'Those who are capable of tyranny are capable of perjury to sustain it'

Let me present the other side of story. Long before the Khalistan movement was even heard of in Punjab there were injustices & crimes against Sikhs.

Thread https://twitter.com/BharadwajSpeaks/status/1354082801096777730

In late 1970s, Sikhs wanted to declare Amritsar an holy city and ban tobacco consumption in it. Even after announcing compensation for moving the tobacco shops outside one section of society opposed the move just for sake of it. This was the Arya Samaj.

Arya Samaj, founded by Dayanand Saraswati even disrespected the Sikh gurus. In May 1981 it led a TOBACCO protest with the following slogans:

"Bidi, cigarette piyenge; shaan se jiyenge" with 10,000 sword wielding Hindus in Amritsar, 1981.

Arya Samaj kept pushing Anti Sikh propaganda in its daily 'Punjab Kesari' and many confrontations happened. Including violence and murders.

Same group used to make calls for Sikhs to be sent to Pakistan for Punjabi Suba Movement in 1960s.

And after this in 1981 and later years many incidents of Tobacco products including Cigarettes thrown inside Gurudwaras were reported.

Several copies of Guru Granth Sahib burnt.

Following this threat of beef being thrown in some temples were reported. 1982:

Even tallest of the Sikh leaders of that time condemned such acts of disrespect & vandalism against holy places plus mindless violence.

These events were effectively ignored by State machinery & Centre and one side was encouraged to keep doing blasphemy.

March 1983:

In Khatra, Ludhiana the cloth covering Guru Granth Sahib was taken off and the Granth Sahib was buried in cowdung.

And violence started exceeding, Sikhs in Haryana and other areas with small populations were not just threatened. They were beaten up and even BURNT alive.

Many leaders gave call such as
'Dukki Tikki khen ni deni, sar te pagdi rehen ni deni'

'Kach kada kirpan, ehna nu bhejo Pakistan'

And violence against Sikhs continued. Govt took no strict action against any leader while arresting hordes of Sikhs & killed many extra judicially.

Feb 1984, GT Road Haryana

Sikhs were pulled out of buses on Feb 17th, 1984 and beat them into critical condition. Mobs burnt properties of Sikhs.

On Feb 19th, a organization called "Haryana Desam" looted Sikh shops, killed 8 Sikhs and attacked Gurudwara Dhan Baba Jodh Singh and burnt 16 Granth Sahib.

I can add many more instances. Don't let them dog whistle you into guilt trip that it was our fault alone. In November 1984, they burnt down 400+ Gurudware.

A MASS GRAVE was discovered in 2011 of 32+ Sikhs of Hondh Chillar Massacre. Many such graves were found in areas across.

In 44 cities and towns across Country they attacked Sikhs. Killed men, women, children even infants mercilessly. Burnt them alive. Rapes, looting, mass murders.

Even in this map- Bidar isn't highlighted where Sikh college students were killed and dumped in a well.

While Punjab had deployment of 80,000 troops and a communication blackout, they killed our people without mercy. At places Delhi police disarmed Sikhs and led the mobs.

One place had 25 armed Sikhs fighting back mob of 600+, police came and took away their weapons.

Coming to judiciary, Ranghanath Mishra cleared all Congress leaders of their crimes and went on to become CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA.

And these people who enabled them have never been our friends.

Be unapologetic, we were always terrorists for them.

Countless stories of violence and harassment against Sikhs not just in early 80s but post it too as late as 2005.

I condemn all the violence and grieve for all the innocents who suffered, and hope we can move beyond simplifications of minority and majority if we want to truly address this disturbing past.

100,000+ Sikhs were displaced in India in that period. Businesses burnt. My own uncle saw entire lane of Sikh buisnesses in Kanpur burnt down. Some never recovered. Once the violence became known, things got far worse. Some people wanted to do tit for tat in Punjab later.

Hate begets hate and today those who have been glorifying Indira and Rajiv since beginning tell us we are the ones with hatred.

Yes, there are certain elements in both sides. And you cannot view everything with single lens.

And I agree, people were wronged. There's need for truth & reconciled. I just brought the side (lot left) I wanted to. https://twitter.com/BharadwajSpeaks/status/1354139525270802433?s=20