Are We Seeing A Betrayal Of A Quarter Million Pioneer Sikh Farmers In Udham Singh Nagar

"Revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude" -a quote by Charles Colton's, a 19th century English writer to be remembered by all concerned.


Washington, D.C., Wednesday, August 12, 1998 - According to Bharat's most prestigious newspaper, Times of India which quoted today (August 12, 1998) that ; "The Shiromani Akali Dal appears to have softened its stand on withdrawal of support to the Vajpayee government on the Udham Singh Nagar issue and is now emphasizing that the party would oppose the Uttaranchal Bill as and when it comes up before parliament".

The newspaper has claimed that; "The softening was apparent when Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, after separate meetings with Prime Minister Vajpayee and Home Minister L. K. Advani, parried all questions relating to Udham Singh Nagar issue and withdrawal of support to the BJP coalition". The Times of India also reports that; "Mr. Badal replying to a volley of questions, maintained that the party would take a decision only after the Bill was introduced in parliament" which incidentally, is scheduled for the second week of November, 1998.

Another prestigious Indian newspaper THE HINDU (of Chennai, formerly called Madras) has also carried a front page story in its issue of August 12 (today) under the headline; "Akali Dal backs down?" and its New Delhi Special Correspondent reports that; "Mr. Badal maintained that the party would take a decision only after the bill was introduced in parliament in the winter session which is scheduled to begin in the second week of November, 1998.

Yet another Indian newspaper, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES of Delhi, known for faithfully relaying BJP views, in its issue carries a front page story by Jay Raina, headlined; "Centre firm on Udham Singh Nagar". The story reveals that; "The centre is set to put in motion the the process of carving out three new states - Uttaranchal, Vanachal and Chhattisgarh - towards the end of the week". The newspaper claims that; "According to highly placed sources, any rethinking on draft Bills, particularly over the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed Uttaranchal State, is ruled out notwithstanding the protests by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The draft Bills, cleared by the union cabinet earlier last week, will be sent to President K.R. Narayan in a few days time to ensure their early dispatch to the respective state legislatures."

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES in its todays issue has let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, by confidently revealing that: "The sources maintained that the Union Cabinet had cleared the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts in the proposed Hill state on the basis of recommendations of the "Group of Ministers" which is headed by Home Minister L.K. Advani, Union minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Surjit Singh Barnala and Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi" . The Hindustan Times goes on to reveal that; "The sources maintained that the "Group of three ministers" (which includes Barnala) had reached a unanimous decision over the Udham Singh Nagar issue after a detailed study of its political, economic, religious, ethnic and cultural components" . The newspaper goes on to assert that sources close to the "Group of Ministers" (GOM) have disclosed that the decision regarding inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed hill state was made; "after detailed interaction with a large number of political leaders including representatives of the SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) and other Sikh organizations."

In a hard hitting editorial today; "The Udham Singh Nagar Tangle" even THE HINDU newspaper has asked the Central government to desist from being guided by partisan considerations and ridiculed the central government thus; "The assurance by the BJP and the consequent insertion of a provision (clause 84) in the Draft Bill to "safeguard" the application of any ceiling law is inexplicable in this context. Indeed, such an assurance cannot stand the test of scrutiny simply because land revenue is a State subject and there is no way that the Center could step into this area as and when any dispensation in the new State decides to impose a ceiling on agricultural land holdings". The newspaper's criticism of the BJP government goes on to state that; "the best course would have been to set up a commission to look into the subject of smaller states in a dispassionate manner. Instead, a decision was hustled through with partisan considerations in mind."

It is highly unlikely that so many Indian newspapers could be wrong about the Badal governments somersaults on the Udham Singh Nagar issue. It is obvious that a deception is going on and some Sikh leaders, like Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Barnala & Company, are trying to deceive the aroused Sikh nation in general, and Sikh settlers of Udham Singh Nagar in particular, on this crucial issue while liquidating their land holding in Udham Singh Nagar. The Indian occupied Punjab Chief minister better realize an ancient truism - the sooner the better - that; "People always overdo the matter when they attempt deception".

Mr. Parkash Singh Badal & Surjit Singh Barnala have been overdoing the matter in the case of Udham Singh Nagar district! They ought to remember Charles Colton's 19th century truism that; "Revenge is a much more punctual paymaster than gratitude."