The book penned by the Sikh radical outfit Dal Khalsa’s mentor Gajinder Singh, whose name figured in the list of ‘20 most wanted persons handed over to Pakistan’, has brought the moderates and hardliners on the same platform.
The head of Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa and the Shiromani Gurudara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) executive member Karnail Singh Panjoli have joined the extremists to release the book titled — Supne Ton Sangarsh Val (From Dream to Struggle). The book is a compilation of poems written by Gajinder Singh during his incarceration and exile period. Gajinder was sentenced to life imprisonment by Pakistan special court in 1981 hijacking case. Since his release from Pakistani prison in 1995, he is staying in exile.
Recognising the statesmanship of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, he has paid a special tribute to the international figure in the book. Besides, he has dedicated the book to the wisdom of Kapur Singh — former Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer and an eminent Sikh philosopher, and about slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
In a symbolic gesture, the book’s first five copies were presented to five young boys symbolising passing of the baton to the next generation “with a hope and determination to keep the fighting spirit alive”.
“Gajinder joined politics as a student under the guidance of ex-ICS officer Kapur Singh. We choose this day to release his anthology as Kapur Singh has turned 105 years on Sunday — March 2,” said Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, addressing a press conference. Taking a dig at the Indian Government for including Gajinder’s name in the ‘wanted list’, Dal Khalsa chief HS Dhami said that it was “totally unjustified and against all canons of jurisprudence”.
Sikh leaders were of the considered opinion that Gajinder should have freedom to choose his resident status. Representatives of various groups also urged the United Nations to ensure that civil and political rights of Gajinder are restored and he should be granted full liberty to pursue his personal and political life, without fear and intervention of any kind. “What are the international rights of a hijacker who has undergone imprisonment terms and why should Governments continue to hound such a person,” they asked.
Baba Harnam Singh expressed his appreciation for Gajinder’s commitment, farsightedness and political wisdom. “Gajinder’s dream of independence is the dream of every Sikh and we hope that Sikhs would achieve their mission later or sooner,” he added. Former IAS Gurtej Singh, human rights activist Prof Jagmohan Singh, Sikh nationalist leader Bhai Daljeet Singh and SGPC member Panjoli has written the preface of the book lauding the zeal shown by Gajinder Singh in Sikh freedom struggle.