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Nuclear Deal and The Sikhs
Jagmohan Singh
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On the eve of the trust vote in Indian Parliament, the author
writes an open letter to the young chieftain of the Badal Akali
Dal in Punjab, ruing the lack of debate and discussion on the
Indo-US civil nuclear deal from the perspective of Sikh and
Punjab interests. |
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 Dear Sukhbir
Singh Badal
Waheguru Ji Ka
Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki
Fateh!
While this
letter is being sent to you, the first Sikh prime minister of
India,
Manmohan Singh has won the vote of confidence on the floor of the
Indian Parliament, on the issue of the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Akali votes against him and the UPA coalition, notwithstanding.
It has been
reported in the media, that you have threatened, your father who is
the chief minister of
Punjab has
cajoled and a local police chief has pr omised
the one dissenting Member of Parliament, Sukhdev
Singh Libra,
who has abstained
from the vote against the party whip on the issue.
It is not for me
to say what your party should do against him for his indiscipline,
or do anything at all. What has concerned me and another handful of
Sikhs across the globe is that Sikh Members of Parliament and Sikh
Members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly have not debated the
Indo-US deal at all.
You have
recently returned from a trip of the
United States
and it was hoped that you would enlighten your party colleagues in
the Indian Parliament and in the Punjab Assembly about the details
of the 123 agreement and its impact and implications for the state
of Punjab
and the Sikhs as an ethnic minority in the country.
I believe that
for the last three years, the Indian Left has been crying hoarse,
rightly or wrongly, that the nuclear deal is not in
India’s national
interest. The Bharatiya Janta Party –your allies initiated the
process for the deal but felt “left out”, as Manmohan Singh marched
far too fast for them.
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The most
troublesome aspect that comes to light is that though you
belong to the younger crop of politicians in Punjab, sadly
you too display the same disparaging contempt for dialogue,
debate and dissension. |
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What is the 123
agreement? What is the Hyde Act? What is the difference between a
civil nuclear deal and a weapon based nuclear agreement? Why is it
good for
India? If it is so good for India, is it good for the US too? Is
there a hidden agenda?
What are the
international implications of the deal? Why does
India
not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? Why are some of the
Nuclear Supplier Group countries opposing some aspects of the deal?
Will there be
nuclear waste? Where will it be dumped? Will the location of such a
plant in or near
Punjab make the
people of Punjab vulnerable to a nuclear conflagration in case of
war?
What is in the
deal for
Punjab? Have you envisaged that the nuclear deal would be good for
Punjab
and the Sikhs who are in a majority here?
No one has
bothered to answer these questions in detail. The most troublesome
aspect that comes to light is that though you belong to the younger
crop of politicians in
Punjab,
sadly you too display the same disparaging contempt for dialogue,
debate and dissension. Your party had eight members of Parliament,
including yourself. It was imperative that there should have been a
public debate on the deal in
Punjab.
You should have invited all political parties, social groups,
environment NGOs, erstwhile and serving members of the Punjab State
Electricity Board and all others who had something to say on the
subject and debated the whole issue threadbare before going to
Parliament.
Tell me
honestly, how many of the members of parliament owing allegiance to
your party may have read even one page from the reams of material
that the Lower House of Parliament secretariat would have given to
them to understand the debate? Well, there was no need for it, for
they were sure, as you were that the only step that would be taken
would be to support the right-wing party, the BJP in parliament
whatever stand it takes. This is the tragedy.
The tragic docu-drama
of the Sikhs on the issue, however, does not end with you and your
party. It was surprising and laughable to note that senior members
of the Sikh nation, from various parts of the world, including
Punjab, were emotionally carried away to vote for Manmohan Singh,
merely because he was a Sikh and some got excited that he had quoted
from the verse of Guru Gobind Singh in his speech in Parliament.
Let us reflect
on what happened in the past few months. Manmohan Singh, depicted
as a weak person by one and all –from politicians to the media, has
emerged victorious and he is now “the leader” which
India has
witnessed after a long time. Good for him. Congratulations to him
for shedding the weakling image and emerging stronger through sheer
grit of hard work, determination and foresight.
But, let us go
further. The overriding “national interest” for which Manmohan
Singh emerged victorious may be good for him and his allies may be
it is good for
India and some
parts of the country, but it was required of you and all other
parties in Punjab to debate it from the Punjab point of view.
Not a single
debate has happened anywhere in
Punjab or in the
Diaspora on the subject. No group of young religious and political
activists, no NGO working on Sikh rights, no Sikh media, no Sikh
religious organisation, no civil liberties or human rights group, no
Sikh political party worked to make this a people’s issue.
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Was
there a Sikh view? It was lost somewhere between the Sikh
face of Manmohan Singh and the bland Members of Parliament
of the Akali Dal. It was lost between the “national
interest” of the Congress and the “loss of opportunity” of
the Bharatiya Janta Party. |
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Simranjit Singh
Mann from
Punjab and Dr.
Amarjit Singh from the USA have consistently been opposing the deal
and have been citing substantive reasons for their stand. However,
there have been no serious and concerted moves to involve the people
of Punjab.
When the
Congress of Punjab invoked “the Sikh conscience vote”, they forgot
that in the name of “larger national interest”, Punjabis have been
cheated of their water and power resources since 1955. In
contravention of the provisions of the Indian constitution, the
waters of
Punjab are a
central subject, whereas it is a state subject for all other states
of the country.
The whole of
Punjab
today –your futuristic “California”,
is reeling under a 10 hour power cut in residential houses and
industrial units, while power continues to be drained away from
Punjab.
What is the guarantee that we would get a share of the civil
nuclear energy, as and when it comes to
India?
It is my view
that leaders of ethnic nationalities, who do not debate, fail to
negotiate. The logic is not difficult to explain. When one is not
aware of the issues ab initio, it is so very easy for the
“intelligent majority” to win over and to deceive the minority
leadership. This has been our fate for long. Parties in
Punjab have been
sending those of their leadership to Parliament, who has not
projected Sikh and Punjab interests. Punjab Parliamentarians
function as leftovers from the political scene of
Punjab.
The extent of participation of Parliamentarians from
Punjab or the
lack of it should be a study in itself.
You have shown
spectacular acumen in winning elections and also having the
management skills and foresight to prepare for the forthcoming
elections. Probably you may win. But only you will win. The Sikhs
will lose.
Punjab will
lose. There was no light at the end of the tunnel in Faridkot, and
there is no likelihood of a glowing torch in Bhatinda. Without
bargaining or negotiating terms from the Punjab point of view, you
have perhaps dealt a blow to the as-of-now still-born oil refinery
project in Bhatinda -which is likely to be your next constituency.
So, what do we
do Kakaaji? Shall we resign to our fate as you have promised
yourself that you would rule
Punjab for the
next 25 years?
The Young Khalsa
would have to respond to the times. It is not too late. While
India goes through the last leg of getting civil nuclear energy, you
must remember and so must the Young Khalsa, that let us all sit up
and discuss the matter. Let us present a Sikh view on the Indo-US
deal.
During the
parliamentary proceedings, the Muslim view point came out
prominently. Some thought that Muslims opposed it; some said that
the Muslims didn’t, but the interest of the majority of the Muslim
community came out to the fore in various forums and debate.
Was there a Sikh
view? It was lost somewhere between the Sikh face of Manmohan Singh
and the bland Members of Parliament of the Akali Dal. It was lost
between the “national interest” of the Congress and the “loss of
opportunity” of the Bharatiya Janta Party.
The Guru was
clear in his teaching, Thaal vich tin vastu payo, sat, santokh
vichar. The situation today is crystal clear, we have forsaken
truth, acceptance of the will of the Guru’s is a distant dream for
us and deliberation and debate, we have consigned to the dustbin.
Before it is too
late, it is time to reconnect to the commandment of the Guru.
Sincerely
Jagmohan Singh
Jagmohan Singh
is a political commentator based in
Ludhiana.
He may be contacted at
jsbigideas@gmail.com
23
July, 2008
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