REMEMBER 1984; The Sikh Massacre: Let the silence be heard…
25 Years on…
Candlelight Vigil 09
4pm to 7pm – 4th November 2009 – Chamberlain Square (outside library),
Birmingham, UK
Plea to the Sikh Youth : Unite and Remember on Wed 4th November 2009
"Victims speak of mobs led by notoriously unruly youth congress
activists armed with voters lists from which Sikh homes and businesses
could be identified. How did kerosene materialise so effectively? Why
did the police declare open season on Sikhs?"
(Daily Telegraph, Nov 1984)
Sangat Jee,
The week commencing Monday 1st November marks the 25th anniversary of
one of the most ruthless and bloody chapters in Sikh history, when the
mirage of Indian secularism and democracy was exposed and Sikhs
suffered state orchestrated brutality across the country.
In the hours that followed the assassination of Indira
Gandhi, by her
Sikh bodyguards (Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Satwant
Singh), on 31st October 1984, her son Rajiv Gandhi instructed the
powers that be to "teach these bastards (the Sikhs) a lesson". The
state run media vilified Sikhs, broadcasting proactive slogans such as
"khoon ka badla khoon" (blood for blood), and spreading fake rumours
e.g. Sikhs had poisoned Delhi's water supply and that trains from
Punjab were arriving with dead Hindus on board.
What followed was the systematic and co-ordinated massacre of Sikhs,
not only in Delhi but also in Uttar Pardesh, Haryana, Binar and Kanur
amongst others.
The attacks followed a chilling pattern. Local politicians from the
ruling Congress party mobilised mobs of Hindu youths and armed them
with swords, iron rods, knives, clubs and combustible material,
particularly kerosene. Using electoral lists and ration shop records,
the Congress party
leaders guided the mobs to Sikh homes and
businesses, moving from one district to another in jeeps to personally
supervise the murder and rape of Sikh men and women.
(This is just a glimpse of the atrocities that occurred, for more, go
to
www.witness84.com ,
www.carnage84.com,
www.ensaaf.org )
Two of the Congress Party politicians implicated by eyewitnesses were
Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. You will not be surprised to learn
that neither has ever been successfully prosecuted, as attempts to do
so have either collapsed as a result of witness intimidation or been
locked in the judicial process.
Lawyers in India are trying to bring Kumar and Tytler and many others
to account for their actions, but their quest for justice faces
immeasurable obstacles as attempts to commence legal proceedings get
wrapped in red tape.
We must also show that we have not forgotten, and that we too
will
continue to demand that these criminals Kumar and Tytler and co are
brought to justice.
The Sikh youth of the region will congregate at Chamberlain Square in
Birmingham City Centre on Wednesday 4th November, from 4pm to 7pm to
raise awareness amongst the wider community as to the injustice and
suffering endured by Sikhs in their 'homeland'. Speakers including
British MPs will be invited to show their support.
Above all, however, your support is required. Spread the word and let
us ensure there is an overwhelming attendance on 4th November.
In the same way that the attacks on Sikhs were indiscriminate,
regardless of caste, wealth, social status and irrespective of whether
they were practicing or not, each and everyone of us, whether
amritdhari or not, should feel the pain that still haunts many of our
mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in India every day.
PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE
and SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON THE 4TH NOVEMEBER 2009
