Former IAS Officer Seeks Truth Commission for Punjab's Troubled Past
Former IAS officer and senior BJP Punjab leader Dr Jagmohan Singh Raju has written to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, demanding the establishment of a “Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission” to examine the events surrounding the violence and terrorism period in Punjab between 1980 and 2000.
The demand comes amid controversy over the removal of the Punjabi film “Satluj” from the OTT platform ZEE5 shortly after its release. Raju said the episode has once again brought into focus the differing and often conflicting perceptions surrounding one of Punjab’s most traumatic periods.
Need for Independent and Impartial Body
Arguing that an independent and impartial body is needed to uncover the complete truth, Raju said society cannot move forward without acknowledging the facts of the past and addressing competing narratives through a credible process. In his letter to the Governor dated July 7, Raju said the “stealth release and abrupt removal” of “Satluj” had reignited the debate over whether the truth about Punjab’s insurgency period could ever be established in an unbiased manner.
“Punjab cannot move on until the truth behind the incidents that took place during the insurgency period from 1980 to 1995 is acknowledged and multiple narratives are tested against facts. A Truth Commission is not about retribution; it is about ensuring political accountability and examining what we currently know only as ‘reported truth’,” Raju wrote.
Building Punjab's Future on Truth
He added that Punjab’s future cannot be built on disputed memories and called for a sincere effort to establish the truth through a fair, independent and credible mechanism. Raju also sought institutional, legal and administrative reforms aimed at protecting human rights, strengthening constitutional governance and ensuring the effective implementation of the rule of law.
