These days, Punjab is back to discussing terrorism. And it’s all because of an unknown Punjabi writer whose autobiographical account Bikhra Peindda (Lost Path), mentions Punjab Congress chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal’s alleged links with former terrorists.Written in Gurmukhi by Sandeep Kaur, widow of slain Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Dharam Singh Kashtiwal, the 500-page book illustrated with scores of photographs of former terrorists and Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, has BKI terrorist Madha Singh claiming that he used to take refuge in the house of Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Bhattal is busy trashing the allegation while Capt Amarinder Singh is giving credence to it. Sandeep Kaur, the 34-year-old writer stands by her claims.Married at 16 to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) militant Dharam Singh Kashtiwal, who was killed in an encounter in 1992, Kaur was arrested for her terrorist links near Khalsa College, Amritsar, soon after her husband’s death. She was in prison for over four years, till 1996.After she was released, she started a school for orphans of terrorists at Sultanwind village on the outskirts of Amritsar in memory of her slain husband. Now remarried to Punjabi writer Baljit Singh Khalsa, this mother of a school-going son says she stands by every word penned in her account. “It is unadulterated truth, an account of my life as I lived it,” she says, dismissing allegations that she manufactured some parts to malign certain politicians. Kaur says she conceived the idea of penning down a book on her life during her years in the jail. Unmoved by the controversy generated by her book, she says she is all set to write a sequel revealing the names of all politicians and leaders of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) who not only harboured terrorists but also used their clout to get them released. “Like I said in my book, I heard Babbar leader Madha Singh saying that they were taking shelter in the house of Bhattal,” says a composed Sandeep. She is quick to add that some relatives of Bhattal were also picked up by militants. “But I still remember that Madha Singh used to often mention frequenting a house belonging to Bhattal.”It’s not just Bhattal. Kaur also refers to the terrorist links of Lakhbir Singh Randhawa, a senior Punjab Congress leader and former minister. “It is quite well known that he used to give shelter to militants during his election campaign,” says Kaur.The firebrand writer says she is not frightened. “I come from a humble background and I know the hardships my family and I had to face due to our links with terrorists. Now I want to tell the world how even the so-called respected leaders across the political spectrum also pander to militants.”Coming as it does at the height of political infighting in the Punjab Congress, the book has given fresh ammunition to former CM Capt Amarinder Singh who is at daggers drawn with Bhattal. While Singh is demanding a high-level probe into the allegations made by Kaur, Bhattal has called for investigating his foreign tours.
