Indian Government admits black list of 205 Sikh NRI's existed

By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: The Indian Government for the first time after 1984 has admitted that a black list of Sikhs living abroad existed and it contained the names of 205 Sikhs including NRI's who obtained foreign citizenship.

This was revaeled on Wednesday by Tarlochan Singh member of Rajya Sabha who received a letter from the Union Home Minister P.Chidambram in reply to a letter written by the former. Tarlochan Singh had sought list of black listed Sikhs in March 2008.

In an interview to a TV channel, Tarlochan Singh said that it was hurtening that Indian Government was maintaining black lsit of Sikhs who merely participated in demonstarations before Indian embassies after operation Blue Star in Golden Temple in 1984. "It is shameful on the part of government that Sikhs are being discriminated even after 26 years of operation blue star. He said that it was normal course that Sikhs protested against attack on their religious place. "It is violation of humnan rights that people of a community were black listed on religious grounds, he added.

Tarlochan Singh said that out of 205 black lsited sikhs only seven were allowed to visit India and two of them Jagjiot Singhj Chauhan and Sukhbir Singh ahd died. He added that only five Sikhs were actually benefitted. He said that Home minister had informed him that cases of 14 more Sikhs are under consideration to take out from the black list. He said that after 1984 it was for the first time that Indian Government had admitted existance of black list. He said that it was government policy to ignore the Sikhs issues due to vote bank politics.

Tarlochan Singh appealed to all Sikh MP's irrespective of party affiliation to take up the issue with center government to get justice for balck listed Sikhs. He said that those black listed Sikhs allowed to visit India had never spoke a word against India. He clarified that Sikhs were not against India as country but they had lsodged their protest against the government and political party of that time. He questioned the center government that cant Sikhs protest in a democratic system ?

Tarlochan Singh said that he had written letter to Home Minister to provide full lsit of black listed Sikh NRI's. In a separate letter to Prime Minister he has demanded to set up a committee of MP's to examine the cases of black listeed Sikhs. "We are ready to take the responsibility of Sikhs who wish to visit Golden Temple and their relatives in India", he stated.

He said that the Parliament session would start from Febraury 22 and he will raise the issue in the Parliament. He said that MP's from all parties supported his cause and now it is for the center government to give justice to the Sikhs.

He also raised the issue of maintaining national register of martyrs who fought for freedom of India. He said that he opposed the decision of cut off date of 1857. He said that Anglo Indian war had taken place in 1846 and 1848 in which martyrs like Sham Singh Attari played major role against British government. He demanded that names of all martyrs be included in the national register.He said that Prime Minister hjad agreed to revies the decision.