Interview With Wife Of Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar
Interview With Wife Of Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar
Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar, who has been arrested by the Interpol due to false accusations of acts of terrorism, is in a West Germany jail. After meeting her husband, Jathedarni Surinder Kaur gave an interview in which she said, “He is in high spirits. The Khalsa is always happy, he has made an appeal for everyone that feels the pain of the Sikh Panth to unite. He has said that no organisation should collect money from the Sangat on my name. When he needs money he will beg the Sangat himself. He has said that he has nothing to do with an organisation under the name of Dal Khalsa. He has also said that no money should be given to Dal Khalsa for my safety.”
The notes from the interview with Jathedarni Surinder Kaur are as follows:
Q: Did you go to Germany from Canada to meet Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar?
A: Yes
Q: Did you meet him?
A: Yes
Q: What did he say?
A: Just, he is happy, the Khalsa is always happy.
Q: Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar went to Canada to make a living like any other Punjabi, but then he chose this path. Did you not oppose his decision? Did you not say to him that there is nothing in this path, earn some money and be quiet?
A: No, I did not say that.
Q: Why?
A: Because he is my husband. Punjabi women always belive that whatever their husbands do is the right thing. Maybe all don’t believe that, but I sure do belive that whatever he is doing is the right thing. I have trust in him not to do anything wrong.
Q: Do you the path he has chosen is very dangerous?
A: The true Sikh of the Guru is never scared.
Q: Have you prepared yourself to face these dangers?
A: Yes, I am ready to face all dangers.
Q: Imagine that Indian government arrests him and jails him in India. He is imprisoned for a long time and tortures him, then what effect will that have on you and your children?
A: The path he has chosen is the path to serve the Sikh Panth. He is giving Amrit to human beings. He never thought that there would be any dangers in doing such Sewa, nor there is any dangers of doing Sewa of the Sikh Panth.
Q: People from Canada, Germany or the West in general behind Jathedar Talwinder Singh?
A: They are all behind and they highly respect him also.
Q: Did any protests happen outside any High Commissions or anyone held rallies or wrote letters?
A: The Chancellor of West Germany in Canada has received many protest letters.
Q: Has any jail officials in Germany cause problems for Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar?
A: No.
Q: How many people came to receive you at the airport in Germany?
A: Many.
Q: What did you speak about in jail? Sometimes a man hopes that his woman does not get scared or lose faith. What did Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar say to you to keep you in high spirits?
A: He said that it is a humble request to all Sikhs to support the movement started by Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. Another thing he said is that his arrest is not a new thing. Singhs have always been facing arrests. In Punjab, uncountable Sikhs are being arrested. They are being tortured, being made martyrs. I only have been arrested. I have no worry that I am in jail.
Q: Did you tell him the how much he inspires the European Sikhs?
A: Yes, I told him that everyone with behind him, all of the Sikh Sangat is with him.
Q: What did he say?
A: He was proud and said that this is what he expected of his brothers.
Q: After travelling in Canada, Germany and the west, what do you feel? Will the Indian government take him back to India?
A: Canada and Germany officials have assured us that the Indian government will not be able to take him back to India. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale was also charged of fake cases, and in the same way my husband is also charged with false cases.
Q: Many people are collecting money, for the release of Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar. What are your thoughts?
A: We have not yet asked anyone for money. No one should use our name to collect money. When we need money we will ourselves ask the Sikh Panth for money. We appeal to the Sikh Panth to not to give money in our name, nor collect money and not to even try to collect.
Q: Even Dal Khalsa can’t collect money?
A: No, because my husband has no link of any sort with Dal Khalsa.
Q: Are the Gurdwara supporting you?
A: Yes, all Gurdwaras are supporting us. Whoever is in the Sikh Panth has this responsibility, may it be Dal Khalsa or any other organisation, no one should collect money in our name. No one other than Surjan Singh can collect money for us.
Q: So that means only you or Surjan Singh can collect money for your husband?
A: Yes.
Q: We don’t exactly know if Dal Khalsa has collected any money or not, but have they contacted you or supported you?
A: We have not received any support. But I have heard that they have collected a lot of money which they should not have. Last Saturday they were given a warning not to collect money. My husband is very upset about this. We do respect them, but we have nothing to do with Dal Khalsa. Dal Khalsa has a habit of copying others. My husband was extremely upset with the article that was written in the newspapers by Dal Khalsa with a cartoon sketch of my husband behind bars.
Q: But that was not a cartoon, in fact it was to tell the world that Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar was in jail.
A: The Sikh Panth knew my husband was in jail. The people are with us. In Hitchin, UK we were given a Saropa, and over £800 were given to us also, but this was out of sympathy. We didn’t ask them for money.
We respect Dal Khalsa. We are not saying that they are foul people, but we don’t want the money to be used wrongfully. Whatever money they collect, we will not be responsible for that and nor are we linked to any organisation, we are only linked to Sri Akaal Takht Sahib. We are the Sikhs of the Guru and respect every Sikh.
Q: Has any of the Akali leaders, Longowal, Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale or Tohra sent you any messages?
A: Yes, we have. They have said not to be worried, they are with us.
Q: What is Jathedar Talwinder Singh Babbar’s routine in jail?
A: Their meditation time has increased. He wakes up at 2 o’clock in the morning. There were restrictions on shower but that restrictions have been lifted. In his free time he read the books of Bhai Vir Singh and other Sikh history books. Even in jail he preaches Amrit. There are another 2 Indians in that jail, who have said that when they are released they will take Amrit. All his requests are fulfilled.
