Sikh Siyasat News (in English) » Sikh Genocide

1984 Massacres: Delhi HC Reserved Verdict on Sajjan Kumar’s Petition

Gurtej Singh — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:43:35 +0000

Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi, India (January 24, 2012): The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict on Indian politician Sajjan Kumar’s plea challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in one of the cases related to 1984 brutal massacres of Sikhs in Delhi.

It is notable that Sikhs in India were subjected to genocidal violance during first week of November 1984 after the assasination of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October, 1984. The violance was prepetrated by the State and high ranks of the Indian government and the ruling congress party, therefore the prepetrators have enjoyed the impunity to a large extent. It took more than 25 years for the Indian system to charge Sajjan Kumar.

Justice Suresh Kait of Delhi High Court today reserved the order after the counsel for Kumar, CBI and various victims concluded their arguments on Kumar’s plea.

Appearing for Sajjan Kumar, counsel Amrender Sharan submitted before the court that in 2002 his client was acquitted by a special court in the case and CBI had registered another case in 2005 against him and others with an ulterior motive.

He also said the investigating agency has named those persons as prosecution witnesses who had already testified in an earlier case for the alleged killing of 60 persons during the riot, in which he had been acquitted.

Appearing for the victims, senior counsel H S Phoolka contended Delhi Police had deliberately suppressed evidence against Kumar due to his political connections and the probe agency had made faulty investigations in the case so that the accused would get the benefit of law.

The trial court had on July 1, 2010, framed charges against Kumar and Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash for the murder of six persons at Sultanpuri area in North-West Delhi in the riots that had taken place in the wake of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi On October 31, 1984.

CBI had filed two charge-sheets against Kumar and others on January 13 in the riots cases registered in 2005 on the recommendation of Justice G T Nanavati Commission which had inquired into the sequence of events leading to the riots.

Delhi court summons Jagdish Tytler in defamation case filed by Advocate Phoolka

Tejashdeep Singh — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:19:11 +0000

New Delhi, India (January 19, 2011): As per media reports accessed by SikhSiyasat a Delhi court has summoned congress leader Jagdish Tytler in response to the allegations of defamation of a senior lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka fighting for the rights of victims of Sikh genocide 1984.

Jagdish Tytler is accused for organizing violance against Sikhs in Delhin November 1984 after the assassination of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Thousands of Sikhs were massared during the week long genocidal violance in November 1984 through out India.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) of Delhi Amit Bansal today issued summons to Tytler for April 11, 2011 to reply to advocate H. S. Phoolka’s complaint of defaming him. It is notable that court has given exemption to Jagdish Tytler from appearing in person.

Advocate Phoolka has claimed that Tytler had made a derogatory remark against him in a news programme aired on a news channel on September 7, 2004. “False and derogatory allegations levelled by Jagdish Tytler against me have harmed my reputation in the society” Phoolka is said to have claimed.

“Reading out a portion of the complaint in the court, advocate Kamna Vohra, appearing for Phoolka, said Tytler should be prosecuted also for the alleged offence of criminal intimidation” reports Outlook.

Justify the clean chit to Tytler – Court to CBI; Submit answer by January 25, 2012

Webmaster — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:53:42 +0000

New Delhi, India (January 13, 2012): As per information sent by Sikhs for Justice to Sikh Siyasat Network in December 2011, victims’ advocates submitted evidence of communication between “Sikh for Justice” and CBI regarding availability additional witnessed and recent affidavits of Resham Singh and Jasbir Singh recounting Tytler’s role and reaffirming to testify against Tyler, to Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal. The Judge after reviewing this evidence ordered CBI to submit a written answer on January 25, 2012, as to why testimony of additional witness Resham Singh who was available and willing to testify during CBI’s visit to USA in December 2008 was not recorded.

On April 2, 2009, the CBI for the second time had given a clean chit to Tytler claiming lack of evidence against Tytler in the case pertaining to the killing of Sikhs on November 1, 1984 in wake of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Earlier in September 2007 CBI filed the closure report in case against Tytler claiming that the main witness Jasbir Singh is untraceable. Jasbir Singh who has given affidavits and had appeared before Misra Commission and Nanavati Commission in the case against Tytler, upon hearing the closure report contacted the media and “Sikhs for Justice” claiming that CBI has never approached him to record his statement about Tytler’s role in the killing of Sikhs.

In January 2008, “Sikhs for Justice” and “All India Sikh Students Federation” challenged the CBI’s closure report before Delhi High Court and obtained Stay Order against CBI thus stopping filing of the closure report based on the availability of the CBI’s main witness Jasbir Singh in the USA.

The court ordered the CBI to record the statements of witnesses present in United States, therefore, in December 2008, a CBI Team led by SP Ratn Sanjay came to USA to further investigate the role of Tytler and to record the statement of Witnesses in USA. Late Giani Surinder Singh’s statement was recorded by CBI in Indian Consulate New York and witness Jasbir Singh’s statement was recorded in Indian Consulate San Francisco in the presence attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Despite repeated requests, CBI team refused to record the statements of additional witness against Tytler who had come forward on the call of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and were present outside the Indian consulate in New York and San Francisco.

In April 2009 CBI filed another closure report despite the detailed accounts of Tytler’s involvement given by late Giani Surinder Singh and Jasbir Singh and despite availability of additional witnesses against Tytler.

On April 26, 2009, Indian Express Senior Journalist Ritu Sarin exposed how CBI Chief Ashwani Kumar disregarded his own agency’s investigating officers’ report that Tytler should be booked for murder and rioting. According to records obtained by The Sunday Express, the Joint Director and DIG clearly recommended, in writing, that there was a strong case against Jagdish Tytler in the Bara Hindu Rao anti-Sikh violance case under a string of charges including murder, rioting and damage to property.

Despite the recommendation of CBI’s Investigating Officers’ to prosecute Tytler for his role in the killing of Sikhs, the CBI’s director Ashwani Kumar signed on the clean chit to Tytler.

Arun Kumar, Joint Director of CBI in his written report recommending filing of murder charges against Tytler, stated that:

“Both important witnesses are presently in USA. If they are insisting on certain narration of facts, it will be difficult to ignore only by citing contradictions…Given the circumstances of these cases, it will not be appropriate to totally deny the present statements of Jasbir Singh and Surinder Singh regarding the incident. It will be appropriate to finally leave the decision in the hands of trial court. Hence, I tend to go with the opinion of the DIG and recommend prosecution of Jagdish Tytler under Sections 147, 149 and 109 IPC read with 302, 295, 427 and 436 IPC.”

Since CBI Director Ashwani Kumar signed on the clean chit to Tytler, in April 2010, the court accepted the CBI’s closure report against Tylter. In June 2010, Lakhwinder Kaur wife of late Badal Singh who was killed in the presence of Tytler on November 1, 1984, through “Sikhs for Justice” challenged the closure report, requested an opportunity to inspect the CBI file and reopening of investigation based on additional witnesses whose testimony CBI refused to record.

In December 2011, Sikhs for Justice provided evidence to the Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal showing communication between attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and CBI Team visiting USA in December 2008 regarding availability of additional witnesses Resham Singh and Giani Chain Singh. This communication from December 2008 between attorney Pannun and SP Ratn Sanjay of CBI clearly shows that CBI did not record statements of additional witnesses against Tytler who were available in USA and thus CBI failed to properly investigate Tytler’s role in November 1984 killing of Sikhs. Witnesses Resham Singh and Jasbir Singh also submitted fresh affidavits to the court reaffirming their continued willingness to testify against Tytler.

Based on Sikhs for Justice’s record of communication with CBI and recent affidavits of Resham Singh and Jasbir Singh reaffirming to testify against Tyler and his role in killing of Sikhs Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal ordered CBI to submit a written answer on January 25 as to why testimony of additional witnesses who were available and willing to testify during CBI’s visit to USA in December 2008 were not recorded.

On January 25, 2012 Sikhs for Justice’s legal counsels Advocate Navkiran Singh and Kamna Vohra will argue before the court that CBI failed to properly investigate Tytler’s role in November 1984 killings and thus the Closure Report accepted in April 2010 should be rejected and reinvestigation of Tytler through Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be ordered.

Police seize T-shirts bearing Sant Jarnail Singh’s images; Target Hondh Chillar whistle-blower

Parmjit Singh — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:08:56 +0000

Ludhiana, Punjab (December 22, 2011): Punjab Police is reported to have seized T-shirts wearing photos of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale.

A news reported by some sections of Indian media terms T-Shirts as “objectionable t-shirts used for the promotion of the cause of a banned militant outfit”, but it is not mentioned the name of the so-called banned outfit.

This time the police process is initiated on the complaint of Shiv Sena, a Hindu outfit, known for it’s anti-Sikh activities. Shiv Sena had objected to the installation of photo of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale at National Sikh Meusem, in Darbar Sahib Complex at Amritsar. This outfit, Shiv Sena, is termed as “social body” by the media reports.

As per information available with Sikh Siyasat Network Ludhiana police has registered FIR number 233 under section 153A, a part of offences against public tranquillity.

“A man named Manvinder in Ludhiana makes these t-shirts. These t-shirts have the photographs of militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and objectionable material has also been written on them and,” Surinder Singh, a police official, is reported to have said by media.

Manvider Singh Giaspura, who had discovered the remains of Sikh Genocide 1984 site Village Hondh Chillar, in Haryana said that he is being targeted by the State because he acted as a whistle-blower to preserve the Sikh Genocide 1984 site, which remained ignored for more than 25 years. His house was ransacked back in March, in his absence.

“Moreover the t-shirts had the photograph of Bhindranwale along with the text which read ‘when the Indian army sets its foot in the Harimandir Sahib complex, the foundation stone of Khalistan will be laid’ was written” news report added.

Sikh bodies to stage dharma for land of Gurudwara Gian Godri

Webmaster — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:58:33 +0000

Jalandhar, Punjab (December 17, 2011): As per media reports a number of Sikh organizations have announced to stage a dharna outside the BJP head office in New Delhi on December 20, to express their displeasure against the Uttarakhand government inaction on the issue of historic Gurdwara Gian Godri in Haridwar.

Addressing a press conference here, Panthic Sewa Lehar head Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal, Panch Pardhani leader and SGPC member Kulbir Singh Barapind and Khalsa Action Committee convener Mohkam Singh said the historic gurdwara, which marked the visit of first Sikh master Guru Nanak to Haridwar over 450 years back, was demolished during Sikh Genocide 1984.

“Sikh organizations and activists have been requesting the Uttrakhand government to restore the gurdwara land to them so that the shrine could be reconstructed. However, despite several pleas and enough historical evidence, and revenue records, to prove the presence of gurdwara, the BJP government of Uttrakhand was only offering land at some other place in the city,” they said.

“How can the historical place be shifted? Although there was a large area attached to the gurdwara, we are only demanding back the main area, where the gurdwara stood. It (area) measures only a few hundred square feet, but the BJP government has been stonewalling our pleas,” said Baba Daduwal.

Report of event “Tears and Ashes” organized by Sikh Activist Network

editor — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:43:45 +0000

- By Indira Prasht*

Note: The event – Tears and Ashes was organized by the Sikh Activist Network on November 29, 2011 at 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga.

Former Liberal MPs Sukh Dhaliwal of Surrey, B.C., and Andrew Kania of Brampton, Ontario, were honoured at the second annual Tears and Ashes event organized by youth from the Sikh Activist Network in Toronto last week for raising the November 1984 issue in Parliament.

Over one thousand Sikhs attended the event that commemorated November 1984 in a creative way with speeches by academics, Amnesty International representatives and human rights’ journalists, and acknowledgement of political leaders who took up this issue in the House of Commons.

Dhaliwal spoke from the heart as he underscored the importance of Sikh youth in organizing such commemorative events and acknowledged a motto displayed at the event: “Power belongs to the people.” He said that he always believed in that and told the youth that they are “the real power and part of the larger voice” to ensure that history is no longer suppressed and people are not silenced by those who forsake principles for politics and power.

He added: “It even happens here. Earlier, Indira Prahst spoke about silencing of people in Canada and that is exactly what happened when Sikhs for Justice and Sikh Activist Network and I came together to the Parliament to get the [1984 Sikh genocide] petition accepted in the House of Commons.”

He recalled moving to Canada with minimal English skills and little money, and acknowledged the opportunities that Canada had given him and the justice that Canada stands for. He added: “I felt it is my duty to honour that and stand in the House of Commons and present the petition to recognize 1984 as genocide.” Kania also noted the hurdles in Canada to expose Sikh issues. He said: “It was not easy to do what we did. … After getting educated about Sikh History, I together with Sikhs for Justice, helped to write the petition and presented it in Parliament as did Sukh and I was honoured to do that and I have no regrets because it was the right thing to do. What I learned was that you had thousands of innocent people killed and nobody has been brought to justice. As a lawyer and as a Canadian that troubled me.”

Participants at the Tears and Ashes event.

THE event also had a unique dimension with Sikh youth performing short skits in between the speeches and reciting poems they composed themselves which depicted the horrific suffering of Sikh families and the state violence inflicted on Sikhs in villages.

Also, what really struck many in the audience was the art display of Sikh artists who presented their work representing some aspects of Sikh history. One had an image of the Golden Temple in flames, another with a woman blindfolded. One painting that stood out for me was that of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by Anoop Kaur Virk, a student. The portrait captured a powerful expression of Gandhi. Her hair was composed of the word “justice” written hundreds of times and in the background were the names of innocent Sikhs killed in 1984.

I asked Virk what inspired her work and she said: “I wanted to recognize both the victims’ names [that have been] erased from history in the background, while [depicting] the perpetrators, still in their original glory, on ‘Mother India’s’ sari sash.”
This art piece captured in its own unique way the sentiment many people have felt towards Indira Gandhi’s role in Operation Blue Star, a mode of representation which cannot be adequately captured in words.

Indeed, memories of 1984 were kept alive throughout the event which could really be felt by the audience who were very engaged. Also, the spirit of being united was manifest with a raft of students from six different universities across Ontario and Montreal’s McGill University as well as dignitaries and academics who stood in solidarity. This mood was highlighted by NDP MP Andrew Cash who said: “It is an honour to be here tonight. It’s a Tuesday night, it’s raining outside, it’s the GTA [Greater Toronto Area] and this place is packed. This would have made Jack Layton so very, very proud.”

Powerful and informative presentations were given at the event. Harinder Singh, Executive Director of the Sikh Research Institute, clearly laid out what transpired in November 1984 and deconstructed the myths surrounding November 1984. He supported his points with recent facts and made reference to the commission and the limitations of the commission.

The focus of my presentation centred on the effects of 1984 being multifaceted and irreducible. I also illuminated how the label of “extremism” attached to Sikh youth serves the geopolitical climate and neo-liberalist ideals which explains why
Khalistan is conveniently and systematically tagged to the actions of Sikh youth.

NDP MP Jagmeet Singh (Bramalea-Gore-Malton), the first Canadian Amritdhari (baptized) Sikh MP, urged Sikh youth to be proud of their identity and pointed out that the lack of recognition of the Sikh genocide has also affected their self-confidence and psyche.

He added: “To combat these negative feelings and propaganda it is [important] to take pride in the Sikh philosophy which has been about bout equality and justice for all.”

He also suggested two reasons for the genocide, the first being for political gain and the second being a fear of what Sikh philosophy stood for.

Amnesty International Director, Sharmila Seteram, gave an illuminating speech on the violation of human rights of Sikhs in India and clearly laid out the articles. She said: “In 1984, 3,000 Sikhs were killed in four days following the assassination of Indira Gandhi and in 2011, 27 years later families are still waiting for justice, for the lives that were stolen during the massacre.”

She added: “The Indian government failed to uphold many of these articles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” She went over eight articles, among them: Article 3 – everyone has the right and liberty to security, Article 5 – no one should be subjected to torture … or inhumane treatment, and Article 9 – no one should be subject to arbitrary arrests, detention or exile.

She said: “Amnesty International calls on the Indian authorities to end impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations.” She added that the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to adhere to basic investigations such as recording eyewitness accounts and those of the survivors.

She said: “The Indian government only filed 586 criminal wrongdoings after the massacre. Many, many more investigations are foreclosed or dismissed due to a lack of evidence. … Only a small minority of police officers responsible for a range of human rights violations, including torture, death in custody, judicial killings and disappearance were brought to justice. … It is a [national] disgrace and those responsible for the massacre must be brought to justice.”
The evening ended with a moment of ‘Simran.’

IN closing, the event was a resounding success and the Sikh youth with the Sikh Activist Network should be honoured for their commitment and volunteering of their time to organize this powerful event, taking much time away from their academic studies and families.

A message of resistance was clear where Sikhs must continue to resist state violence and the tactics of the Indian and Canadian states to suppress Sikhs. In the words of Jay Grewal with Sikhs for Justice: “Our resistance is being foiled. The world’s sharpest sword is meaningless when the hand of the person refuses to wield it. These facts are useless if you today do not wish to act.”

* Indira Prasht
Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
and Race & Ethnic Relations Instructor,
Langara College, Canada.

Eyewitness claims to saw Amitabh Bachchan instigating mobs to kill Sikhs

Webmaster — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:12:08 +0000

New York, United States (December 14, 2011): An eyewitness has come forward with startling account of how he was present in front of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on October 31, 1984 when Bachchan shouted pointing towards a Sikh in the crowd “Maro saalon ko, desh ke ghaddaron ko”.

Witness Manjit Singh Saini, 52, originally from Kalu Sarai, Delhi presently residing in California, USA has decided to break his silence after Amitabh Bachchan approached Sri Akal Takhat Sahib pleading innocence. According to Saini, this however is not the first time that he is giving statement regarding Bachchan’s role in instigating killing of Sikhs. Earlier in 1985 he had submitted a written statement to the staff of the then Senior Officer of Delhi Police Ved Marwah, who was then investigating the November 1984 killing of Sikhs. Blaming Marwah for inaction, Saini stated that despite his written statement regarding Bachchan’s inciting violence against Sikh, no action of was taken against Bachchan by Delhi Police. Recounting the ordeal that he faced after submitting his 1985 statement to Delhi Police, Saini stated that he was forced to move from place to place while his house in Kalu Sarai continues to be under illegal occupation since November 1984.

According to Saini, on October 31, 1984 he saw Amitabh Bachchan walking out of AIIMS and screaming on top of his voice “Sikho ne Indira Ji ko mar dala” and then pointing to a turbaned Sikh man in the crowd, Bachchan roared “Maro saalon ko, desh ke ghaddaron ko”. Bachchan raised his arm and continued shouting “khoon ke cheentay Sikhon ke ghar tak puhnchanay chahiyay” and “khoon ka badla khoon”. The crowd, which was calm prior to Bachchan’s slogans became violent and attacked a Sikh in the gathering and how I narrowly escaped, stated Saini. According to Saini, “the whole incident of how Bachchan incited people against Sikhs in front of AIIMS reeled before my eyes as soon as I learnt that Bachchan is denying having incited violence against Sikhs”. In fact Bachchan used his super star status to ignite violence against Sikhs across India, added Saini.

Saini has given his sworn statement to Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) which is seeking criminal prosecution against Bachchan in Australia under “The Criminal Code Act 1995” which gives Australian courts jurisdiction in cases involving crimes against humanity even when such crime is committed outside Australia. According to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, international human rights lawyer SFJ will submit Saini’s eyewitness account regarding Bachchan’s open call of violence against Sikhs to Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate Bachchan’s role in November 1984.

Copies of Red card (Translated to English), Evidence of Property in Delhi and affidavit of Manjeet Singh Saini are available with Sikh Siyasat Network.

Evidence of Impunity: Records of Indian police declare 24 cases of 1984 violence as untraceable

Webmaster — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:26:12 +0000

Ludhiana (December 13, 2011): Professor William A. Schabas, an International Law Scholar and Chairman of Irish Centre for Human Rights, had observed in his work: ‘Genocide in International Law: Crimes of Crimes’, that “because genocide is committed, as a general rule, by the State or with its complicity, leaving genocide prosecution to the domestic courts may only ensure impunity”.

This observation provides clear explanation for widespread impunity for culprits, including high rank Indian Politicians, responsible for planning, organizing and executing genocidal massacre of Sikhs in November 1984.

A recent media report has revealed that as many as 21 cases registered by Delhi Police in connection with genocidal violence against Sikhs in 1984 are untraceable, according to an RTI reply.

Of the 56 cases registered by five police stations of the South West District against 225 persons under various sections of Indian Penal Code, three resulted in conviction, two were pending trials and in 30 cases, accused were acquitted, it said.

For the rest 21 cases, the RTI reply said they were “untraced”.

The cases, filed in Najafgarh, Dabri, Naraina, Inderpuri and Delhi Cantonment police stations of the national capital, were for allegedly inciting mob and killing people.
Some senior political leaders were made accused by the Justice G T Nanavati commission, established by the government to investigate cases related to genocidal massacre of 1984.

The genocidal violence against Sikhs were triggered throughout India following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

Exercising his Right to Information, advocate Vivek Garg had asked for details of cases registered by Delhi Police.

“Some of the cases registered during the tragic incident are untraceable. Infact, Delhi Police did not give the information about the victims,” Garg claimed.

According to the reply, a case registered on November 1, 1984 in Naraina police station in which “three unknown person (were) burnt and killed” was declared untraced on March 10, 1985.

Refusal by many to share dais with Jagdish Tytler forced him to withdraw his name

Prabh Singh — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:40:31 +0000

Jagdish Tytler

New Delhi, India (December 11, 2011): Protesting over the name of Jagdish Tytler among the awardees for Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Award, journalist Zafar Agha and Social worker Shabnam Hashmi, on 7th of December 2011 refused to accept the award and even attend the award function. The award was to be presented on December 10, 2011 in a function to be organized at India Islamic Cultural Centre here in New Delhi.

Later on December 10, 2011 many sections of media reported that congress leader Jagdish Tytler had withdrawn himself from Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Award ceremony which was to be held at the India Islamic Cultural Center. “Tytler took this decision after an appeal was made to the seven individuals shortlisted for the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Award, to not share platform with the former union minister over his alleged complicity in the 1984 Anti-Sikh progrom” a media report added.

Earlier, on December 7, while giving reason of refusing to accept the award Shabnam Hashmi said that we will not share the dais with those who are responsible for killings of Sikhs in 1984 violence. “There are many reports which clearly show that Tytler played important role in Sikh genocide. Union of Journalist that had covered the genocidal violence had also said that during the pogrom Tytler played important role against the Sikh.

Zafar Agha who had reported the incidents of violence said that like Gujarat massacre, 1984 pogrom was also an organised and state sponsored. We had never seen the carnage like that before. I know that Tytler played notable role in that, then how can I share an award with him. If I will be nominated for Nobel Prize with Narendra Modi I will not accept that too. In the same way, I will not accept this award with Jagdish Tytler. Modi is responsible for the genocide of Muslims and Tytler is of Sikh.

Zafar Agha further said that if we accept the award the Sikh will think that we are not with them and we are supporting Tytler. The Sikh had faced the very same situation that the Muslims are facing today. He said that I am not appealing any one to boycott the award but we should think that if we accept the award it means that we are playing with the sentiment of Sikh.

This is a sign of symbolic resistance to denial of justice for the victims of Sikh Genocide 1984.

India Islamic centre condemned for hosting Maulana Jauhar Award to Tytler

Prabh Singh — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:20:00 +0000

New Delhi (December 11, 2011): A statement by Shabnam Hashmi, Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Editor, Milli Gazette, Javed Anand, Citizen for Peace and Justice (CPJ), Manisha Sethi, Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JTSA), Kavita Srivastava, People’s Union for Civil Rights (PUCL), Lateef Mohd. Khan, Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee (CLMC) and others condemned India Islamic centre for hosting Maulana Jauhar Award to Jagdish Tytler, an organizer of genocidal violence against Sikhs.

“Maulana Mohd. Ali Jauhar Award to Jagdish Tytler, an accused of 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, is an insult to the award. Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar was a key figure of the Indian freedom movement, a leader of the Khilafat movement and one of the founders of Jamia Millia Islamia. Hence, it is sad that the name of Maulana Mohd. Ali Jauhar is being misused. We are sure this is not how he would have liked his name to be remembered, and that he would not have approved of being used to white-wash the sins of a politician who was part of communal violence and mayhem in the capital of India” read the statement released on December 8, 2011.

The ‘logic’, extended by the organiser and some of the awardees, since no court of law has found Tytler ‘guilty’ till date, there nothing wrong in honouring him is really farce. Should we understand, it is like since no court of law has found Narendra Modi ‘guilty’ till date for Gujarat genocide against Muslim, there is no harm in honouring him as well? Like Modi’s role in Gujarat Genocide, the role Tytler in the anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984 is an open secret, added the statement.

It is also regrettable that an award being given by some of the members of a minority (Muslim) community is honouring someone who has played a key role in the victimisation of another religious (Sikh) minority. It should also be a matter of shame for those who are sharing it with him. If the Citizens, especially Muslim awardees, are so insensitive towards the Sikh community, it is a matter of great shame.

While we condemn the organiser for choosing Tytler among the list of awardees, we also condemn India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, for hosting it. And once again appeals to the distinguished individuals, who are participating in this function either as an awardees or guest, to boycott it as a matter of protest.