Radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa on Friday criticised Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for his observation that Sikh militants allegedly based in Pakistan were under pressure from ISI to provoke trouble in Punjab.
The party had also objected to the use of the word “Sikh,” while Mr. Shinde had sought to raise the spectre of revival of terrorism in Punjab. While Mr. Shinde spoke on the matter, Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, was present and chose to remain silent “Why did Sukhbir not register his dissent and objection then and there,” Dal Khalsa president H.S. Dhami asked.
Terming Mr. Shinde’s statement customary rhetoric, Mr. Dhami said that there was nothing new in the stand of leaders, which had always aimed at portraying the Sikhs in a bad light. “There is a strong anti-Pakistan feeling prevailing in India deliberately created by section of media and the intelligence agencies. By linking Sikhs with Pakistan, the Indian leadership was trying to kill two birds with one stone.” he said.
Mr. Dhami said that though the Minister’s views were baseless, unfounded and ridiculous, they were aimed at constructing a violent picture of Sikhs in the eyes of the world especially when the western governments were trying to curtail hate crimes against the Sikhs in their countries.
Published - June 08, 2013 02:08 am IST
