After shoe, Jarnail hurls book at govt

Remember the guy who flung a size 9 at the home minister? Journo Jarnail Singh hopes his new book will repeat the impact

Even as Jarnail Singh sat jobless and ostracised in his modest home at Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, he was busy with what he believed to be his biggest responsibilityu00a0- bringing the minds behind the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre to book. In seven months, he's done it. I Accuse..., as it's called, is a result of his decade-long dedication to the subject of Sikh suffering post Indira Gandhi. One read, and he's sure everyone else would be tossing their heels too.

Do you a think a book will be able to do what years of protest haven't?
At least, this will strip naked the culprits, and make others want to do what I did. The conspiracies are out in the open now. It was a state-sponsored massacre, not a random riot. There was proper planning and execution, with special trains and buses in operation, like those in Rohtak. The exposu00e9 should put some pressure on the government.

What is the title's prime premiseu00a0- personal experience, observation or opinion?
The issue was always on my mind. I know of untold tragedies that continue as a result of what happened back then. Cases that were covered up, and mocked at. My journalistic findings revealed that till 24 hours after Indira Gandhi's death, there were no killings. Then, a special list was created. An "S" marked on Sikhs' houses in the night. They were singled out on the voters' list. How can it be a danga, then?
And I'm talking on the basis of the affidavits submitted by witnesses to different committees. Even the Nanavati Commission's report said that it was planned. Sadly, though, the media still doesn't know about the incident in detail, and there's no comprehensive documentation of it. So, when Penguin approached me with the offer, I thought it was time.

Many are still stuck on that shoe. Do you regret it, after all these months?
When Jagdish Tytler was given a clean chit, I was prepared to ask tough questions. So when the home minister said "I'm glad my friend has been exonerated by the CBI," I couldn't hold back my anger. How can the man whose responsibility is to safeguard the whole country, say such a thing? I was hurt to the core. His ministry failed to prove a case. What kind of a message was he giving to the CBI? I felt humiliated when he said I was trying to address my own agenda with my queries. I said, I protest. I didn't intend to hurt him. The shoe was thrown 2 metres away.

I have the courage to say it wasn't the right thing to do, as a journalist. But I'm proud to stand in print now. Back then, I did cross the line, and so didn't challenge my termination from the newspaper firm I worked for. Or the confiscation of my PIB (Press Information Bureau) card. But, instead of punishing the real culprits, they have rewarded them with political tickets. My code of conduct may've been wrong, but what about that of the police, judiciary and government?

Didn't you get too personal out of angst?
It was out of deep concern, the kind I have for Muslims in Gujarat, Kashmiri Pandits and Bangladeshi Hindus. So, there's no personal agenda. We need a special law against communal and ethnic violence. Why does a common man need to threaten suicide to be heard? Why does the media have to scream to get Manu Sharma back in jail? Our system is so insensitive; they've proved me right in my wrong.

I Accuse... has been published by Penguin-Viking and is available at all leading bookstores for Rs 350.