RSS IDEOLOGUE NANA DESHMUKH WHO JUSTIFIED 1984 SIKH
MASSACRE IS A 'BHARAT RATNA' NOW
inssan abhee
tak zinda hae,
zinda hone
per sharminda hae!
Human beings are still alive,
they are ashamed to be alive!
[Shahid Nadeem's Urdu couplet on silence of civil society
against communal violence. He received forty lashes for writing and singing
these lines by Zia regime in Pakistan]
In more than last three decades, on every anniversary
of the 1984 massacre of Sikhs, this author has been reminding the Nation how Indian
State and judiciary did not bother to punish the perpetrators of this
horrendous mass killing of the innocents of the second largest religious
minority of our country. On every anniversary the author hoped that now justice
would be done and he would not have to write the painful story once again as a reminder.
It has not happened in last one year also; the saga of the criminal betrayal by
the Indian Republic has no end and author continues to cry before a deaf and
dumb Indian State.
BETRAYAL BY GOVERNMENTS TILL 2014
After giving free run to the killer gangs the
government appointed one man Marwah Commission to find out the perpetrators of
the 1984 'riots'. As this exercise was proving inconvenient, it was asked to
disband itself within short period of its existence and a sitting Supreme Court
Judge Ranga Nath Mishra was asked to conduct inquiry into 1984 'riots' who
submitted his report in 1987. Shockingly, this fact finding (or fact-hiding)
commission headed by Misra observed that
"riots which had a spontaneous origin later
attained a channelized method at the hands of gangsters".
The massacre was reduced to 'riots' as if Sikhs
equally fought against the others. It was a brazen lie. The 'apostle of justice',
Mishra, champion of the theory of spontaneity was not, naturally, able to find
out from where these gangsters came! According to Jarnail Singh author of the
book I Accuse: The Anti-Sikh Violence of 1984 for this service to the
State he was awarded a berth in Rajya Sabha.
Next two decades, not less than nine commissions of
inquiry were instituted. For Indian State it became a routine to announce
constitution of some new commission or some more compensation to the families
of victims in order to deflect the mounting anger at the times of elections.
Highlighting the anti-minority bias of such commissions, H. S. Phoolka, a
renowned lawyer, commented that instead of getting convicted many of the
political perpetrators get promoted as rulers.
In the latest development Supreme Court of India on
August 16, 2017 ordered the constitution of a panel comprising two of its
former judges to examine the justification for closing 241 anti-Sikh riot cases
probed by SIT in next 3 months. It is November 2018 (15 months since the
order was passed) and these three months are yet to be over!
BETRAYAL BY THE PRESENT RSS/BJP RULERS
RSS claims to have always stood for Hindu-Sikh unity.
It occasionally expresses its gratitude to Sikhism for saving Hinduism from the
Muslim aggression. It may not be irrelevant to note here that RSS does not
treat Sikhism as independent religion, which discarded Casteism and Brahmanical
hegemony, but part of Hinduism. The RSS/BJP leaders blamed Congress for
anti-Sikh violence Modi while addressing a public rally during last
parliamentary elections at Jhansi, UP (October 25, 2013) asked Congress leaders
to explain who "killed thousands of Sikhs in 1984" and "has
anyone been convicted for the Sikh genocide so far". Modi during Punjab
elections and 2014 general elections kept on referring to 'qatl-e-aam' or
genocide of Sikhs.
Modi after becoming PM in a message (October 31, 2014)
said that anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination
were like a,
"dagger that pierced through India's chest…Our
own people were murdered, the attack was not on a particular community but on
the entire nation."
Hindutva icon, RSS whole-timer and PM Modi lamented
the fact that culprits were yet to be booked and tried for this massacre.
However, Modi did not tell the nation what NDA governments which ruled this
country from 1998 to 2004 did to persecute the culprits. Modi also forgot to
share the fact that as per the autobiography of LK Advani (page 430); it was
his Party which forced Indira Gandhi to go for army action infamously named as Operation Blue Star which killed large
number of Sikh pilgrims.
Renowned journalist Manoj Mitta, author of the book
When a Tree Shook Delhi: The 1984 Carnage and Its Aftermath straight
forwardly tells that
"Despite
the BJP rule, there has hardly been any will to enforce accountability for the
massacres that took place under the Congress. It’s as if there is a tacit deal
between the sponsors of 1984 and 2002".
It was no over-sight that 2019 parliamentary elections
1984 massacre was totally forgotten. This is not what outsiders or critics of
the RSS have been telling. The perusal of the contemporary RSS documents show
that major focus was on condemning the Sikh extremism, eulogizing Indira Gandhi
and welcoming the crowning of Rajiv Gandhi as new prime minister.
RSS IDEOLOGUE NANA DESHMUKH'S DEHUMANIZED ATTITUDE
TOWARDS SIKH MASSACRE
The most important proof of such a dehumanized
attitude towards the massacre of Sikhs is a document circulated by Nana
Deshmukh, a prominent whole timer and ideologue of the RSS [now deceased].
This document titled as 'MOMENTS OF SOUL SEARCHING' was circulated by
Deshmukh on November 8, 1984, may help in unmasking the whole lot of criminals
involved in the massacre of innocent Sikhs who had nothing to do with the
killing of Indira Gandhi. This document may also throw light on where the
cadres came from, who meticulously organized the killing of Sikhs. Nana
Deshmukh in this document is seen outlining the justification of the massacre
of the Sikh community in 1984.
This document also shows the true degenerated and
fascist attitude of the RSS towards all the minorities of India. The RSS has
been arguing that they are against Muslims and Christians because they are the
followers of foreign religions. Here we find them justifying the butchering of
Sikhs who according to their own categorization happened to be the followers of
an indigenous religion. In this document we will hear from the horse's mouth
that the RSS like the then Congress leadership believed that the massacre of
the innocent Sikhs was unavoidable.
This document was published in the Hindi Weekly Pratipaksh
edited by George Fernandes, who later became Defence Minister of
India in the NDA regime, in its edition of November 25, 1984 titled 'Indira
Congress-RSS collusion' with the following editorial comment:
“The author of the following document is known as an
ideologue and policy formulator of the RSS. After the killing of Prime Minister
(Indira Gandhi) he distributed this document among prominent politicians. It
has a historical significance that is why we have decided to publish it,
violating policy of our Weekly. This document highlights the new affinities
developing between the Indira Congress and the RSS. We produce here the Hindi
translation of the document.”
Deshmukh in his document 'MOMENTS OF SOUL SEARCHING'
is seen outlining the justification of the massacre of the Sikh community
in 1984. His defence of the carnage can be summed up as in the following:
1. The
massacre of Sikhs was not the handiwork of any group or anti-social elements
but the result of a genuine feeling of anger.
2. Deshmukh
did not distinguish the action of the two security personnel of Indira Gandhi,
who happened to be Sikhs, from that of the whole Sikh community. According to
his document the killers of Indira Gandhi were working under some kind of
mandate of their community.
3. Sikhs
themselves invited these attacks, thus advancing the Congress theory of
justifying the massacre of the Sikhs.
4. He
glorified the Operation Blue Star and
described any opposition to it as anti-national. When Sikhs were being killed
in thousands he was warning the country of Sikh extremism, thus offering
ideological defense of those killings.
5. Sikh
community as a whole was responsible for violence in Punjab.
6. Sikhs
should have done nothing in self-defence but showed patience and tolerance
against the killer mobs.
7. These
were Sikh intellectuals and not killer mobs which were responsible for the
massacre. They had turned Sikhs into a militant community, cutting them off
from their Hindu roots, thus inviting attacks from the nationalist Indians.
Moreover, he treated all Sikhs as part of the same gang and described attacks
on them as a reaction of the nationalist Hindus.
8. He
described Indira Gandhi as the only leader who could keep the country united
and assassination of such a great leader such killings could not be avoided.
9. Rajiv
Gandhi who succeeded Mrs. Gandhi as the PM and justified the nation-wide
killings of Sikhs by saying, “When a huge tree falls there are always tremors
felt”, was lauded and blessed by Nana Deshmukh at the end of the document.
10. Shockingly,
the massacre of Sikhs was being equated with the attacks on the RSS cadres
after the killing of Gandhiji and we find Deshmukh advising Sikhs to suffer
silently. Everybody knows that the killing of Gandhiji was inspired by the RSS
and the Hindutva Ideology whereas the common innocent Sikhs had nothing to do
with the murder of Indira Gandhi.
11. There
was not a single sentence in the Deshmukh document demanding, from the then Congress
Government at the Centre or the then home minister Narsimha Rao (a Congress
leader dear to the RSS who later silently watched demolition of Babri masjid by
Hindutva goons as PM of India in 1992) remedial measures for controlling the
violence against the minority community. Mind it, that Deshmukh circulated this
document on November 8, 1984, and from October 31 to this date Sikhs were left
alone to face the killing gangs. In fact November 5-10 was the period when the
maximum killings of Sikhs took place. Deshmukh was just not bothered about all
this.
12. It is
generally believed that the Congress cadres were behind this genocide. This may
be true but there were other forces too which actively participated in this
massacre and whose role has never been investigated. It could be one of the
reasons that actual perpetrators remain unknown. Those who witnessed the
genocide were stunned by the swiftness and military precision of the
killer/marauding gangs (later on witnessed during the Babri mosque demolition,
burning alive of Dr. Graham Steins with his two sons, 2002 pogrom of the
Muslims in Gujarat and cleansing of Christians in parts of Orissa) which went
on a burning spree of the innocent Sikhs. This, surely, was beyond the capacity
of the thugs led by many Congress leaders.
13. It is shocking that Deshmukh presented 1984 massacre
of Sikhs as an issue between Sikhs and Hindus. He wrote: "I feel proud of
all those Hindu neighbours who protected lives and property of troubled Sikh
brothers without caring for their lives. Such things one being heard from all
over Delhi. These things have practically increased the faith in natural
goodness of human behavior and particularly faith in Hindu nature." These
were not only Hindus but Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Atheists,
Communists who defended Sikhs' lives and properties.
Deshmukh document did not happen in isolation. It
represented the real RSS attitude towards Sikh genocide of 1984. It may be
relevant to know here that the RSS cadres did not come forward in defence of
the Sikhs. The RSS is very fond of circulating publicity material, especially
photographs of its khaki shorts-clad cadres doing social work. For the 1984
violence they have none. In fact, Deshmukh's article also made no mention of
the RSS cadres going to the rescue of Sikhs under siege. This shows the real
intentions of the RSS during the genocide.
The RSS English organ, Organizer in its
combined issue dated November 11 & 18, 1984 carried an editorial titled
'Stunning Loss' which praised Indira Gandhi in the following words: "It
will always be difficult to believe that the Indira Gandhi is no more. One had
got so used to hearing her myriad voices for so long, that everything looks so
blank without her. The violent manner of her death is the most shocking horror
story, giving the nation the creeps…It is a case of treacherous fanatics
stigmatizing the whole nation by butchering a remarkable specimen of Indian
womanhood…She literally served India to the last drop of her blood according to
her own lights." The same editorial ended with the words supporting newly
installed PM, Rajiv Gandhi who "deserves sympathy and consideration".
Organizer also
carried statement of RSS Supremo, Bala Deoras titled 'Balasaheb condemns
assassination, Delhi carnage' in a single column. He mourned and condemned the
carnage but not even once referred to the fact that Sikhs were under attack.
For him it was "infighting in the Hindu Samaj". He also overlooked
the fact that it was not only Delhi where Sikhs were butchered/burnt but in
many other parts of India. According to this statement "swayamsevaks have
been instructed to form or help in forming Mohalla Suraksha Samitis" for
restoring peace and rehabilitation of the sufferers. However, there are no
documents available in the contemporary RSS archives to show how these Samitis
functioned. It is a fact that RSS which is fond of displaying photographs of
its cadres doing social work did not publish any visual of the activity of
these Samitis.
In the same statement Deoras reacting to the
assassination of Indira Gandhi stated, "It is shocking beyond words to
express the feelings at the murder of PM Mrs. Indira Gandhi by some fanatic
elements. She had been carrying on almost the entire burden of the country
since 1966. She was loved and respected not only in this country but all over
the world. Her passing away at this critical juncture will create a void in
India and also in the world."
According to the above mentioned Organizer "RSS
Sarkyavah, Rajender Singh issued instructions to all the branches in the
country to hold a special meeting in Shakha condemning the dastardly murder of
the PM and paying homage to the departed soul. He also issued instructions to cancel
all public functions to be held by RSS during the period of mourning". Of
course, RSS archives do not contain any instructions from RSS top brass
ordering to mourn the Sikh martyrs.
RSS AGAINST FORMER PM MANMOHAN SINGH'S APPOLOGY FOR
1984 MASSACRE
The RSS continues to downplay 1984 Sikh massacre will
be clear by the perusal of charter of demands submitted to the National Council
of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in last July. The senior RSS
ideologue, Dina Nath Batra on behalf of RSS-affiliated Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan
Nyas submitted five pages containing list of items to be removed from school
text-books. Batra demanded that any reference to violence against minorities in
the text-books should be removed which included references to a simple apology
tendered by the former PM Manmohan Singh over 1984 violence. It is to be noted
that in an apology in Parliament on August 12, 2005, Manmohan Singh, the then
PM of India stated:
“I have no hesitation in apologizing to the Sikh
community. I apologize not only to the Sikh community, but to the whole Indian
nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of
nationhood enshrined in our Constitution.”
So the search for finding the perpetrators of Sikh
massacre of 1984 continues endlessly. The present RSS/BJP rulers who claim to
be co-religionists of Sikhs prove no different from Congress. The only hope is
that those Indians who have stakes in continuation of democratic-secular Indian
polity will come forward to force the Indian State to identify and punish the
killers. The scholars who have been involved in the study of religious violence
are unanimous in the conclusion that if 1984 massacre was not allowed to happen,
there would not have been 1992-93 (violence against Muslims in pre/post Babri
mosque demolition period), 2002 (massacre of Muslims in Gujarat), Kandhmal 2008
(cleansing of Christians) and many other massacre of the minorities of India.
Allowing the 1984 massacre the Indian State, let it be known to all the
majoritarian fascist organizations that in such criminal happening the former
would remain silent!
NANA DESHMUKH AWARDED 'BHARAT RATNA'
As if it was not enough
injustice to the martyrs and survivors of the 1984 massacre, on the eve of the
last Republic Day (January 25, 2019) RSS/BJP rulers of India, bestowed the
highest national award BHARAT RATN (gem of India) on Nanaji Deshmukh. PM Modi
praising Deshmukh said, "He [Nana Deshmukh] personifies humility,
compassion, and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest
sense".
If anybody wants to understand
the exact meaning of the proverb 'to rub salt into the wound' this Bharat Ratna
to Deshmukh would be the fittest example!
Shamsul Islam
November 1, 2019.
Link for some of S. Islam's writings in
English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati
and video interviews/debates:
Facebook: shamsul
Twitter: @shamsforjustice
http://shamsforpeace.blogspot.com/
Email: notoinjustice@gmail.com
Must
read the full English text of the RSS ideologue Nana Deshmukh's document, link:
https://www.academia.edu/4890979/RSS_IDEOLOGUE_NANA_DESHMUKH_JUSTIFIED_MASSACRE_OF_SIKHS_IN_1984_From_RSS_archives_
