The Tribune – Operation Bluestar Anniversary; Punjab: Re-emergence of radicals raises questions

Naveen S Garewal, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5. June 6, 1984, the day the Army launched an attack (Operation Bluestar) on the Golden Temple. It has been 28 years. Why then has the SAD-led Government, into its third term, allowed a ‘Blue Star Memorial’ in the Golden Temple Complex to come up? The BJP, a SAD alliance partner, is strongly opposed to building such a memorial, but has kept quiet because of civic elections in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home Portfolio, finds nothing wrong with the memorial. He says: “Hundreds of innocent devotees who were trapped in the Golden Temple lost their lives during the army attack in 1984. What is wrong if a memorial is built for them?” Apparently there is nothing wrong, except that it is the Damdami Taksal that is building the memorial with the support of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) and SAD.

Memories resurface

It was the Damdami Taksal head, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala, who had moved into the Golden Temple complex along with his followers, fortified the Akal Thakt and took on the Army when it moved into the complex to liberate the holiest Sikh shrine. Though, the Army attack caused a deep emotional wound, it is only recently the SAD, which remained mum, has allowed the memories to be resurrected.

Developments, such as the SAD forming an alliance with the Sant Samaj, a predominantly religious body, and appeasing the Damdami Taksal during the post-poll phase can certainly be an attempt by the Akali leadership to neutralise the hardliners in Sikh politics by providing them an honourable return to the mainstream politics.

The re-emergence of fringe elements on the centre-stage of Sikh politics has led to several realignments and questions in Punjab politics. Started before the assembly elections to consolidate the Sikh vote bank by the SAD, the integration of radicals into the political mainstream has caused concern.

Panthic agenda

The inauguration of a series of historical monuments on the eve of Punjab elections was initially seen as a revival of the ‘Panthic Agenda’ (read appeasing the Sikhs) to draw political mileage. Though, denied by the Akalis, the timing and grandeur associated with the Sikh memorials did not leave much to imagination. But today, those watching Punjab politics want to know if the SAD was providing the radicals an honourable way to return to the political mainstream or are the radicals pushing their way back by bullying the Akalis.

Of late several important leaders of the Akal Dal Mann also known as SAD (Amritsar) that professes the cause of Khalistan have joined the Akali ranks. Organisations such as the Dal Khalsa have also returned to the mainline politics. But as of now, it is not clear if hardliners are being wooed back or the hardliners have the mainstream Akalis under some pressure.

While a memorial can be viewed as a move to please certain sections of society, but the decision to bestow the title of ‘Living Martyr’ on Balwant Singh Rajoana, the assassin of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, defies logic of the moderate Akali section. It is difficult to understand what interest can be served by eulogising a person held guilty of cold blooded murder and conspiracy.

SAD anomaly?

The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs and is directly under the SGPC. It is the SGPC that appoints the Akal Takht Jathedar. At the same time, the SGPC is controlled by the SAD. Therefore, to say the SGPC does not have the SAD approval in honouring Rajoana would be misreading Punjab politics. The move at this juncture can only be seen as an attempt by the SAD to consolidate Sikh politics, now that there is no major threat to it in Punjab from the Congress.

The first major test for the SAD-BJP alliance would be the post-civic election reaction of the BJP to the “policy of appeasement” being adopted by the Akalis towards those who had once challenged the state. Will the Akali leadership be able to handle the situation they are trying to create in Punjab? Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with all his experience will find a solution once he sees things getting out of control. There are not many in the ruling alliance who can boast of a similar expertise.

Amarinder doesn’t favour memorial

Chandigarh, June 5. President of the PPCC Amarinder Singh today said it was completely wrong to set up Operation Bluestar Memorial as it was not going to help the state in any way. He also condemned the attempts to glorify Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted of murdering former Chief Minister Beant Singh. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120606/main7.htm

The Tribune – Experts to study water-logging: Ashwani

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 5. The Planning Commission has set up a high-level expert group under its member Mihar Shah to study the problem of water-logging in Punjab and suggest remedial measures. Minister of State for Planning, Ashwani Kumar said today that the group had been set up since the 12th Plan envisaged to bring about 20 per cent efficiency in the use of water in the country over the next five years.

The areas selected for the study include Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda. There are reports that at least four lakh acres of land in the state is critically waterlogged due to the rise in the water table (within 2 metres of land surface in some parts).

The 11-member group includes former Planning Commission member Dr Vaidyanathan, Dr Tushar Shah, Senior Fellow, International Water Management Institute, and Prof Karan Singh of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

The minister said he had repeatedly drawn the government’s attention to reviewing water management in Punjab along with related initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and crop diversification.

He said the group would offer suggestions, including avenues for resource mobilisation to implement policy initiatives.

The government would need to find a solution to this critical problem in the border state of Punjab, the country’s food bowl.

The minister said he had also constituted a team to hold a field study in Fatehgarh Churian and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur to identify projects for social and physical infrastructure in border areas.

The team was expected to start work this month, in consultation with the local administration and people’s representatives, the minister added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120606/punjab.htm#3

The Hindu – Asma Jehangir fears threat to life

Anita Joshua

Islamabad, 5 June 2012. Renowned Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir on Monday night said that the country’s powerful security establishment was planning to get her killed using one of the many jihadi outfits operating in the country.

She spoke out on a couple of primetime talk shows; stating that the military – particularly the Inter Services Intelligence – was upset with her for picking up cudgels for the Baloch people and speaking out against the role of the security establishment in the restive province of Balochistan.

Ms. Jehangir went public with her fears after an “information-leak from a responsible and highly credible source.” Alarmed by this leak, leading members of Pakistan’s civil society said: “What makes the reported conspiracy to liquidate Asma Jehangir especially serious is, firstly, the environment of target-killings, in which dissident persons’ dead bodies are being dumped all over, and, secondly, the fact that the finger of accusation has been pointed at the extraordinarily privileged state actors.”

In a statement issued through the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, they said this is not a conspiracy against one individual alone but a plot against Pakistan’s future as a democratic state. “We wish to make it clear to all and sundry, especially those who preside over the security apparatus, that they must not under-estimate the consequences of any harm being caused to the life of Asma Jehangir.”

Her security has apparently beefed up following the threat but this is of poor consolation; given how former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was assassinated by someone from his own security detail.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3492559.ece

29 April 2012 Luik/Liège Vaisaki Nagar Kirtan

Luik – Liège Guillemins station

Luik – Liège Guillemins station

Luik – Liège Gurdwara, Palki Sahib

Luik – Liège Gurdwara, Panj Piaré

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Man in Blue

The Tribune – US to seek firm commitment from India on Afghanistan; Defence Secretary for increased Indian engagement in trouble-torn country

Ajay Banerjee, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 5. Visiting US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to ask India to increase its engagement in Afghanistan to bring about peace there, especially after 2014 when the international forces start to withdraw from the country.

In the past one week, the US has indicated it will have an ‘enduring presence’ in the country after 2014. However, it has not spelt out the force levels or other details. Over the next 24 hours, Washington is expected to extend a hand to New Delhi, seeking a firm commitment on Afghanistan.

For India, it will be a tough call to take. New Delhi has no intention of putting its troops on the ground in Afghanistan but is comfortable in its existing role of training the Afghan National Army as also the police forces besides leading infrastructure development for which $ 2 billion has been pledged.

Panetta arrived here this afternoon and called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the evening at his residence. The Indian officials termed his visit as a “courtesy call”. He will meet Defence Minister AK Antony tomorrow for 45 minutes, which is the ‘business part’ of his visit. “Ongoing defence cooperation and regional security situation will figure prominently during discussions,” the Indian Defence Ministry said tonight.

One of the long-term thinking of the US is to ask Pakistan and India to “harmonize their approaches” towards Afghanistan even as it fears that India-Pak istan rivalry could trigger a race to influence Afghanistan post-2014. In October, India and Afghanistan signed a wide-ranging agreement to deepen ties. The agreement included training to Afghan security forces by the Indian Army, which angered Pakistan.

Panetta, a former Director of the Central Investigative Agency (CIA), has arrived in India just a week ahead of the India-US strategic dialogue, which will be held in Washington on June 13. Importantly for India, he has come at a time when the United States has announced a major policy shift and has swung eastwards which is being seen as a “China centric policy”.

Much to the chagrin of China, the US has announced the shifting of its naval assets to strengthen the Pacific Area Command (PACOM). Under the United States’ scheme of things, Pacific Area Command jurisdiction includes countries like India. The new plan will include stationing of 60 per cent of the United States’ Naval fleet under Pacific Area Command by 2020. So far the assets have been divided 50:50 between Pacific Area Command and the Central Command. The United States terms this as a ‘re-balancing’act.

Some six sea-borne aircraft carriers, a majority of cruisers, destroyers, littoral combat ships and submarines will be stationed under Pacific Area Command. China does not have single aircraft carrier but has nuclear submarines.

Beijing has termed the United States decision to shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as “untimely”.

The United States is also keen to get a bigger slice of India’s defence acquisitions, and is negotiating to sell it about two dozen Apache attack helicopters along with other weapons.

Visit ahead of strategic dialogue

Leon Panetta has arrived in India a week ahead of the India-US strategic dialogue, which will be held in Washington on June 13. He has come at a time when the US has announced a major policy shift which is being seen as a “China centric policy”.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120606/main1.htm

Dawn – US kills Qaeda number two in drone strike

Washington, 6 June 2012. The United States said Tuesday that al Qaeda number two Abu Yahya al-Libi was dead, after a drone strike dealt the weightiest blow to the terror group since the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The demise of Libi, a charismatic figure beloved by rank-and-file radicals with a flair for media and managerial authority over terror affiliates, meant another victory in President Barack Obama’s ruthless bid to crush al Qaeda.

“Our government has been able to confirm Al-Libi’s death,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney, ending a prolonged US tussle with a man who once escaped from a US jail in Afghanistan, and had defied previous attempts to kill him.

Officials refused to confirm the circumstances of Libi’s death, but Pakistani authorities previously spoke of a pre-dawn CIA drone strike on Monday on a compound in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border.

“It is significant,” another US official said, saying Libi headed al Qaeda operations in Pakistan and outreach to affiliates such as Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has attacked US targets.

Officials were unable to say whether there were any other casualties in the attack on Libi, after earlier reports that 15 people had died in the drone strike.

News of the killing of Libi followed reports detailing the scope of the US campaign against global terrorism, including revelations that President Barack Obama personally presides over a “kill list” of top suspects.

Libi’s death will also bolster Obama’s national security credentials as he seeks to repel claims of weakness abroad leveled by his Republican opponent in November’s election, Mitt Romney.

Republicans have complained that the White House is selectively leaking intelligence data to bolster Obama’s reputation as a steely commander in chief.

The Libi killing may again worsen tenuous US ties with nominal anti-terror ally Pakistan, severely harmed by drone strikes, a US raid that killed bin Laden last year and Islamabad’s refusal to reopen Nato supply lines into Afghanistan.

A trusted lieutenant of bin Laden, Libi appeared in countless al Qaeda videos and was considered the chief architect of its global propaganda machine.

The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday that Libi had served as the group’s “general manager” and had overseen day-to-day operations in Pakistani tribal areas.

The official described the killing of Libi as a “major blow” to al Qaeda’s core that would put further pressure on the group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Analysts said that Libi had played a talismanic role in al Qaeda, and his loss could be a blow from which the movement may not recover.

“If Zawahiri is put down soon, al Qaeda’s senior leadership will be broken and the torch will have to pass to AQAP,” said terrorism expert Jarret Brachman, of North Dakota State University.

Libi’s death followed the US claim that Atiyah abd al-Rahman, then described in Washington as al Qaeda’s number two, was killed in a US missile strike in North Waziristan on August 22 last year.

“It is a job that is hard to fill and there may not be, given the duration of late that people have held that job … a lot of candidates hoping to fill it,” Carney said.

Pakistani officials had originally said it was unclear whether Libi had been present at a compound in the village of Hesokhel, east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan, that was targeted in the drone strike.

Libi had evaded US clutches before: he escaped from a high security US prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2005.

There had been unconfirmed reports that Libi was wounded in a US drone strike that killed nine militants on May 28. A report that he was killed in a December 2009 drone strike in South Waziristan also proved false.

Obama has presided over a relentless attempt to crush al Qaeda, including in Pakistan and Yemen, since taking office in 2009.

Last month, during a visit to Afghanistan, he said his goal of defeating the group behind the September 11 attacks in 2001 was “now within our reach.”

A Pakistani Taliban leader, speaking to Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location, said Libi “had been living in the Mirali area for quite a while. Most of the people from his group were also in Mirali. When the first missile hit, they went to the house to check the damage.”

“And immediately, another missile hit them at the spot. Unfortunately, Sheikh Sahib (Libi) was martyred. This is a big loss, he was a great scholar. After Doctor Sahib (Zawahri), he was the main al Qaeda leader,” the Pakistani Taliban leader said.

Mirali is a town in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Residents of the village said to be the site of Libi’s death, Hesokhel, noted an unusually high number of militants gathered there after the drone strike and they kept people away.

“They usually bury the bodies after a drone strike in the nearest graveyard,” said one of the villagers, describing the aftermath of previous strikes in the area. “This time they put all the bodies in their cars and took them away.”

President Barack Obama has made strikes against anti-US militants, particularly the killing of bin Laden, a major component of his bid for re-election in November.

There have been eight such strikes since Obama and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended a Nato summit in Chicago on May 21, where they talked briefly but held no formal meeting.

Three of those strikes occurred on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

http://dawn.com/2012/06/06/us-kills-qaeda-number-two-in-drone-strike/