Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale - Sikh Missionary Society (UK)

And,'I don't oppose it nor do I support it. We are silent. However, one thing is definite that ifthis time the Queen of India 263 does give it to us, we shall certainly take it. We won'treject it. We shall not repeat the mistake of 1947. As yet, we do not ask for it. It isIndira Gandhi's business and not mine, nor Longowal's, nor of any other of our leaders.It is Indira's business. Indira should tell us whether she wants to keep us in Hindostan ornot. We like to live together, we like to live in India.' 264 :'How can a nation which has sacrificed so much for the freedom of the country want itfragmented but I shall definitely say that we are not in favor of Khalistan nor are weagainst it.' 265 :'I have given my opinion that we do not oppose Khalistan nor do we support it. We arequiet on the subject. This is our decision. We wish to live in Hindostan but as equalcitizens, not as slaves. We are not going to live stuck under the chappals (Mrs. Gandhi'sshoes). We have to live in freedom and with the support of Kalghidhar 266 . We wish tolive in Hindostan itself. It is the Central Government's business to decide whether itwants to keep the turbaned people with it or not. We want to stay.' 267 :There were persons, some of them even close to Sant Bhindranwale 268 , who supportedan independent state but he himself was not one of them. Sant Longowal is said to haveconfirmed that, as late as June 5, 1984, Sant Bhindranwale refused to declare his support for anindependent state. He did, however, declare that if the Indian Government invaded the DarbarSahib complex, foundation for an independent Sikh state will have been laid. This was toemphasize that the invasion would unalterably confirm the Government as an enemy of theSikhs. The Khalistan bogey was apparently a creation of the Indian Government responding tothe clamor of the extremist factions among the Punjabi Hindus.7. Getting Support from External Sources?Did Sant Bhindranwale 'receive covert support from external sources'? Raising thespecter of 'the foreign hand' was Indira Gandhi's favorite ploy and it was eagerly accepted by theIndian public which is always suspicious of 'colonial powers'. The accusation was obviouslyadded to other innuendoes against Sant Bhindranwale in order to mobilize public opinion.Responding to an accusation by Indira Gandhi, Sant Bhindranwale challenged her saying 269 :263 Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India.264 Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Speech on March 27, 1983.265 Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Speech don May 11, 1983.266 Siri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.267 Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Speech on July 19, 1983.268 For example: Harminder Singh Sandhu, interview with Harry Reasoner of CBS News: 60 Minutes, May 1984.269 Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Speech on May 23, 1983.49