Chandigarh, July 21
In the aftermath of the release, withdrawal and then public telecast of the movie Satluj, among other things, there is a brutal attempt to whitewash the killings of Hindus as the handiwork of central security and intelligence agencies. A majority of people are made to believe that the Hindus were killed not by terrorists, but by the “agencies,” despite irrefutable and conclusive evidence to the contrary. Yet nobody is contradicting this fake narrative.
Selective Outrage Ignored Hindu Victims
This is where the “liberals” have failed the Hindu minority, whether in Punjab or Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country. Yes, some rogue cops in Punjab did indulge in grave human rights violations. They were duly punished for that, although in several cases there was gross miscarriage of justice also, as people were convicted and punished through media trial before the final verdict by the courts was delivered.
The Politics of the Dilwan Massacre
Despite the fact that the ‘selective’ and ‘targeted killing’ of Hindu bus passengers in Dilwan, on the Amritsar-Jalandhar highway, was carried out by the close aides of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, some self-professed and self-styled human rights activists are even today claiming that the killings took place because of the internecine rivalry within the Congress as one section within the party wanted then Chief Minister Darbara Singh removed. After the Dilwan killing, Darbara Singh’s government was dismissed and Governor’s rule was imposed in Punjab as law and order had deteriorated beyond manageable levels. Interestingly, the main motive behind the Dilwan killings is now claimed to be to get rid of Darbara Singh. Sadly, nobody questions this narrative.
Bhindranwale’s Public Threat to Hindus—Conveniently Forgotten
Nobody talks about how Bhindranwale publicly threatened to kill 5000 Hindus if the police did not release a bus of one of his supporters that had been impounded. Bhindranwale’s open threat to kill Hindus is a matter of public record and is very much available on the internet.
When Hindu Passengers Were Repeatedly Dragged Out of Trains and Killed
There were two massacres of Hindus on the outskirts of Ludhiana on June 15, 1991, and December 26, 1991. Hindu passengers were selectively dragged out of the trains lined up and killed. Everyone knew about the identity of the terrorists. Everyone knew where they took shelter after the massacres.
Killings Dismissed, Agendas Advanced: Truth Buried Under Politics
Now, after 35 years, the same self-styled human rights activists are outrightly denying that these killings were done by terrorists. While in the case of the Dilwan killings, it is being said that the central government wanted to get rid of Darbara Singh; for the train massacres, the reason attributed is that certain vested interests wanted to get the planned state assembly elections countermanded.
Whitewashing Terror, Preaching Harmony: Hypocrisy Laid Bare
And people who are trying to whitewash these killings have the audacity to say that those attributing these killings to the Khalistani supporters are trying to vitiate the “communal harmony and brotherhood” in Punjab.
When Only Hindus Were Targeted
It is often claimed that even during the worst days of terrorism, the communal harmony was not disturbed in Punjab. Yes, there was no effect on the interpersonal relationships of people of different religions. Yet, only the Hindus were selectively pulled out of buses and trains and markets and killed. There were no protests and there was no resistance.
Different Targets, Different Motives
Yes, members of the Sikh community were also killed. However, only those Sikhs who opposed terrorism were targeted and killed, while Hindus were killed just for their religion.
Fabricated narratives, inherited falsehoods
As long as false narratives persist- that Hindus were killed not by terrorists but by the “agencies” to “malign and defame the movement”- a false history may get bequeathed to the next generation.
Truth Buried, Falsehood Inherited
In essence, if truth is buried under lies today, tomorrow’s generations will inherit only falsehood as history.
(Views expressed are personal.)