New Delhi - The Hindustan Times Sunday recently published a report stating that the SAD-BJP led Punjab government sent a secret communication to central government requesting the deletion of various blacklisted Sikh activists.
According to the Times article, the report includes the names of Gurmit Singh Aulakh, Ganga Singh Dhillon, Gurmej Singh Gill, who setup Khalistan Government-in-exile offices across Europe and Canada during the 1980’s.
The other names include activists linked to Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Liberation Force, and International Sikh Youth Federation, Sikh Youth of America, and Akali Dal Panch Pardhani.
According to Indian press reports, the Badal government’s request is being seen as a tactic similar to the one taken by the right-wing Hindu Bhartya Janta Party (BJP), its ruling partner, when it allowed the return of Jagjit Singh Chahan, the self-styled “President of the Republic of Khalistan” into Indian soil in June of 2001.
During that time, the BJP also attempted to court various Sikh hardliners through appeasement tactics orchestrated by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a fascist right-wing ideological partner of the BJP. Much of the courting drama between the so-called “militants” and “Khalistanis” was played out via RSS representatives such as Rulda Sinh, and continued until his death in 2009.
From Rulda to Sarna
After Rulda’s death, Parmjit Sarna, the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) seemed to have taken over Rulda’s role in placating the Khalistanis and has made similar requests to the Congress led government for the revoking the so-called black list.
In 2005, Sarna and Rulda, both raised suspicions when they traveled to together to Pakistan during the purported “Rath Yatra” - their real aim to send out feelers to activists who were interested in giving up on the idea of Khalistan and returning to India. Parmjit Sarna has since traveled extensively across Europe, North America, and even Pakistan, meeting and courting many of those black listed individuals who want to return to India.
Interestingly, the SAD-BJP government has indicated that they have no objection if some of those blacklisted who are wanted by the Government for "anti-national" activities also return to their “home land”, but indicated that they would have to face the criminal cases pending against them.
Pacification through Sukhbir Badal
It was also stated that that if an individual felt that he was being falsely implicated, he had the option to apply to the home department for an inquiry into the case. It needs to be noted that, conveniently, the home department is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.
The official request by the BJP-Badal government on behest of the black-listed Khalistanis is being seen not only as politically significant maneuver by the ruling Akali Dal but perhaps a game of one-upmanship in order to placate and soften the anti-Indian rhetoric of political Sikh activists.
Will removing individuals from the black-list also silence their opposition of the pathetic human rights record of this world’s most populated “democracy”? Will they then turn a blind eye towards the horrid details of the genocide their Sikh Nation has had to endure during the last three decades?
More importantly, will this appeasement also silence their conscience? This is yet to be seen.
Partial Black List (from Hindustan Times):
Sikhs living in Punjab- (7)
1. Kulbir Singh Bara Pind, one time Khalistan Commando Force(KCF) militant extadited from USA four years ago wanted in three criminal cases. Now general secretary SAD(Panch Pardhani) headed by Daljit Singh Bittu.
2. Gurdev Singh Pappi member of Khalistan National Army from Amritsar district, now facing trial in a militancy related case.
3. Harpal Singh Cheema ex-KCF militant, acquitted in criminal cases now member SAD(Panch Pardhani).
4. Paramjit Singh Dhadi alias Pamma member international Sikh students Federation, lodged in Nabha jail.
5. Jasbir Singh alias Pargat Singh former activist Khalistan Commando Force(Panjwar group). Now lodged in Nabha jail.
6. Mukhtiar Singh of Brahmpura village in Tarn TARN.
7. Jagdeep Singh Bhilli of Sunam. He surrendered before police.
Sikhs with no criminal cases- (39)
1. Tejinder Singh of Raipur Hoshiarpur activist of Babbar Khalsa International.
2. Gurmej Singh Gill alias Geja former militant living in Barmingham, UK.
3. Sardool Singh from Dhirpur in Jalandhar district. Activist of Babbar Khalsa Internationa now living in Germany.
4. Davinder Singh Nahal member Babbar Khalsa International from Gudeh village in Jalandhar now living in Barmingham UK.
5. Randhir Singh ISYF member village Birampur Jalandhar.
6. Satwinder Singh Gill alias John Gill ISYF (Rode) and Khalistan Liberation Force member of Behram village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.
7. Balbir Singh member ISYF(Rode) from village Paddi in Hoshiarpur. Now living in Germany.
8. Balbir Singh Canadian member World Sikh Organisation now living in Canada.
9. Parsham Singh ISYF village Miani in Hoshiarpur now living in Germany.
10. Jatinder Vir Singh member AISSF from village Padhiana in Jalandhar district, now in Germany.
11. Avtar Singh Sanghera member Babbar Khalsa International from Shrinh village in Jalandhar district, now livin g in UK.
12. Satnam Singh member Babbar Khalsa International of Gill village in Jalandhar district. Now living in Germany.
13. Dhanna Singh alias Balbir Singh of Khara Majha village in Jalandhar now living in USA.
14. Gurjit Singh Kaka alias Samra member ISYF village Samra in Jalandhar now living in UK.
15. Raghbir Singh member ISYF village Paragpur in Jalandhar.
16. Hardevinder Singh alias Tarvinder Singh Babbar Khalsa member of village Manma in Kapurthala. Now living in Germany.
17. Satpal Singh Khinda member ISYF village Lakhan ke Padde in Kapurthala district now living in Germany.
18. Avtar Singh Tari of Khalistan Liberation Force from village Ramghar Bhullar in Ludhiana now in Canada.
19. Malkiat Singh member ISYF village Chaheru Kapurthala. Now in Pakistan.
20 Balwinder Singh Chaheru member ISYF village Chaheru Kapurthala. Now in UK.
21. Satinderpal Singh Gill alias Jathedar member ISYF viullage Badhni Kalan in Moga. Now in Canada.
22. Gurinder Singh Mana member Sikh Youth of America. Now lives in Patiala.
23. Parminder Singh Harfan Maula alias Harjinder who hijacked Indian Airlines plane in 1984 to Lahore. He was sentenced in Pakistan. Later deported by Canada to India. He now lives in Chandigarh.
24. Joga Singh alias Darshan Singh of Babbar Khalsa. Village Sandhwan. Now in Canada.
25. Amarjit Singh Chahal alis Lalli alias Kawarjit Babbar Khalsa member. Village Ajauli, Ropar. Now in Canada.
26. Manpreet Singh Grewal member ISYF village Bhawanigarh Sangrur. Now living in New Zealand.
27. Kashmir Singh member ISYF of village Gosla in Nawanshehar. Lives in Paris, France.
28. Shingara Singh Mann alias Amabassodor member Babbar Khalsa International. Village Mnadali, Nawanshehar. Now in Paris, France.
29. Santokh Singh Khela member Babbar Khalsa village Sahangra in Hoshiarpur. Now lives in Canada.
30. Gurinder Singh of Canada now in UK.
31. Sodhi Singh Sodhi member ISYF village Kishanpur in Jalandhar, now in Canada.
32. Ganga Singh Dhillon Khalistan leader now living in Virginia, USA.
33. Gurmit Singh Aulakh president Council of Khalistan living in Washington.
34. Sewa Singh Lalli village Kot Fatuhi in Hoshiarpur. Now lives in UK.
35. Massa Singh Alais Major Singh member Babbar Khalsa village Rasulpur, Jalandhar. Now in Norway.
36. Resham Singh of Babbar Khalsa village Sandhu Chatha in Kapurthala. Lives in Germany.
37. Gurmit Singh Amloh member ISYF village Khanian Fatehgarh Sahib. living in Germany.
38. Jagtar Singh alias Avtar Singh member ISYF village Kaleke, Moga. Now in USA.
39. Ajaib Singh Bagri alias A.S.Khalsa. Babbar Khalsa leader living in Canada.
