28th Anniversary of 1984 mass Sikh genocide(not riots)
November 1, 2012 marks the 28th Anniversary of 1984 Sikh genocide in India. The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (responsible for desecration of Sri Harmandar Sahib) by two her own Sikh body guards proved catastrophic for the Sikhs in India. The central government and the radical factions of the majority faith utilized the opportunity to hit back hard on the entire Sikh community. Just hours after Gandhi’s death, armed mobs stopped buses and trains, in and around Delhi. Sikhs passengers were segregated and pulled out and cruelly doused with kerosene. Later on, massive genocide was triggered against Sikhs for 3 days (Nov 1, 2, 3 1984) in which thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed.
The aftermath of Gandhi’s death is often termed as riots which erupted due to anti Sikh sentiment. A lot of first hand accounts of 1984 blatantly dismiss this as nothing but a giant lie. Vide-versa, there are many incidents where many  non-Sikhs actually provided refuge or saved the helpless Sikhs. 1984 anti-sikh pogrom was a state sponsored terrorism and mass genocide carried out in a very professional manner to eliminate Sikhs. According to Citizens report of Aug, 2010:
“On October 31, 1984 Congress party officials provided assailants with voter lists, school registration forms, and ration lists. These lists were used to find the location of Sikh homes and business, an otherwise impossible task because they were located in unmarked and diverse neighborhoods. On the night of October 31, the night before the massacres began; assailants used the lists to mark the houses of Sikhs with letter “S”. In addition, because most of the mobs were illiterate, Congress Party officials provided help in reading the lists and leading the mobs to Sikh homes and businesses in the other neighborhoods. By using the lists the mobs were able to pinpoint the locations of Sikhs they otherwise would have missed. Had it been a fair fight then Sikhs would have definitely shown their mettle.”
Two Sikhs accused of planning and killing Indira (Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh) were hanged till death in 1989 itself. But 28 years later, not even a single state employee (politicians, policemen and bureaucrats involved in 1984 genocide) who colluded in killing sikhs has been brought to justice. Another shocking fact is that more than 10,000 sikhs were mercilessly butchered in 3 days but not even a single central minister stepped down on moral grounds for the bloodshed of thousands of innocent citizens of their own country. Instead they prepared a cover up with the help of media by giving a pre-planned genocide, the color of dynamic riots.
These shameful acts of killings and false cover ups show that how much safety of a common Sikh is ensured in India? The lament judicial system and gross injustice indicates that there is no guarantee that such incidents will not be repeated in the future. On the contrary, whenever Sikhs try to voice their concerns they are simply declared as harm to the national integrity. It is satirical in the case of Sikhs who have done everything for India. They have even laid down their lives to protect India and this is how they were being paid back? Iqbal who once wrote: “Saare Jahan se achan hindustan hamara“, later himself refuted the Indian state by saying:
मूद्त्ते बीत गयी है इस रंजो गम को सहते हुए, शर्म सी आती है इस वतन को वतन कहते हुए |(Muddte Beet Gayi Hai Iss Ranjo Gam Ko Sehte Hue, Sharam Si AAti Hai iss watam ko watan kete hue)
[Meaning: After all the sufferings Indian state has given to me, I feel shameful even in taking its name]
With such gross atrocities on Sikhs in post independence Indian era have forced them to think twice before living in India. This is the reason that the demand of a separate nation aroused among Sikhs. When you cannot bear us then separate us. On the side-note sikhs would love to be a part on any country, where their fundamental rights are safeguarded and that’s what India should do to remain united, peaceful and prosperous.