The Dialogue between Indira Gandhi and Sant Bhindranwale.....by Jagtar Singh
Chandigarh: While the letter from then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to militant leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale written in early 1983 which has now been released by Dainik Bhaskar, reveals that she was open for dialogue, Sant Bhindranwale too, till the last favored a negotiated settlement. That is why is important to discuss and settle all differences peacefully. Religious leaders can help in this she wrote in the letter dated February 21.
It was then Akali Patrika Editor Bharpur Singh Bharpur who carried this letter to the Sant. Interestingly, the initiative for the dialogue had come from Sant Bhindrnwale himself and Indira Gandhi had responded to his letter. This is contrary to the general impression that both of them were confrontationists.
However, it seems certain forces were determined to scuttle all attempts at a negotiated settlement and the situation ultimately led to Operation Bluestar, a tragedy which the Sikhs can never forget.
The wounds continue to fester. This writer met Sant Bhindranwale last as The Indian Express staffer at Akal Takht on May 25, 1984, and it was a one-to-one meeting starting at about 11.00 AM.
He was open for negotiations even at that late stage. That situation has been summed up in the book Khalistan Struggle: A Non-movement by this writer. Here is are the excerpts relating to the same: It was around 9 am on May 25 and Akal Takht was already over crowded.
All India Sikh Students Federation President Amrik Singh was holding his court, settling disputes of the people in a corner on the upper floor. At this time he had also come to slip into Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's role in some respects, especially in making interventions in dispute management.
Sant Bhindranwale had been making such interventions for the last few months and providing quick justice to people. It was the shortest cut, bypassing the long and tedious judicial process. People would come to him even with land disputes. Sant Bhindranwale was sleeping, his room locked from inside. He had woken up very early and was now taking a nap in the hot and sultry morning.
His associates from the Damdami Taksal were oiling their guns in the adjoining room. Amrik Singh, donning the role of Sant Bhindranwale in resolving disputes of the people, was not to the liking of many as it was being interpreted as over-ambitiousness.
This was conveyed to me by Rachhpal Singh, the soft-spoken personal assistant of Sant Bhindranwale who tried to impress upon me to talk to the Sant about it. After waiting for about an hour, I decided to leave. I had gone to Amritsar to cover the Akali developments and the assignment was over.
However, Rachhpal persuaded me to wait for some more time as Sant Bhindranwale would be annoyed with them in case I left without meeting him. He opened the door after some time to go to the toilet, people waiting there rushed into his room. He returned to his room and on spotting me in one corner, signaled me to wait. After about half an hour, only Amrik Singh was left with him.
I told Sant Bhindranwale that I wanted some time with him alone. Amrik Singh left. What followed was about one-hour interaction during which the possibility of Army attack had also come under discussion. I asked him what could 154 Khalistan Struggles“ A Non-movement the way out be in such a tense build-up.
He answered, straight and simple, let the government enter into an honourable solution with the Akali Dal on the demands. All those in jail including those relating to the militant activity should be given general amnesty. I will return to my headquarters at Mehta Chowk's. The air was filled with apprehension but Sant Bhindranwale was calm. For a moment, I could not believe what he was saying.
However, after Operation Bluestar I came to know that he had made the same proposition to an interlocutor who called on him on May 28 and the conversation was tape recorded. According to highly-placed sources in the Congress, the cassette was taken to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
This was my last interaction with Sant Bhindranwale. While traveling from Chandigarh, I had seen Army convoys moving to Amritsar. Operation Bluestar was on. Operation Bluestar had to be there.
The story based upon this interaction was filed after the Army action was spiked. Years after Operation Bluestar, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, one of the saner voices in the Shiromani Akali Dal, looked back and drew conclusion that this extreme confrontation could have been avoided had any of the two sides taken the initiative.
Capt. Kanwaljit was one of those who had taken the initiative but he was not considered an important leader then. However, he had visualized the ramifications of the frightening situation.
He shared this with me once while discussing the situation prevailing prior to Operation Bluestar. With the situation deteriorating all over, including in the Darbar Sahib complex, he had suggested suspension of the agitation for a few weeks to Harchand Singh Longowal in early April. This could have provided a breather but Longowal was silent to the proposition.
He held that in case Indira Gandhi was resorted to deadly politics, the Akali Dal could still have avoided the June action by suspending the agitation. Moreover, the suspension would have made a clear distinction between the Akalis and the militants.
May 29, 2024
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Jagtar Singh, Writer
jagtarsingh201@gmail.com
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