Since Independence, the Indian Nation Building exercise wittingly and unwittingly has cast an adverse impact on minorities in one way and the other way. Such developments also went against the true spirit and fair implementation of the Indian Constitution. Over the period vote-bank politics and fissiparous tendencies boosted the Hindutva propensities, which, in turn targeted the minorities violating the Constitution and strengthening the majoritarian polity. In that process, the visible community, the Sikhs, as consequent of that, their main habitat Punjab, suffered on all fronts and underwent a long period of tragic happenings and bloodshed. It is no longer secret that the identity of Sikh minority was severely hit.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi eloquently supported their distinct identity as fundamental right of the Sikhs while addressing Indian Overseas Congress at Virginia. USA on 10 September. Pointing to the Sikh identity symbols, the Congress leader, in fact, made a palpable reference to the right to uphold other minorities their distinct identities s enshrined in the Constitution.
It is most unfortunate, some vested interests have deliberately been distorting the utterances of Rahul Gandhi in the context of Sikhs. In fact, such people are attempting to build up a narrative against Rahul Gandhi at the instance of the BJP and the Hindutva forces which have roped in certain Sikh leaders too in their vitiated campaign. Those Sikh leaders are in the forefront to carry out the Hindutva narrative against Rahul Gandhi for speaking in favor of rights of minorities as per the Constitution.
We appeal the Sikhs and other concerned people not to be beguiled by the divisive propaganda unleashed by certain Sikh leaders, the Hindutva proponents and other vested interests.
Issued by: Khushhal Singh, Secretary (Sikh Vichaar Manch Chandigarh)
