Tuesday 2 June 2009
Vienna Incident: A Deep Rooted RSS and GOI Controversy?
(Op/Ed)
This past week saw violent incidents take place in two different parts of the world—the shooting at a Vienna based Bhagat Ravidas Temple and the aftermath riots and protests that took place throughout Punjab. Both incidents have been greatly highlighted by the media—international, national and local. From TV news to radio talk shows and newspapers, the coverage of the incident has however only led to more dismay and incorrect portrayals of the Sikhs, thanks to biased reporting and distorted facts. The distorting of facts has surprised many, as credible and well-recognized media organizations, including the BBC, CNN, Wall Street Journal and New York Times, covered the incident without proper research. The internal dispute of the Ravidas Community was publicized as a clash within the Sikh Community and the Ravidasia Preachers were labeled as Sikh Gurus. In reality, the attacks had nothing to do with the Sikh religion. Shortly after riots erupted in the State of Punjab, Akash Radio, a UK based radio station, leaked out a "breaking news" item in which it claimed to have received an email from the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) President, Ranjit Singh Neeta. According to the statement by Akash Radio, the KZF had taken responsibility for the recent bloodshed in the Vienna Temple. The story by Akash Radio was equally surprising as one wonders why the KZF chose to send its correspondence to Akash Radio instead of other media outlets. Panthic Weekly would like to point out that soon after the breaking news by Akash Radio, the Khalistan Zindabad Force released an official statement condemning the killing of Ramanand. According to the various media outlets, the Babbar Khalsa International led by Bhai Wadhawa Singh Babbar also condemned the incident and asked followers of Bhagat Ravidas to maintain peace, yet no original copies of the statements have been provided. While contradictory statements have been publicized, the Sikh Nation felt a deep rooted controversy was behind the recent incidents that led to disruption of peace within Punjab. Ever since the formation of the Sikh religion, there has been no incident where Dalits have protested against Sikhs. Just like Sikhs in India, the Dalits have also continued to face Government organized oppression. The Dalit community based in Southern India has in fact been a strong sympathizer of Khalistan, as their struggle for Dalitstan has continued for decades. Interestingly, as Akash Radio aired the news that KZF took responsibility for the attack, the Dalits in Punjab started to burn effigies of Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, Ranjit Singh Neeta, along with flags of Khalistan and the Khalistan Zindabad Force. In addition, the Dalits burned trains, busses, cars and halted transportation in several places. The violence that occurred also claimed the lives of individuals in Punjab. Suddenly, the Dalits and Sikhs, who have long been a community together, were made into enemies. What was the actual reason behind this? Was the incident in Vienna enough to cause such a rampage in Punjab? Some other questions that come to mind: Was it a mere coincidence that news of the shooting in Vienna found coverage in the world’s major newspapers or was it a deep rooted controversy? Was it a mere coincidence that without knowing the background of the assassins, the media put the blame of the incident on the Sikh Community? To answer: it was no coincidence that such biased coverage was highlighted at an international level. Within hours of the original shootings, the world’s major newspapers dismantled the facts of the incidents and published them without considering the impact on the Sikh Community. These are the same newspapers which seldom publish anything positive about the image of the Sikh religion. Interestingly as a negative event took place, they spared no time putting the blame on the Sikh Community. The media failed to do justice with its reporting when it baselessly claimed that Sikhs of a "higher caste" were behind the incident and the conflict was due to caste politics that are prevalent in Punjab. Even though Punjab had to suffer the most because of the protest, Vienna Police reports suggest that none of the culprits belonged to Punjab. Then why and how were Punjab and Sikhs brought into the picture? Research by Sikh scholars suggests that another organization might have played a key role in instigating the protests and spreading salt on the wounds of the Ravidasia community. This same organization could also be behind the attack inside the Vienna temple which claimed the life of Ramanand. This organization is the same that has for decades tried to destroy the Sikh religion from its roots. When its old and frustrated claim that Sikhs are keshadhari Hindus has failed to succeed, they have played another game, dividing the Sikhs and the Punjabi community, severely hurting our strength from the roots of equality and social acceptance. The Rashtraiya Swayamsevak Sangh has without any doubts spread steadfast in several Western countries. Its activists are involved in recruitment and campaigns based outside of Punjab, especially in key European countries. When the Sikh Nation is being attacked from all four directions, it is certainly only the radical Hindutva fundamentalists that could benefit from it. 25th Anniversary of Operation Blue Star – The Right Time for Vienna Attack? Only weeks before the Sikh Nation was going to remember the loss of thousands of lives in less than a week, the incident in Vienna has overshadowed everything under the death of one Ravidasia leader. When the whole world was going to be reminded of the atrocities by the Indian Nazi Government, the picture of Sikhs has been painted in front of the world as assassins of Ravidasia leaders. In Punjab, a large community of Dalits has already gone on a rampage against Khalistan and mainstream Sikhi. Not only this, the clever work of the Sangh seems in line with the recent statement by the Indian Prime Minister calling on Sikhs to forget the events of 1984. As Sikh organizations took a strong stand against this comment, the Sangh leadership has worked brilliantly to ensure that if Sikhs won’t forget the 1984 massacre and resulting genocide, other communities at least won’t remember it with the Sikhs. Such Divide and Rule philosophy has long been used by the Shankaracharyas, the fore-fathers of the Hindutva organizations. While dividing Sikhs and Dalits, the Brahmin masters of the Sangh Parivar have also gracefully used the damaging and politically corrupt so-called Sikh leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Background of the Incident – What might have led to the clash The Sikh community deeply mourns the loss of life and bloodshed inside any place of religious worship, this however should not lead us to forget what might have trigged the attack. It is not only Sikhs that seek respect for Guru Granth Sahib—the holy scripture of the Sikh Gurus and Bhagats is revered by many different communities. If the attack did arise because of any sacrilege taking place inside the Ravidasia temple, it should not lead anyone to believe that only Sikhs could have taken such a stand. As mentioned earlier, the Austria police have released the identity of the persons behind the attack and these people don’t have a Punjabi background. Reports received from different sources shed light that inside the temple, Naranjan Das and Ramanand were seen sitting parallel to Guru Granth Sahib and the visiting sangat was making obeisance in front of them instead of bowing to Guru Granth Sahib. It has also been shared that during one of their speeches, the visiting ‘preachers’ from Punjab claimed that soon parkash of Guru Granth Sahib would be replaced by a Ravidasia Granth. During previous diwans of these self-proclaimed god men, it was also seen that the temple sevadars would first touch any offerings to their feet and then present them to Guru Granth Sahib afterwards. With the occurrence of this incident, it should provide a way for followers of Bhagat Ravidas to rethink their recently adopted ways. Bhagat Ji’s followers should go back to the days of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and compare the atmosphere of the Ravidasia Gurdwaras to today’s temples. It should be noted that Bhagat Ravidas Ji was strictly against idol worship. He preached the worship of only One God. This is the reason why Sikh Gurus include his bani in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Only twenty-five years ago, idol worship was not present at the Gurdwaras of Bhagat Ravidas Ji. The Ravidasia community truly believed in the Oneness of all—just like their Sikh brethren.
