Bhatinda, December 10 (KNO) : On 70th International Human Rights Day, Dal Khalsa held a march to seek justice for alleged police firing at Gurdaspu in 2009 and Behbal kalan in 2015, to children waiting for parents who have disappeared or faced custodial deaths in 80’s and 90’s.
On Monday, Bhatinda town witnessed the March and assembly participated by political as well as social activists. The march led by Dal Khalsa reminded the society about the pain and suffering of the Sikh conflict that remains unattended to.
According to a statement issued to KNO, activists carrying placards and the photographs of victims of state repression, who disappeared without a trace took to the city’s streets to remind the government to “declare them either dead or help know their whereabouts”.
Dal Khalsa and its allied groups Malwa Youth Federation and Sikh Youth of Punjab marched on the streets to provide some succour to the victims parents and families. One of the banner they were holding carried the plea of victims mother to the government: “If my son is dead tell me where you have cremated, if he is alive, show me his face”.
Hitting out at Modi dispensation over the increased incidents of mob lynching in hindi heartland, speakers while taking a jibe said in Modi’s India, cows have rights, humans don’t. They carried placards with this message to put across their point of view.
“For the oppressed people who were struggling for their rights, all declarations of the United Nations are hallow and meaningless. Be it the right of self determination, right to life or right to liberty and security, every right is denied to them,” said Dal Khalsa head Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema. “If India is not at fault, than New Delhi should allow UNHRC and Human Rights Watch to examine the cases of rights abuses in Punjab, Kashmir and elsewhere,” he added.
From Punjab to Kashmir to central India, dissent is being caged and dissenting people’s rights trampled, said party’s young general secretary Paramjit Singh Tanda. To drive their point home, the protesters were carrying banners on which photographs of recently detained activists from Kashmir, Punjab and central India including Masrat Alam, Jaggi Johal, Vara Vara Rao, Prof Saibaba were displayed. Another party leader Kanwar Pal Singh said parties vying for political power namely AAP, SAD and Congress have no human rights agenda.
Singh said that Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh is the new pawn in the hands of Hindutva force who wants him to be used in the India's larger game plan to scuttle the kartarpur corridor project and create fissures among the Sikhs. After participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies on the both side of fences, Indian leaders and their agent in Punjab ( Capt. Amarinder) are making noises that corridor project is game plan of Pak army. Captain's outburst is purely out of egoistical reasons as he can't digest the appreciation of Navjot Singh Sidhu, as the latter had refuseed to accept him as his Capitan.
After undermining the supremacy of Akal Takht and doing enough damage to Sikh institutions, Badal's are enacting drama at Darbar Sahib to seek forgiveness for their sins. Badals have fallen from the grace as their list and nature of their sins is too long and grave that stands unpardonable. He further said Badals should quit politics. Social activist Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha Sidhana addressed the gathering at Dr Ambedkar park. He took jibe at Captain Amrinder Singh for toeing Hindutva line.
Large number of lawyers from bar council also participated in the March and rally. Before the march, the organizers performed ardas at gurdwara qilla Mubarak in memory of those perished in the hands of security forces during the course of Sikh struggle beginning from 1978.(KNO)