Jump to content

Book Blames Giani, Sanjay For Punjab Mess In ’80S


kdsingh80

Recommended Posts

Book blames Giani, Sanjay for Punjab mess in ’80s

New Delhi, May 31

The late President Giani Zail Singh's role during his tenure as Punjab CM has been criticised as also that of Sanjay Gandhi for the Punjab crisis in the eighties in a book on the Congress.

The fifth volume of the series “A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress” makes critical observations on "dirty politics" in the name of religion in Punjab that it concluded was one of the factors for terrorism and the Khalistan agitation in Punjab.

"Dirty politics and the use of religion for political ends clearly boomeranged on the Akali and Congress leadership with diastrous consequences for the Sikh community and the Indian state", the book says, commenting on the situation in the aftermath of Operation Blue -star.

The book says: "By introducing a religious tone to Punjab politics, Giani Zail Singh succeeded to a great extent in weakening the Akalis. But the result--growing communalisation of provincial politics--was disastrous."

The book notes that Zail Singh organised one of the biggest religious processions "in order to secure Sikh votes for the Congress".

"Zail Singh, in complete collaboration with Sanjay, picked up a relatively obscure young fundamentalist lay preacher named Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with a view to building him up as a rival to the Akali leadership.

"It is inconceivable that they could have done so without Indira Gandhi's consent. Sanjay and Zail Singh believed that the young preacher could embarrass the Akali Dal. Precisely the reverse happened. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale originally planted by Giani Zail Singh to weaken the Akalis, had outgrown his shoes," the book says.

The Congress has, however, distanced itself from the views expressed in the book, saying there is no official book on the party's history.

Party spokesman Manish Tewari has stressed that the book, brought out by a group of editors headed by senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee, has two disclaimers. "In no circumstances, the Congress subscribes to these views," Tewari said.

In the book preface, Mukherjee notes that the Congress desired the volume to be edited and contributed by experts in order to generate an "objective and scholarly perspective for the period under review and not necessarily have a party perspective". — PTI

The fifth volume of the series "A Centenary History of the Indian National Congress" makes critical observations on "dirty politics" in the name of religion in Punjab. Brought out by a group of editors headed by senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee, it has two disclaimers

In the book preface, Pranab Mukherjee has noted that the Congress desired the volume to be edited and contributed by experts in order to generate an "objective and scholarly perspective for the period under review and not necessarily have a party perspective".

"In no circumstances, the Congress subscribes to these views- Cong spokesman Manish Tewari

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110601/nation.htm#7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

However Sant ji was introduced to the situation, his reaction on learning that his people were being placed in the middle of political shenanigans wasn't surprising.

I think they (Congress) may have originally thought that they had a compliant, mouldable figure on their hands, but sant ji wasn't the backboneless, compromising type.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The congress may have tried to use Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindiranwalay to their own advantage. But Sant jee saw through their game and tried his best in uniting all Sikhs on a common front rather then being used by political parties. Instead of opposing the Akalis, he tried to awaken their conscience/zameer to what was happening to the Sikhs. Sant Jee was not some simpleton. If you listen to his speeches from back then, he had a lot of up to date political knowledge and understood the forces that were trying to use Sikhs as ponds on a political chessboard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you listen to his speeches from back then, he had a lot of up to date political knowledge and understood the forces that were trying to use Sikhs as ponds on a political chessboard.

Bhai ji I think that should be 'pawns' not 'ponds'.

Yes I agree, he saw through the ruse and reacted openly defiantly. I wonder at what exact point did the government realise that they had underestimated him and miscalculated it all?

Or were they relying on what happened all along, so they could unleash what they did afterwards?

Edited by dalsingh101
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bhai ji I think that should be 'pawns' not 'ponds'.

Yes I agree, he saw through the ruse and reacted openly defiantly. I wonder at what exact point did the government realise that they had underestimated him and miscalculated it all?

Or were they relying on what happened all along, so they could unleash what they did afterwards?

LOL, yes I meant Pawns.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Zail Singh, in complete collaboration with Sanjay, picked up a relatively obscure young fundamentalist lay preacher named Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale with a view to building him up as a rival to the Akali leadership.

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale originally planted by Giani Zail Singh to weaken the Akalis, had outgrown his shoes," the book says.

Exactly how did zaila pick up Sant Ji?

What was Sant Ji placed as by zaila? Head of Taksal?

think about it logically, why would the police of a congress state burn sant ji's bus with guru saroop and attack his students if he was their pawn? wouldnt that be an awfully stupid thing to do ?

This Sant ji was brought into politics by zaila/congress is rubbish. still people churn the same stuff out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This Sant ji was brought into politics by zaila/congress is rubbish. still people churn the same stuff out.

Maybe being 'brought into politics' is an overstatement. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that they (Congress) tried to get mileage out of a charismatic, popular, upcoming preacher who was having noticeable success at what he was doing?

Also, don't think that lower grunts (i.e. the police) are necessarily in the know about the schemes of the high ranking politicians.

I don't think he was their pawn. They may have tried to use him, but he didn't play their game. If anything that makes him the absolute opposite of a 'pawn', whatever that may be called (if their is a word for it).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bringing people back to gurmat marg?

Making people take Amrit and live along spartan Khalsa lines i.e. no drink/drugs or consumerist focused existences. A focus on prayer/religion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Making people take Amrit and live along spartan Khalsa lines i.e. no drink/drugs or consumerist focused existences. A focus on prayer/religion.

Thats exactly the kind of thing the Indian govt were discouraging the sikhs from doing.

Also the lower level fools of the police can be excpected to do stupid things, but this raid which resulted in deliberate burning of Guru saroop was led by a SSP.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Making people take Amrit and live along spartan Khalsa lines i.e. no drink/drugs or consumerist focused existences. A focus on prayer/religion.

Sikhs at present are one of the worst materialistic community of India ,so can we say that GOI won that war convincingly ,Also what was the benefit for GOI if Sikhs become druggie or materialistic .SIKhs fought very bravely for India in war against Pakistan.Keeping them as their hunting dogs was in much benefit for India.

The other logic I heard is Hinduism wants to crush Sikhism ,again if we look at Congress party they hardly did anything for Hindu's Whether it is Kashmir,Bangladesh or Sri Lanka

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sikhs at present are one of the worst materialistic community of India ,so can we say that GOI won that war convincingly ,Also what was the benefit for GOI if Sikhs become druggie or materialistic .SIKhs fought very bravely for India in war against Pakistan.Keeping them as their hunting dogs was in much benefit for India.

The other logic I heard is Hinduism wants to crush Sikhism ,again if we look at Congress party they hardly did anything for Hindu's Whether it is Kashmir,Bangladesh or Sri Lanka

the congress never was hindu party, when i hear this hinduism crushing sikhism, i keep wondering what crushing could an 'ism ' do ? were they so powerful they would have crushed islam in india atleast, the best time was during the british rule, that never happened.

there is no sole organization which can be said to truely represent hindus and also no hindu sampraday has something as organized as the SGPC

this hindu bashing done by those so called sikh organization is only tainting the image of sikhi among non sikhs and their ak-47 waale posters and songs is slowly creeping in the image of a talibanised sikh.

they are forgeting that India is a place where you can stand and shout khalistan zindabad and never forget 84 in one corner but do that in pakistan occupied punjab only to find your family missing someday.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...