HOSHIARPUR: Sharply differing with Akali leadership in addressing the issues dogging the Sikh identity, the Dal Khalsa on the auspicious occasion of Khalsa Sajna Divas (birth of Khalsa) talked of unfinished agenda of sovereign self-rule for Sikhs.
The Khalsa Panth is not just a religious body but also a sovereign political entity. Throughout the centuries, the Sikhs have had a unique place among the people of world, developing into a distinct nation in their own right. The concept of sovereignty and statehood is a fundamental part of our very existence.
Resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of office bearers held under the leadership of H S Dhami to commemorate birth anniversary of the Khalsa Panth.
The resolution further reads, “Today is our National day. Though British suspended the political sovereignty of the Sikh Nation with the annexation of Punjab in 1849 yet we, the Sikhs, remain a Nation though subjugated. Sikhs as a nation has been struggling for its freedom against all odds, refusing to submit to those who aim to eliminate their identity”. In another resolution the conference demanded commuting of death sentence of Prof Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and release of all political prisoners including Bhai Daljeet Singh languishing in jails since long.
The Dal Khalsa that traces its roots to Baisakhi incident in which 13 Sikhs were gunned down by neo-Nirankaris in Amritsar 32 years ago, urged Sikh groups to foster unity to achieve the Sikh goal for independence. The president opined that the community that has sacrificed fifty thousand youth can’t abandon its aims and goals half-way.
Reasserting their unique identity, the gathering appealed to Sikhs to reject the imposition of Hindi language, Hindu Marriage Act, Bollywood culture and influx of migrants into the state which if not checked would reduce the Sikhs to a minority in their own homeland and alter the identity of Punjab forever.
“Need of the hour is to shun all differences and promote brotherhood in the society,” he said. Referring to the clash of ideologies over the Nanakshahi calendar and authenticity of Dasam Granth in the recent past, he said, “Enemy agencies are hatching conspiracies to divide us on religious lines. We have to remain united to foil their nefarious designs.” He appealed the religious leadership of the community to end confusion on the maryada issues and revoke their arbitrary decision of mixing Nanakshahi with Bikrami calendar.
Prominent amongst others who were present includes Kanwar Pal Singh, Dr Manjinder Singh, Ranbir Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Baldev Singh Ajnala and Dr Arpal Singh.
Council Of Khalistan Dr Gurmit Singh Aulakh Statement:
Dal Khalsa Issues Statement for Sikh Sovereignty
Praising Dal Khalsa for Strong Stand in Face of Indian Repression
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22, 2010– On April 14, Dal Khalsa issued a statement entitled “Dal Khalsa swears by sovereign self-rule for Sikhs.” In the statement, Dal Khalsa, under the leadership of its president, H.S. Dhami, said, “The Khalsa Panth is not just a religious body but also a sovereign political entity. Throughout the centuries, the Sikhs have had a unique place among the people of world, developing into a distinct nation in their own right. The concept of sovereignty and statehood is a fundamental part of our very existence.”
At its leadership meeting, Dal Khalsa also passed a resolution that stated, “Today is our National day. Though British suspended the political sovereignty of the Sikh Nation with the annexation of Punjab in 1849 yet we, the Sikhs, remain a Nation though subjugated. Sikhs as a nation has been struggling for its freedom against all odds, refusing to submit to those who aim to eliminate their identity”. They also called for commutation of the death sentence on Professor Devinder Pal Singh and the release of all political prisoners, taking special note of Bhai Daljeet Singh. According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984 Many are held under the repressive so-called “Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act” (TADA), which expired in 1995. “These prisoners never committed any crime but peacefully speaking out for Sikh freedom,” said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. “What is a democracy doing holding political prisoners?,” he asked. “This alone shows that for Sikhs and other minorities, there is no democracy, no freedom of speech.” He recalled the arrests of 35 Sikhs for making speeches and raising the Khalistani flag.
Sardar Dhami also said that the Sikh community that “has sacrificed fifty thousand youth can’t abandon its aims and goals half-way.” Those 50,000 youth are among over 250,000 Sikhs killed by the Indian regime since 1984, along with more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, almost 100,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits, and others. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs worse than a genocide.
Dr. Aulakh said that Dal Khalsa and other leaders who support Khalistan should be supported. “They have shown the true Sikh spirit of ‘Khalsa Bagi Yan Badshah,’” said Dr. Aulakh. “A committed Sikh will not back down in the face of repression. We praise Sardar Dhami and other pro-Khalistan leaders and we pray that Guru will continue to uphold them in the true Sikh spirit,” he said. “I urge all Sikhs to support those leaders who stand strong for a sovereign, independent Khalistan. It is our birthright,” he said. “We can never accept the rule of slavemasters. We owe it to the Gurus and to future generations to liberate Khalistan.”
In the November 16-30, 2008 issue of Dalit Voice, V.T. Rajshekar wrote, “It is only the Brahminical people who say India is a ‘nation’ while the history says Indian was never, ever a nation.” India is a multinational state thrown together by the British colonialists for their administrative convenience. As Steve Forbes pointed out in his excellent Forbes magazine article “India, Meet Austria-Hungary,” history shows that such countries collapse, from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the Soviet Union to Czechoslovakia to Yugoslavia. The breakup of India is inevitable. We must ensure that it occurs peacefully.
“As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, ‘If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh’,” Dr. Aulakh noted. “We must continue to pray for and work for our God-given birthright of freedom,” he said. “Without political power, religions cannot flourish, repression continues, and nations perish.”
