Amritsar, January 24
Two prominent Sikh separatist groups namely Dal Khalsa and SAD ( Amritsar) has to stage a protest marches on the eve of India’s Republic Day in the region of Majha, Doaba, and Malwa.
In a statement, Dal Khalsa working president Paramjit Singh Mand said our protest list includes fake encounters, extrajudicial and extra-territorial targeted killings, wrongful detentions, misuse of black laws like UAPA, NSA to stifle dissidents, Government anti-farmers & pro-corporate policies and denial of right to self-determination to ethnic minorities, who aspire for statehood.
He further said activists of their organizations will march on the streets of Gurdaspur ( Majha), Jalandhar ( Doaba), Mansa ( Malwa) on Jan 25 on the eve of India’s constitutional day.
The pro-Sikh freedom groups also called upon the masses to stay away from all republic day celebrations across the Punjab in protest.
“While India would celebrate its 75th republic year on Jan 26, we have no hesitation to place on record that the Constitution has failed the Punjab and the Sikh people. The establishment has used best democratic ideals and institutions, including the constitution to scuttle our religious, social and political aspirations,” stated Dal Khalsa.
“At one point, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, conveniently accepted the right to self-determination, including the right to secede. But later on, Indian leadership backtracked from his words, he chided. The present Sikh struggle for independence from India was rooted in the betrayal of promises by Indian leaders. It is regrettable that the present constitution of India deny nationalities having distinct identity, history and culture their right to self-determination as recognised under UN.”
Akali Dal Mann general secretary Harpal Singh Blair said while a majority of Sikhs continue to participate in the political life of India, the religio-political future of the people of Punjab is at risk. They said their groups will contest and resist the “hypocrisy” of the Indian state, which is continuing its tirade and onslaught against Sikhs settled worldwide.
