Exhortations to revive militancy

All this sounds well, but reports are that a few Sikh militants were also at the celebrations. The militants are always on the look out for an opportunity to register their presence. That the American ambassador should provide a platform is indeed intriguing and bewildering.

As India's High Commissioner to the UK, I remember how most gurdwaras in London in the early 1990s were controlled by the militants who had effectively distanced the Sikh community from India. I was humiliated when I went to pay obeisance at one of the gurdwaras controlled by the militants. They shouted: "Indian dogs go back." This type of behaviour is difficult to imagine at present when all the gurudwaras are under the control of liberal elements. But my impression is that the militants are lying low, waiting for the right time. I have always felt that there are some other forces, egging on the militants to network their support in Punjab and revive insurgency.

Canada is, of course, another kettle. Here, the militants are not discouraged. Even the government is soft. This was witnessed when the trial on the bombing of Air India in midair was going on. Ultimately, nothing came out of it. Some proceedings of sorts have begun once again because of New Delhi's pressure. But these proceedings are informal and will take a legal shape only when some concrete evidence is available.

However, the scenario has somewhat changed both in the UK and Canada following the 9/11 incidents. All militants, whatever their religion, have come under the scan. They are operating in twos and threes covertly, but the governments are quite hard on them. New Delhi's advantage is that it is getting information about the militants from London, Washington and Ottawa, a practice which despite India's prodding, was not welcomed.