In an exclusive interview with Brighter Kashmir Editor-in-Chief Farooq Wani, Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities Iqbal Singh Lalpura talks in detail about how Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks about the minorities of the country who constitute 21 per cent of the population and his vision (PM Modi) for the minorities.

During the course of the conversation, Chairman Lalpura also threw some light on how former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani were instrumental in forming the minorities commission.

He also talks about Sikh history and their tumult relation with the Muslims, saying that the animosity between the two was always at the governmental levels while both the communities had some issues and were never against each other.

Chairman Lalpura also spoke about the alleged “betrayal” of the Congress party with the Sikhs and how Indira Gandhi messed it up in her last tenure with the Sikh community, leading to the Golden Temple episode and to her subsequent killing.

Interview excerpts:

Explain to the readers when the animosity started between Muslims and Sikh communities. During Mughal Emperor Akbar’s era, everything was peaceful between the two communities.

It started during Emperor Jahangir’s regime when he executed Guru Arjan Dev.

Was it a political or religious killing?

It was a political killing. His killing had to do nothing with the religion of any community. You should read Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, in which the Emperor himself says he was fooling both Muslims and Hindus.

The period under Emperor Shah Jahan was peaceful. The animosity between the Muslims and Sikhs again started during the Aurangzeb’s era. As a Sikh scholar, how do you view Aurangzeb’s period?

Aurangzeb was a king who tried to spread Islam by the sword. The Pandits of Kashmir requested Tegh Bahadur to save them. He sacrificed his life for them. The  Ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was executed by Emperor Aurangzeb. His four sons were martyred, and his mother was also attacked. But the Muslim community never fought against the Sikhs. It was always political and at the governmental levels and not at the community level. 

You mentioned about Kashmiri Pandits. Could you explain it in a historical context?

In 1675, Kashmir’s Governor was Iftikhar Khan under Emperor Aurangzeb. He had forcibly converted Kashmiri Pandits to Islam. Pandit Kripa Ram and others came to Anantapur Sahib Guru Tegh Bahadur and asked for his help. And the ninth Guru helped them by sacrificing his life.

By 1801, Sikh warrior Ranjit Singh establishes Sikh state with its headquarters in Lahore. For our reader talk us through this period. 

By the 1800s, the British had a complete hold of India. It was only the Sikh state which was not under their control. So, the British employed a writer by the name of Shah Mohammed to discredit the Sikh state and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. But when Shah Mohammed completed his commissioned work, the British banned its publication. He so favoured Ranjit Singh in his historical writings. He wrote that Muslims and Hindus are residing with all the honours and privileges under Ranjit Singh. If you look at his regime, Ranjit Singh had employed more Muslims in his administration. All the powerful ministries were held by the Muslims.

Why did Ranjit Singh’s sons fail him? They could not stabilise the Sikh Empire after the death of their father. Why?

British was too big a power. Maharaja Ranjit Singh wanted to establish good ties with both Napoleon Bonaparte as well as British. But in the end, he compromised with the British being the neighbours of the Sikh state. The British wanted to end this throne in the northwest. They could not digest an independent state in the strategically important northwest area of South Asia. So they cheated. And don’t forget that Nau Nihal Singh and Kharak Singh were killed on the same day by the British.

In geopolitical terms, the Ranjit Singh period was marred by tough diplomacy between the Sikh state and Afghans on one side and between the Sikh state and the British on the other. Why did Ranjit Singh fail to win over Afghans?

Look at Afghans today. They are still fighting. On the other hand, Maharaja (Ranjit Singh) was a brave man. He was never afraid of taking the fight to the Afghans. From historical accounts, we also come to know that Nau Nihal Singh as an emissary also went to Kabul for reconciliation between the two kingdoms. But there were no further movements on this account between the kingdoms.

During the later years of Ranjit Singh’s rule, Gulab Singh was made the Prime Minister of the Sikh state. And when the Anglo-Sikh war broke out in the mid-1840s, Gulab Singh did not help the Sikhs against the British. Wasn’t it a betrayal to the Sikhs?

Let the historians decide who betrayed whom. He bought Kashmir for 75 lakh Nanakshahi. Did Dogras have this much money? No. This money was taken from the Lahore treasury which was Sikh money with whom he bought Kashmir from the British. Who all were bought by the British. Which Sikh and Dogra betrayed the Sikh Empire is for the historians to decide.

After the British left, Punjab was divided and the Sikh leadership decided to remain with India and with Pakistan. Was it because of animosity between Muslims and Sikhs that the Sikh leadership chose India over Pakistan?

Actually, it was a three-nation formula. It was Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s granddaughter Princess Bamba Sutherland was in India. She came to India in 1911. But she was not made of any negotiations. She died in Lahore in a road accident in 1957. And the leadership, I think Akali Dal made was the right choice. Seeing what Pakistan is now, Sikhs have made the right decision. The condition of the minority in that now it seems was a well-taken decision by the Sikh leadership

Do you think successive Congress governments handled the Punjab well following Partition?

There were many wrongs done by the Congress during their tenure. People who were not adjusted started to agitate on various issues which put Punjab in jeopardy. Congress has kept Sikhs in pain and created such situations which have been always inimical to Sikh interests. 

Do you hold Indira Gandhi responsible for the Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale episode?

Nothing happens without the Prime Minister’s permission. The whole responsibility lies with Indira Gandhi. Bhindranwale’s episode would not have happened without Indira Gandhi’s direct approval. She created this problem solely out of desperation.

Was Congress responsible for what happened in Delhi after the assassination of Indira Gandhi?

At least 2733 people were killed following Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Yes, Congress was responsible for what happened in Delhi and Punjab after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. One can always look at the Nanavati Commission and Dhingra Committee reports. Unfortunately, there was no proper compensation given to the Sikh victims and it was only after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government came to power that proper compensation was given to the Sikh victims.

You have been in the thick of things in Punjab during the Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale episode as an officer of the Punjab Police Force. What is your position on the role of security forces in this entire episode?

My position remains the same which was 50 years ago for the security forces. There is no justice without peace and development is not possible without peace. Until justice is done, people cannot stay calm. 

Do you think you managed the Punjab well during the crisis?

I got the chance and I tried to just bring justice as much as I could. A police officer should be wise and protect the people.

Are you satisfied with the role you played during the Punjab crisis?

I am absolutely satisfied with what I have done during the crisis.

A Delhi court this week also convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the Sikh riots.

This decision should have come a long back. But we are extremely happy with the decision. It is a good decision though the conviction happened after almost 40 years. 

As the incumbent Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, do you think the incumbent government is doing enough for the minorities?

The Minority Commission was only established in 1977 after the Janata government came to power. And Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani had a great role to play in establishing this commission. It was these leaders who said that they wanted to include minorities in the broader framework of the country.

What is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi related to minorities?

Around 29 per cent of our total population is of minorities. PM Modi has consistently told us in all the meetings that we cannot take this country forward without these 21 per cent. The minority along with other 79 per cent are the owners of this country. PM Modi always says that we have to move together and take the minorities along in all the developmental projects.