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After reading this article (see link below) on November 1984 riots, I was completely shell shocked!
The article makes it quite clear that the plan to selectively massacre Sikhs was hatched much before Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination. It was meticulously and systematically executed, like a highly focused corporate marketing campaign with accurate demographic data. It was not a knee jerk reaction.
A political party and a government that join hands to inflict pain and suffering on the very people they are supposed to serve have no right to exist in a democracy.
For a lay person like me with no knowledge of law, it is hard to understand why our courts are unable to punish the guilty in spite of so many witnesses and huge piles of evidence with complete details of damage caused, both to human lives and property.
The only reason we can think of is manipulation of legal records and a toothless judicial system that allows criminals and murderers to walk freely.
Already 34 years have passed since the Sikhs’ massacre and the only thing the government can do now is offer compensation! For people who saw scores of their loved ones murdered in cold blood right in front of their eyes, no compensation can be enough.
Ever since independence, our leaders have only had ulterior motives behind all new initiatives and all they seem to have done is divide and rule. Sometimes, like Hitler, they go after a certain community. In November 1984, it was the turn of Sikhs.
India takes great pride in being a nation of diversities and peaceful coexistence is the only way we can survive and prosper. By planting fears, both real and imagined, in the minds of people, our leaders force us to move with shackled feet as a nation while smaller countries like Japan, Singapore make great strides…
Come 2019 and all political parties will seek our votes. It is time to wake up and remain vigilant. Let’s bring out better people, leaders who can bring in positive change instead of unleashing bloodthirsty hounds upon us. That’s the only way to save our country.
Thank God, we have the NOTA (none of the above) option too now. It can serve as a very powerful tool in compelling political parties to pitch candidates who will work the way they are supposed to, as public servants, not as masters.
Why should netas have all the fun?
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