Chandigarh- The Dal Khalsa head
Harchranjit Singh Dhami said notwithstanding the victory of the opposition BJP
at the recently held assembly elections, the march of Narendra Modi to the
Prime Minister’s seat spells doom for justice and fair play for minorities.
The association of KPS Gill – who
flagrantly violated human rights in Punjab with Modi, is clearly a grim
reminder of what the future holds for minorities and justice-seekers in this
country, he added.
He said the perpetrators of
extra-judicial killings and violators of human rights were now in command of
the police. Having suppressed the Sikh struggle for sovereignty, the State has
masterminded the technique of crushing dissent, he added.
Dhami was speaking at a seminar on
‘Endless wait for justice in Punjab’ organized by his organization to mark the
65th World Human Rights Day.
He said the agony, pain and cries of a
large number of families whose children were maimed, killed, jailed, thrown
into canals, those who had to leave home and hearth and settle in foreign countries
continues to haunt them, but the State remains a deaf and dumb spectator, the
“ever hospitable Punjab for Kabaddi matches” refuses to even acknowledge the
existing of such families.
The organizers dedicated the Seminar to
the ideals and life of the tireless South African leader Nelson Mandela who
changed the course of his country’s history ending apartheid and slavery for
his peoples. The large sized banner saluting Mandela was put up on the backdrop
of the stage.
Delivering a key note address Dal
Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said Mandela’s life has been an
inspiration to all struggling peoples and nations.
He said what worries us that while India
conferred the Bharat Ratna on Nelson Mandela, the Indian leadership’s actions
are contrary to the ideals and principles he stood for. Nelson Mandela fought
for freedom from slavery, India continues to shackle dissent and oppose right
to self-determination of various ethnic minorities and nationalities, he said.
He further said India refuses to
release prisoners who have surpassed their legal prison terms in the most
arbitrary manner. This discriminatory practice prevails not only in Punjab but
in Kashmir and the North east too. Nelson Mandela suffered at the hands of the
“white leadership”, but did not show any bitterness once he was released.
However, Indian state continues to follow a policy of hatred and vendetta
towards the Sikh people and other nationalities including the Kashmiris.
Beside
Dal Khalsa leaders, High Court advocate
Navkiran Singh, Advocate Harpal Singh
Cheema, Advocate Jaspal Singh, Sikh scholar Gurtej Singh, Former DGP
Shashi Kant, Khalsa Panchayat chairman Rajinder Singh, SYP president
Ranbir Singh also
participated in the deliberations.
Speaking at a function, the activists of
human rights bodies and socio-politico groups sought the proactive intervention
of the United Nations to prosecute BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendar
Modi and former DGP K P S Gill for what the organizers termed as “crime against
humanity”, referring to Gujarat 2002 massacre and killings of Sikh youth in
extra-judicial methods during militancy period respectively.
They condemned the suppression of Sikh
rights and sought release of all political prisoners and restoration of their
rights. They took the state government to task for embolding the police force
with brute powers. On one of the banner it was written: Untrammeled power is
dangerous in their (police) hands.
The organizers saluted the grit of Manipuri
activist Chanu Sharmila, who is on fast for 13 years protesting the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act. The gathering passed a resolution supporting the
cause of Bhai Gurbakash Singh, who is on fast unto death for last 26 days
seeking the release of those Sikh detainees who have completed their legal jail
term. The organizers praised his spirit and steadfastness. Expressing concern
over the deteriorating health of Gurbakash, they held Centre as well as state
government responsible for it.
Harpal Singh Cheema, chairman of the
Sikhs for Human Rights said since April 1978, Punjab has witnessed devastatingly
large scale violation of human rights. He said these 40 years have seen untold
bloodshed, torture, involuntary disappearances, long and
unending prison terms and the Damocles sword hanging over Sikh activists on the
death row in various prisons.
He said it seems unlikely that the
Hindutva Indian State, Punjab government and the over-entrenched police leadership would
learn to respect human rights.
