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Manmohan Singh blasts quick-fix label
mentality on terror
"I am a Sikh...I know what it means to be called
Sikh terrorist"
WSN Network
 New Delhi: Never will the Sikhs forget those gory
days of 1984 when the Congress led by rajiv Gandhi unleashed an
advertisement blitzkrieg against the Sikhs in the national print
media. The party released an advertisement campaign that sought to
play subliminally on Hindu fears of Sikh militancy. In the years of
Bluestar and Mrs. Gandhi's assassination - not to mention the Delhi
riots - the ads had a huge impact. Such headlines as 'Will the
Country's Border Be Moved To Your Doorstep' and copy that asked,
'Should you be afraid to ride in a taxi driven by a member of a
particular community?' directly addressed (or aroused, depending on
your perspective) Hindu insecurities and fears about Sikhs and the
threat of terrorism.
Result: The average Sikh was seen by the larger Indian society as a
terrorist. The community which indisputably was in the forefront of
fighting for Indian Independence and suffered the most in Partition
as well as during the India-Pakistan wars, was now being labelled as
terrorist.
Years later, even someone like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who
remained steadfast in Congress and rose to even hold the highest
office, also feels the pain deep down.
Couple of days after the law enforcement agencies zoomed in on the
accused in Glasgow and London attacks, Manmohan Singh donned the
South Asian mantle and batted for Pakistan as well as its besieged
President Pervez Musharraf, called up British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown in the context of a “fear psychosis” gripping the South Asian
community, and then uttered words which soothed many a hurt hearts.
“I am a Sikh and I know what it means to be called a Sikh
terrorist.”
In the UK following the arrest of three Indian doctors on suspicion
of their involvement in failed terror attempts, Manmohan Singh made
it clear that labeling terrorists on the basis of communities or
nationalities would not help. Manmohan Singh's step is likely to be
appreciated by the Muslims worldwide who are being seen as part of
the terror menace without any rhyme or reason, a fate that the Sikhs
suffered in India under their own government.
The Prime Minister cautioned against sticking to such stereotyped
list of classification. “Terrorists are terrorists. They have no
particular religions, no particular communities. These labels are
best avoided. They have to be dealt with as such rather than to fix
labels to them like ‘Pakistanis’, ‘non-Pakistani’, `Muslims’ or ‘non
Muslims’.”
He said he was in touch with the UK government and had offered “all
possible help” in dealing with the situation. He emphasized that his
government would protect the Indian Diaspora in that country.
The PM was speaking to members of the Indian Women Press Corps at
Panchavati at his Race Course Road official residence.
11 July, 2007
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