The massacre of Sikhs in Delhi in 1984 is an oft-repeated and oft-remembered incident, but a lesser-known event is the massacre of Hindus from Punjab from the late 70s to the mid-90s. The Punjabi Hindus faced exodus from Punjab, just like from Kashmir, but this is lesser-known and publicized fact compared to the latter.
While the anniversary of the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and that of Sikh pogrom receives massive attention (which it should), the killing of Hindus by supporters of Bhindranwale and Khalistan movement passes in obscurity. According to rough estimates, more than 30,000 Hindus were killed in Punjab during the insurgency period which is many times more than those killed during anti-Sikh riots (It does not mean that anti-Sikh riots are lesser anti-human, but one must look at both sides of the coin).
Yesterday Yograj Singh – the father of cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who himself is a celebrated actor and was a first-class cricketer, spewed venom against Hindus while he spoke in support of the ongoing farmer’s protest, and one can sense the intensity of hatred he holds against Hindus among his Sikh hardliners from his speech.
https://twitter.com/Atulahuja_/status/1334893793456214016
“Ye Hindu gaddar hai, sau saal mughalon ki ghulami ki,” said Yograj Singh. “Inki auraten take-take ke bhaw bikti,” he added. He also made racist comments against Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and said, “These people would take a u-turn even if they swore on their mothers, sisters, and daughters,” said Yograj whilst referring to Gujaratis.
He also supported Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, under whose reign of terror thousands of Hindus were killed, and ultimately Punjab’s CM Beant Singh and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were also massacred. Mentioning the name of separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Yograj urged the farmers to raise another Bhindranwale amongst them. “Every person here is a ‘Jarnail.’ If you want to save Punjab, ensure that power is in your hands. If the power is in your hand, you will see a new sun rising from the land of Punjab,” he said.
The Khalistani terrorists, while on the killing spree of Hindus, used not to spare even women and children. In 1987, a bus taking Hindus to their holy bathing site, the Sikh terrorists gunned down almost every passenger-only because they were Hindus. The incident got much media attention and was reported by global media giants like the Associated Press, BBC, and the NYT.
The farmer’s protest is taken over by the Khalistani elements and the laurels of Sikh supremacy are being sung by the people like Yograj Singh, fuelling the fire of anti-Hindu sentiments once again.
Singh threatened PM Modi and said the border of Delhi is sealed. “If they open the borders and the situation comes to a clash, I challenge PM Modi to remove CRPF, BSF, Army, and Police and come alone. Then we will see how things go ahead,” they said.
He further threatened, “I want to remind you that Punjabis have conquered Delhi 18 times. It can be conquered 19th time. Don’t push us to that point. The stocks of your bullets will burnout, but the Punjabis who are ready to face the bullets will keep coming. If you shoot even a single bullet, the way Mughals were rooted out, the countdown of your government will begin.”
People like Yograj Singh are dangerous to Hindu-Sikh unity that has been achieved after decades of effort. He needs to be arrested for making anti-Hindu hateful and spurious speeches and put behind the bars till he apologizes publicly.