"[Local Sikhs] suggest Australia could see more Hindutva-based violence similar to what is already happening in India under the Modi Hindu Nationalist government."
With 2024 elections in India around the corner, there is likely to be an increase in such deliberate acts to feed the election-time propaganda / fear-mongering. Let us learn from history :
1970s-80s : Congress-aligned 'agents' started media campaigns to garner NRI support for 'Khalistan' = Now : 'Sikhs For Justice' / people with dubious credentials doing the same thing :
1978-83 : Multiple acts by 'Agent provocateurs' designed to provoke a reaction from the Sikhs and responding with overwhelming force = same thing happening now with all these staged / fake 'acts of vandalism' on temples in Melbourne / BC etc., the unusual violence during a protest march in Chandigarh and those in power unleashing pre-planned massive hate campaigns around these alleged acts. (again, with no proof, just allegations)
Indian officials raking up 'Khalistan' non-issue with their US, Canada, Australia and UK counterparts : why ? Perhaps setting the grounds for a potential future action on the community in India
How should we respond ?
1. Why give others a chance to point fingers at us ? Stop these useless 'referendums' ? Question the motive of dubious people like Pannun and his shady organization. The only purpose is to use this as an excuse to malign Sikhs - 99.99% of Sikhs are anti-Khalistanis anyway. Those pursuing this non-issue should do a reality check : look at how faction-ridden every political party in Punjab is ! how poorly our community fares in prestigious professions - long list of poor performance in almost all areas (other than transportation :) )
2. We should Strongly condemn any acts of vandalism on temples / gurdwaras and hate campaigns at Sikhs : even if there is no such reciprocation (for example, there were attempted attacks on gurudwaras in Melbourne, yet no apologies or regrets)
3. Avoid confrontation / reactions to deliberate provocations : youth from Haryana are being recruited to front-end such provocations mainly designed to create a rift along state lines
I personally agree with and support the demand to "de-radicalize Sikh places of worship" - Sikhism is an egalitarian religion to serve humanity - there's no place for 'radicals' plus the whole idea of 'Khalistan' is a non-starter and only serves as political fodder to malign our community and all the good humanitarian work we do
As a community, we need to focus on ensuring better prospects for our future generation, work harder at gaining respect, focus more on upward mobility, higher education / highly skilled professions etc.
So your saying that NRIs were supporting Khalistan in the 1970s to 80s....when there was no major Khalistan movement until after your government attacked and murdered Sikhs in Harmandir Sahib, Woodrose and gang rapes and murders in Delhi?
Sikhism is more than egalitarian langar service. Sikhism is more than a glorified social media post to make Hindus happy about our actions.
Remember that Sikh fauji who got beaten to death with a stick on the border? Didn't take long for your fellow Indians to start cursing his mother after she supported Kissan Morcha.
Sikh Gurdwara is no place for Indian nationalists. If a picture of Bhindranwale, our Gurus or katha about Raj Karega Khalsa scare you, I invite you to head into a mandir and start worshiping murtis instead of shastars as dictated by our Gurus.
With 2024 elections in India around the corner, there is likely to be an increase in such deliberate acts to feed the election-time propaganda / fear-mongering. Let us learn from history :
1970s-80s : Congress-aligned 'agents' started media campaigns to garner NRI support for 'Khalistan' = Now : 'Sikhs For Justice' / people with dubious credentials doing the same thing :
1978-83 : Multiple acts by 'Agent provocateurs' designed to provoke a reaction from the Sikhs and responding with overwhelming force = same thing happening now with all these staged / fake 'acts of vandalism' on temples in Melbourne / BC etc., the unusual violence during a protest march in Chandigarh and those in power unleashing pre-planned massive hate campaigns around these alleged acts. (again, with no proof, just allegations)
Indian officials raking up 'Khalistan' non-issue with their US, Canada, Australia and UK counterparts : why ? Perhaps setting the grounds for a potential future action on the community in India
How should we respond ?
1. Why give others a chance to point fingers at us ? Stop these useless 'referendums' ? Question the motive of dubious people like Pannun and his shady organization. The only purpose is to use this as an excuse to malign Sikhs - 99.99% of Sikhs are anti-Khalistanis anyway. Those pursuing this non-issue should do a reality check : look at how faction-ridden every political party in Punjab is ! how poorly our community fares in prestigious professions - long list of poor performance in almost all areas (other than transportation :) )
2. We should Strongly condemn any acts of vandalism on temples / gurdwaras and hate campaigns at Sikhs : even if there is no such reciprocation (for example, there were attempted attacks on gurudwaras in Melbourne, yet no apologies or regrets)
3. Avoid confrontation / reactions to deliberate provocations : youth from Haryana are being recruited to front-end such provocations mainly designed to create a rift along state lines
I personally agree with and support the demand to "de-radicalize Sikh places of worship" - Sikhism is an egalitarian religion to serve humanity - there's no place for 'radicals' plus the whole idea of 'Khalistan' is a non-starter and only serves as political fodder to malign our community and all the good humanitarian work we do
As a community, we need to focus on ensuring better prospects for our future generation, work harder at gaining respect, focus more on upward mobility, higher education / highly skilled professions etc.
DJ Singh/Chicago
So your saying that NRIs were supporting Khalistan in the 1970s to 80s....when there was no major Khalistan movement until after your government attacked and murdered Sikhs in Harmandir Sahib, Woodrose and gang rapes and murders in Delhi?
Sikhism is more than egalitarian langar service. Sikhism is more than a glorified social media post to make Hindus happy about our actions.
Remember that Sikh fauji who got beaten to death with a stick on the border? Didn't take long for your fellow Indians to start cursing his mother after she supported Kissan Morcha.
Sikh Gurdwara is no place for Indian nationalists. If a picture of Bhindranwale, our Gurus or katha about Raj Karega Khalsa scare you, I invite you to head into a mandir and start worshiping murtis instead of shastars as dictated by our Gurus.
You are delusional.