Instead of working towards the development and prosperity of Punjab, most of the diaspora Sikhs, and some Indian Sikhs like Amritpal and yourself, seem to have an agenda of further impoverishing it. All the time and resources that the Sikhs world over are pouring into propagating this Amritpal propaganda could have very well been used to build a couple of schools or to setup businesses for dozens of Punjabi Sikhs.
I'm sorry, but it's unimaginably stupid to think you can form a separate country Khalistan through some uncivilized protests and graffiti, or even an armed rebellion. India is not a similar federation like the US, you cannot carve out a new country here without an all-out war with the Indian Army, and perhaps a subsequent civil war too with the 1.3 billion Indian populace. There's no possibility of a referendum either. Just look at Kashmir - 75 years and a backing of a nuclear armed state couldn't do much apart from destroying the region's economics and the future of their coming generations. Don't push Punjab towards a similar outcome.
If you diaspora Sikhs are so much concerned about the wellbeing of Punjabi Sikhs, then why not form organizations that have an economic agenda instead of a religious one? For instance, you can create funds that help start-ups by Sikhs, gives a platform to Punjabi artists, funds innovation in agriculture, builds modern schools in villages, gives one-on-one mentoring to the youth. There's so much you guys can do other than furthering religious agendas and funding separatists like Amritpal, but sadly you never will.
I completely agree with you Prithviraj .For all the Sikh Diaspora who are promoting the K word , Sikhs in Punjab and India do not want it .Punjab has a huge population of other religions too. Are the Sikh Diaspora relinquishing their foreign passports to come and run their utopian dream ? Why do not they no adopt a village in Punjab and ensure it has a state of the Art school, teachers who get paid , a health centre that is clean and has a doctor !! Innovative methods of farming , support for the farmers to diversify ? Women empowerment , Rural tourism, Promotion of Arts and Heritage .. Gurmeher , very disappointed by this write up . Also for the many who want a Khalistan , please read this KHALISTAN - A PIPE DREAM......
1.Irrespective of claims, it was the strong will of the common men and women of Punjab who shunned terrorism in the 90s. When miscreants enter the main stream they tarnish the good name and pious intentions. No one would want Punjab dragged back into those dark days !
Amritpal Singh and his gang of weapons toting supporters may try as much as they want, things are unlikely to change. It always starts with good intentions till power intoxicates. A generation that has lived through the 90s will not tread that path again. I am eager to ask the proponents of Khalistan for their plan to execute the merger of parts of Haryana, HP, Rajasthan and Pakistan ( Punjab) into their vision of Khalistan. Are they bonkers, wanting to merge a mismanaged and economic disaster called Pakistan Punjab. How will this land - locked vision of theirs survive and flourish. Will the debt that has accumulated be wished away . How will your Road and Rail network function ? Would you issue Visas for visiting Ambala or Sonipat. There are so many questions that Amritpal Singh with all his bluster and pomp cannot answer.
Let it be known that the masses and majority do not want any truck with Khalistan. As an individual, I, do not surrender my options to Waris Punjab De. This is just a spanner in the Punjab Govts functioning, which we hope is determined enough to bring it to a halt.
Khalistan is not an agenda for over 2:50 Cr Punjabis living in Punjab. It could be aspirational for some NRI Punjabis, many of whom had fled Punjab during the dark days. For Waheguru sake allow the Punjabis to go about their lives without having to fight on fronts other than drugs, unemployment and growing agricultural distress.
Well said, Sir! Lakhs of Sikhs who live outside Punjab all over India never face all the problems that Amritpal was claiming to correct. This clearly means that all those said problems are not Sikh problems, but a regional and political problem. I've never seen a Sikh living in Mumbai or in Bengaluru and taking drugs and wanting Khalistan.
Either you are completely naive to gauge the consequences of his ideology Or you are doing it to gain popularity among diaspora using his family. In both cases Panjab & it's people will suffer. That's how traitors are born in family of Respected Soldiers.
Answers to the two questions you asked in the last are
1. It is not about young people desire, How can it is mere young people desire , when Guru made Sikhs sovereign than directing the question on youth desire is wrong.
2. Answer to the 2nd question is that It is not about separtism ,It is about rights and freedom from Indian state colonization on Panjab. Want of sovereignty is if separtism than Gandhi , Nehru, and Bhagat singh are not freedom fighters ,they are than also separtist.
In the last I would say to the writer of this article , Kaur you should learn Sikh perspective and worldview to have a understanding of the Panjab .Standing with your tribe is the most proudest thing you can do.
Firstly, i will congratulate you for writing a first person piece as a journalist, which is en extremely important task to investigate any issue. However, i feel your piece misses out on certain questions that you might have asked but avoided to disclose in public. But my question to his family is how can Sikhi or Punjabiyat prevail through the tactics of arms or secession.
The 10 Gurus never spoke of anything like that but rather took up arms to help the large population. I agree that the current regime is brandishing people left right and centre under UAPA as anti-nationalist, but using religion to pursuade the masses is not correct way of politics. If he is such a committed person towards Punjabiyat, why not work in the development of the state. While I like you have been a journalist and is concerned about the prevailing circumstances grappling the state of Punjab, would want to read more from the conversation or the questions, you as a journalist must have asked.
I resonate with your concerns that you have beautifully described in your piece. But may be we need to focus on HOWs rather the WHYs.
For a women like Kiranpreet who is from UK, my heart and soul goes out to her and appreciates her passion for Punjabiyat. But maybe Amritpal was/is influenced by wrong reasons of development.
Nevertheless, all the best for the work you are doing.
This is absolutely absurd and low thinking to demand for separation of Punjab from India or call it freedom from Indian state or attaining sovereignty. Punjab is the integral part of India, if we keep on demanding for the establishment of sovereign state because of the language and culture or religious beliefs then think about how many sovereign states would be formed? With such a thought one cannot bring unity and harmony among Indians.
1.Irrespective of claims, it was the strong will of the common men and women of Punjab who shunned terrorism in the 90s. When miscreants enter the main stream they tarnish the good name and pious intentions. No one would want Punjab dragged back into those dark days !
Amritpal Singh and his gang of weapons toting supporters may try as much as they want, things are unlikely to change. It always starts with good intentions till power intoxicates. A generation that has lived through the 90s will not tread that path again. I am eager to ask the proponents of Khalistan for their plan to execute the merger of parts of Haryana, HP, Rajasthan and Pakistan ( Punjab) into their vision of Khalistan. Are they bonkers, wanting to merge a mismanaged and economic disaster called Pakistan Punjab. How will this land - locked vision of theirs survive and flourish. Will the debt that has accumulated be wished away . How will your Road and Rail network function ? Would you issue Visas for visiting Ambala or Sonipat. There are so many questions that Amritpal Singh with all his bluster and pomp cannot answer.
Let it be known that the masses and majority do not want any truck with Khalistan. As an individual, I, do not surrender my options to Waris Punjab De. This is just a spanner in the Punjab Govts functioning, which we hope is determined enough to bring it to a halt.
Khalistan is not an agenda for over 2:50 Cr Punjabis living in Punjab. It could be aspirational for some NRI Punjabis, many of whom had fled Punjab during the dark days. For Waheguru sake allow the Punjabis to go about their lives without having to fight on fronts other than drugs, unemployment and growing agricultural distress.
This is a perspective that no one has provided and is nuanced! Appreciate it. I can see from the comments that you’ll get hate from those who adore him and those who hate him which, as always, says more about them than you. Keep up the great journalism.
Why is it a crime to talk about Sikhs without labeling them as terrorists? Why do you expect that post should affirm your belief? Learn to hear the other side of the story too. Might do you some good.
Instead of working towards the development and prosperity of Punjab, most of the diaspora Sikhs, and some Indian Sikhs like Amritpal and yourself, seem to have an agenda of further impoverishing it. All the time and resources that the Sikhs world over are pouring into propagating this Amritpal propaganda could have very well been used to build a couple of schools or to setup businesses for dozens of Punjabi Sikhs.
I'm sorry, but it's unimaginably stupid to think you can form a separate country Khalistan through some uncivilized protests and graffiti, or even an armed rebellion. India is not a similar federation like the US, you cannot carve out a new country here without an all-out war with the Indian Army, and perhaps a subsequent civil war too with the 1.3 billion Indian populace. There's no possibility of a referendum either. Just look at Kashmir - 75 years and a backing of a nuclear armed state couldn't do much apart from destroying the region's economics and the future of their coming generations. Don't push Punjab towards a similar outcome.
If you diaspora Sikhs are so much concerned about the wellbeing of Punjabi Sikhs, then why not form organizations that have an economic agenda instead of a religious one? For instance, you can create funds that help start-ups by Sikhs, gives a platform to Punjabi artists, funds innovation in agriculture, builds modern schools in villages, gives one-on-one mentoring to the youth. There's so much you guys can do other than furthering religious agendas and funding separatists like Amritpal, but sadly you never will.
I completely agree with you Prithviraj .For all the Sikh Diaspora who are promoting the K word , Sikhs in Punjab and India do not want it .Punjab has a huge population of other religions too. Are the Sikh Diaspora relinquishing their foreign passports to come and run their utopian dream ? Why do not they no adopt a village in Punjab and ensure it has a state of the Art school, teachers who get paid , a health centre that is clean and has a doctor !! Innovative methods of farming , support for the farmers to diversify ? Women empowerment , Rural tourism, Promotion of Arts and Heritage .. Gurmeher , very disappointed by this write up . Also for the many who want a Khalistan , please read this KHALISTAN - A PIPE DREAM......
1.Irrespective of claims, it was the strong will of the common men and women of Punjab who shunned terrorism in the 90s. When miscreants enter the main stream they tarnish the good name and pious intentions. No one would want Punjab dragged back into those dark days !
Amritpal Singh and his gang of weapons toting supporters may try as much as they want, things are unlikely to change. It always starts with good intentions till power intoxicates. A generation that has lived through the 90s will not tread that path again. I am eager to ask the proponents of Khalistan for their plan to execute the merger of parts of Haryana, HP, Rajasthan and Pakistan ( Punjab) into their vision of Khalistan. Are they bonkers, wanting to merge a mismanaged and economic disaster called Pakistan Punjab. How will this land - locked vision of theirs survive and flourish. Will the debt that has accumulated be wished away . How will your Road and Rail network function ? Would you issue Visas for visiting Ambala or Sonipat. There are so many questions that Amritpal Singh with all his bluster and pomp cannot answer.
Let it be known that the masses and majority do not want any truck with Khalistan. As an individual, I, do not surrender my options to Waris Punjab De. This is just a spanner in the Punjab Govts functioning, which we hope is determined enough to bring it to a halt.
Khalistan is not an agenda for over 2:50 Cr Punjabis living in Punjab. It could be aspirational for some NRI Punjabis, many of whom had fled Punjab during the dark days. For Waheguru sake allow the Punjabis to go about their lives without having to fight on fronts other than drugs, unemployment and growing agricultural distress.
By a respected veteran
Well said, Sir! Lakhs of Sikhs who live outside Punjab all over India never face all the problems that Amritpal was claiming to correct. This clearly means that all those said problems are not Sikh problems, but a regional and political problem. I've never seen a Sikh living in Mumbai or in Bengaluru and taking drugs and wanting Khalistan.
Either you are completely naive to gauge the consequences of his ideology Or you are doing it to gain popularity among diaspora using his family. In both cases Panjab & it's people will suffer. That's how traitors are born in family of Respected Soldiers.
You are merely following the stories planted by the government. Try to think a little freely. Stop forwarding propaganda
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ
Answers to the two questions you asked in the last are
1. It is not about young people desire, How can it is mere young people desire , when Guru made Sikhs sovereign than directing the question on youth desire is wrong.
2. Answer to the 2nd question is that It is not about separtism ,It is about rights and freedom from Indian state colonization on Panjab. Want of sovereignty is if separtism than Gandhi , Nehru, and Bhagat singh are not freedom fighters ,they are than also separtist.
In the last I would say to the writer of this article , Kaur you should learn Sikh perspective and worldview to have a understanding of the Panjab .Standing with your tribe is the most proudest thing you can do.
Firstly, i will congratulate you for writing a first person piece as a journalist, which is en extremely important task to investigate any issue. However, i feel your piece misses out on certain questions that you might have asked but avoided to disclose in public. But my question to his family is how can Sikhi or Punjabiyat prevail through the tactics of arms or secession.
The 10 Gurus never spoke of anything like that but rather took up arms to help the large population. I agree that the current regime is brandishing people left right and centre under UAPA as anti-nationalist, but using religion to pursuade the masses is not correct way of politics. If he is such a committed person towards Punjabiyat, why not work in the development of the state. While I like you have been a journalist and is concerned about the prevailing circumstances grappling the state of Punjab, would want to read more from the conversation or the questions, you as a journalist must have asked.
I resonate with your concerns that you have beautifully described in your piece. But may be we need to focus on HOWs rather the WHYs.
For a women like Kiranpreet who is from UK, my heart and soul goes out to her and appreciates her passion for Punjabiyat. But maybe Amritpal was/is influenced by wrong reasons of development.
Nevertheless, all the best for the work you are doing.
This is absolutely absurd and low thinking to demand for separation of Punjab from India or call it freedom from Indian state or attaining sovereignty. Punjab is the integral part of India, if we keep on demanding for the establishment of sovereign state because of the language and culture or religious beliefs then think about how many sovereign states would be formed? With such a thought one cannot bring unity and harmony among Indians.
KHALISTAN - A PIPE DREAM.
1.Irrespective of claims, it was the strong will of the common men and women of Punjab who shunned terrorism in the 90s. When miscreants enter the main stream they tarnish the good name and pious intentions. No one would want Punjab dragged back into those dark days !
Amritpal Singh and his gang of weapons toting supporters may try as much as they want, things are unlikely to change. It always starts with good intentions till power intoxicates. A generation that has lived through the 90s will not tread that path again. I am eager to ask the proponents of Khalistan for their plan to execute the merger of parts of Haryana, HP, Rajasthan and Pakistan ( Punjab) into their vision of Khalistan. Are they bonkers, wanting to merge a mismanaged and economic disaster called Pakistan Punjab. How will this land - locked vision of theirs survive and flourish. Will the debt that has accumulated be wished away . How will your Road and Rail network function ? Would you issue Visas for visiting Ambala or Sonipat. There are so many questions that Amritpal Singh with all his bluster and pomp cannot answer.
Let it be known that the masses and majority do not want any truck with Khalistan. As an individual, I, do not surrender my options to Waris Punjab De. This is just a spanner in the Punjab Govts functioning, which we hope is determined enough to bring it to a halt.
Khalistan is not an agenda for over 2:50 Cr Punjabis living in Punjab. It could be aspirational for some NRI Punjabis, many of whom had fled Punjab during the dark days. For Waheguru sake allow the Punjabis to go about their lives without having to fight on fronts other than drugs, unemployment and growing agricultural distress.
by a respected veteran
This is a perspective that no one has provided and is nuanced! Appreciate it. I can see from the comments that you’ll get hate from those who adore him and those who hate him which, as always, says more about them than you. Keep up the great journalism.
Thank you for this post. Refreshing to see someone not following the government given script.
Truly disappointing. Single sided sob story trying to paint him as Saint.
No mention of Ajnala incident on how he instigated mob of his followers to attack PS with weapons injuring scores of policeman.
Or how he was forcing hardliners views across Punjab by making Gurdwaras follow diktat of no chair rule even for elderly, sick Or pregnant women.
His arrest was imminent in larger interest of Punjab. He chose to be fugitive instead.
Such kind of writeup not expect from daughter of decorated Army officer who sacrificed his life for safety & security of his motherland.
Why is it a crime to talk about Sikhs without labeling them as terrorists? Why do you expect that post should affirm your belief? Learn to hear the other side of the story too. Might do you some good.