Jagmeet Singh's baseless accusation against RSS in 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Separating fact from fiction

On the occasion of the 39th Remembrance Day of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 that followed the tragic assassination of India’s first woman prime minister, Indira Gandhi, a vitriolic and factually incorrect statement has emerged from the NDP leader Jagmeet Singh suggesting that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh perpetrated the 1984 riots. In reality, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were a dark chapter in Indian history, characterised by widespread violence against the Sikh community, which resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives. The riots were triggered by the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her trusted bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. While these events sent shockwaves across the nation, it is essential to maintain historical accuracy when addressing the root causes of the violence. Jagmeet Singh is a controversial figure whose past actions and statements have cast a shadow over his political career. In 2013, India denied him a visa due to his inflammatory rhetoric against India and his support for Khalistani activities in Canada. In 2017, Singh stirred further controversy by glorifying Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing that tragically claimed 329 lives, including 269 Canadians. Singh’s description of Parmar as a ‘Shaheed’, or martyr, drew widespread criticism in Canada and India, exposing his support for terrorism. The emergence of “Khalistan 2.0” is currently unfolding, marked by a resurgence of the neo-Khalistan ideology in the political sphere of Canadian and UK politics. While “Khalistan 1.0” was largely associated with violence and terrorism, this new iteration aims to attain political power in Canada. Indian authorities had previously implemented stringent measures to suppress Khalistan 1.0 inadvertently pushing the remaining proponents to foreign shores. Canada, despite its relatively small population of around 38.2 million, holds significant international influence as a member of the G7 and Five Eyes coalitions. Prominent politicians of Sikh origin, such as Tim Uppal, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP and Harjit Singh Sajjan, former defence minister of Canada, occupy influential positions in Canadian politics. Their positions grant them access to considerable resources and a platform for international engagement. During the farmer protests of 2020 in India, these Canadian politicians, representing different party affiliations, visited the protest sites and actively interfered in India’s internal affairs. This intervention culminated in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticising India’s Farm Bills, which were later withdrawn due to mob violence, further straining diplomatic relations. Recently, Khalistani sympathizers within the Canadian Parliament united to accuse Indian authorities of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, despite a lack of evidence. Jagmeet Singh himself joined this chorus using a mixture of Punjabi and Urdu to condemn India for its alleged persecution of Sikhs. However, the reality stands in stark contrast. Sikhs constitute less than 2 per cent of India’s population, yet they have excelled in various fields including sports, leading the Indian hockey team to Olympic glory. Sikhs have made significant contributions in football, cricket, golf, athletics and various other areas. They have also risen to prestigious military and political positions, with Sikhs having served as Indian army chiefs and, most prominently, as the prime minister of the country. Jagmeet Singh’s assertion implicating the RSS in the 1984 riots is inconsistent with historical evidence. The RSS is a globally recognised social welfare group with a long history of advocating for Hindu-Sikh unity. During the tumultuous days of India’s partition in 1947, the RSS defended the revered Sikh Shrine, Darbar Sahib, in Amritsar, against attacks by mobs led by the Muslim League twice. This display of unity was marked by slogans like ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Sat Shri Akaal’, highlighting the camaraderie between Hindus and Sikhs, who share common Dharmic and Indic faiths and a united defence against foreign faiths for centuries. Even critics of the RSS have acknowledged its role in maintaining Hindu-Sikh unity during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Khushwant Singh, a prominent critic of the RSS, expressed that it was Congress leaders who incited mobs during those tragic days, resulting in the loss of over 3,000 lives. He credited the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their courage in protecting vulnerable Sikhs during this challenging period, highlighting the extraordinary efforts made by political figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee to assist those in need. A similar statement was made by Tavleen Singh, another vocal critic of the BJP. Despite facing challenges from various quarters, including Khalistani militants and Christian missionaries, the RSS has remained steadfast in its commitment to the betterment of Punjab. The organisation has played a significant role in ‘Gharwapsi’, bringing Sikhs back to the Sikh fold, by fighting coercion through the exploitation of poverty and drug addiction, as well as countering supposedly miraculous cures offered by missionaries. Jagmeet Singh’s allegations against the RSS are seen as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of a globally recognised social welfare group. His stance aligns with radical organisations and figures who have been involved in influencing global affairs by promoting agendas that disrupt societal harmony. These individuals, often with Indian roots, are seen as part of the Western soft power apparatus, propagating distorted histories and manipulating public perceptions. While the wounds of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots continue to haunt the collective memory of India, it is crucial to acknowledge historical facts accurately. Jagmeet Singh’s assertion regarding the RSS’s involvement in the riots contradicts established accounts and is a global ploy to discredit Hindus globally. It also serves to alienate the truth about Congress individuals responsible for the massacre. In times when clarity and reconciliation are essential, it becomes infinitely more critical to rely on documented history and unbiased accounts to foster unity and understanding. There are still numerous journalistic accounts that chronicle the horrors experienced by the Hindu and Sikh communities in 1984 and the manipulation of language by Jagmeet Singh serves as a subtle signal to a particular audience. The author is a columnist specialising in Khalistani terrorism and external threat mappings for India. He posts on X at @DwellingDeep_. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .