikhSpectrum.com Quarterly Issue No.21, August 2005
Indian Parliament
Speech by Sardar Tarlochan Singh in Rajya Sabha
August 11, 2005
while
Debating the Nanavati Commission Report
on
Sikh Carnage, 1984
Chairman Sir, the debate has been going on for the last two days but I think the main issue is sidetracked. We have been raising new political slogans both in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. We are also embroiled in the political battle and we are trying to run down one another. But we forgot to talk about thousands of hapless people who were butchered during the Sikh carnage and so far not even a single person has been punished. Someone is talking about Godhra and someone about Gujarat, BJP or Congress. But at the moment we are only concerned with the point that the Government has maintained a stoic silence about the citizens of this country who were killed during the riots. The Hon’ble Prime Minister stated yesterday that we would search out the truth. Surprisingly, twenty years have passed but we are still not even near to the truth. As many as nine Commissions were set up to inquire into the riots.
It appears to me that Justice Nanavati had a lurking fear in his mind and that is why the Commission went quite close to the truth but moved backwards. I do not want to read the Report because its contents have already come to the fore. He has mentioned at two places. All the Members of the House have a copy of the Report which they may read. At first, He says that there was an organized attack on the Sikhs and secondly people were quite aware that the police would not take any action. The question arises as to who gave this order? The Commission has kept mum on this point and we are also not prepared to listen anything about it. The third point is that how the massacre at such a large scale would have happened without the nod of some powerful person above. Justice Nanavati makes these observations but remains mum after that.
Sir, all of us were extremely aggrieved on the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi because she was the leader of the entire nation. But we are surprised that the Sikh carnage had happened in the capital of the country. We have never said that this was done at the instance of Rajiv Gandhi. So far, not even a single Sikh has said so but we fail to understand why all of them are feeling jubilant that the high command has been saved and there is no mention about the high command in the Report. We have never said and not even a single Sikh has ever said that there was involvement of the-then Prime Minister in the organized carnage. But where is the coterie of the-then Prime Minister and where are those who wanted to “teach a lesson”? They are still alive.
Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, I would make only two three points. The matter is quite clear. One member has said that such a long time has passed since the occurrence. But I would say that a Sikh never forgets the past and we will never forget it. We still read out daily in Ardas in our Gurudwaras and remember the martyrdom of the Sikhs killed during the invasions of Abdali and others. There is nothing to forget. Tinache was residing in London after escape from Argentina after committing big crime but the House of Lords punished him and deported him back to Argentina. This happened just two months back.
What happened in Bosnia? The Muslims were massacred in Bosnia and today the President of Bosnia is being questioned after summoning him in the World Court. Why is it being done? Moreover, Nazis had massacred Jews about sixty years back but the Nazi leaders are being hunted out and punished even today. These things are not to be forgotten and nobody spares the offender. The criminal will have to be punished one day or the other. Now it is quite clear that the Government is not prepared to find out the truth. The Govt. gives only the assurance that “ we will see” and “we will do” but no-one is satisfied with that.
I must go on record here that the Sikhs all over the world have come out on the roads in protest. This shows that no Sikh is happy after this Report and the Govt. of India’s action taken report. The police has destroyed the entire record and consequently there is no FIR. I know that nobody will be punished or sent to jail on the basis of any investigation. I plead to the Govt. through you to take two sets of action. First, to set up a “ Truth and Reconciliation Committee” as it was done by Nelson Mandella when the South Africa became independent. We Sikhs do not want to punish anybody. Sikhs believe that whosoever seeks forgiveness must be forgiven. But those who had done excesses and committed the heinous crime must first admit their crime honestly and apologize sincerely. We will forgive them. Secondly, we demand that the Government, rising above the party-politics, should clearly name all those persons who are guilty and they must seek pardon.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister has just apologized in the House. When the gas tragedy of Bhopal and the serial bombast in London had occurred, we had passed condolence resolution in both the Houses. This House should apologize clearly to the Sikhs. The Govt. should bring a Resolution in both the Houses that we apologize to the Sikh Community and admit that whatever had happened was wrong. We do not know which Govt. was in power during that time, Congress or BJP. Government is a continuous process hence no demarcation can be made between one Government or the other. The Hon’ble Prime Minister should move the Resolution in both the Houses. This will provide some comfort to the afflicted and aggrieved Sikh Community. This will assure the Sikh society that the entire nation is with them.
Sir, the Sikhs have been praised and appreciated profusely. This is quite good. But I would like to remind you that during 1947, Sikhs had an option whether to live in Pakistan or to migrate to India. M.A. Jinah gave a blank chouse to Master Tara Singh to write anything he liked but Sikhs should stay in Pakistan. This is on record and published in all British documents. But Sikhs decided to move to India. Pakistan was our birthplace and Nankana Sihib, the birth place of our Guru Nanak is also there. We came to India in a pitiable condition, wounded and bleeding all over.
It was only because of Master Tara Singh who was the leader of the Sikhs that Punjab was divided otherwise the border of Pakistan would have touched Gurgaon. But Sikhs sided with this country got Punjab divided into two and gave one half to you. Without boasting of any favors on this, I would say that we sacrificed our lives for this country. We were and still we are with the people of India. We never retreated. But we are extremely aggrieved that miseries and the atrocities done on us are being politicized. People talk in different voices.
The Sikh psyche is still hurt and it will remain so despite all lectures and debates on the issue. This cannot be forgotten for centuries together. This was a great tragedy happened at such a large scale and this is a blot on the face of the country. This has brought infamy to India through out the world as the tragedy had happed in Delhi, the capital of India. Therefore, the ifs & buts and whats & whys are irrelevant and meaningless. The issue before the Parliament is what the Commission has done? Personally I am not in favour of any Commissions. Commissions are set up to buy time and avoid public fury. Commissions’ reports are meant to be consigned to archives. There are 40 to 50 reports of various Commissions gathering dust in our offices.
My brethren belonging to minorities are sitting here and I want to tell them not to repose trust with Commissions as no action has ever been taken on the Report of any Commission so far. This Government simply wants to gain time. Thank you.
Speech translated from the original text in Hindi.
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