Dal Khalsa to boycott Republic Day celebrations, hold protest rallies at Hoshiarpur, Zira and Ludhiana
Ferozepur, January 22, 2019: Giving a call for boycott of January 26 – Republic Day celebrations, due to the negative stance of the Indian state towards Sikh aspirations and rights including right to self determination, Dal Khalsa strongly reiterates its resolve to invoke the international community, the UN forums and associate with other nationalities across the Indian subcontinent to seek and ensure enforceability of the UN recognized right.
Dal Khalsa was having support from Sikh outfits -SAD(A), Ek-Noor Khalsa Fouj, Guru Grantj Sahib Satkar Committees, Dashmesh Gurmat Parchar Lehar, Nihang outfits, Lakhvir Singh Lakha Sidana, Jathedar Baldev Singh Jogewal, Jathedar Resham Singh Khukhrna, Jathedar Gurbhag Singh, said Kanwal Pal Singh.
Holding the press conferences at Press Club, Ferozepur today, Kanwal Pal Singh, Dal Khalsa leader said, there is no reason to celebrate January 26, as India denies minorities their democratic rights including self-determination and called for boycott and will hold ‘march’ for self-determination in three cities – Hoshiarpur, Zira and Ludhiana, to give impetus to their campaign for the Right to self-determination.
Kanwar Pal Singh said there was no other peaceful route to resolve the existential crisis of Punjab and Kashmir, whose people aspire for independence.
We are not happy because of excesses on Sikhs and this is the reason for not participating in the Republic Day celebrations. However, we express our solidarity with all those engaged in the common struggle to put to end the autocratic and centralized structure of Indian polity as well as the hegemony of India’s majority community, said Kanwar Pal Singh.
The attempt to take over the management of Gurdwara Hazoor Sahib by the BJP government of Maharashtra is the latest live example of state meddling in the religious affairs of the Sikhs. It is for these reasons that we seek relief from the domination of India, he said.
He appealed to the people of Punjab to stay away from Republic day celebrations as New Delhi is not only denying but crushing our rights and aspirations. Sadly, the UN is mute, he added.
Kanwal Pal Singh said, in Modi’s India, Cows have rights but humans don’t. Namaz is banned in parks but RSS shakhas are allowed in parks. Space for dissent has shrunk and freedom of expression is allowed selectively. Like Badals, Amrinder too is captive of police establishment. Guilty cops of Behbal Kalan firing including former DGP S S Saini are enjoying impunity.
Party leader Paramjit Singh Tanda said that Indian state claims to be a big democratic country in the world and celebrates 26 January as its republic day but its democratic claims are being badly exposed as it continues to rob Punjab of its river waters by subverting the spirit of Constitution, denies democratic rights and distinct identity to Sikhs, imposes Hindu laws on Sikhs and suppresses legitimate struggle with militarily and police batons, bullets.
Surjit Singh said it’s regrettable that the present constitution of India is a constitution of convenience as the provisions of the document have been used, misused and not used to suit the expedient needs of the rulers from time to time.
To a question that Plebiscite and Referendum have same connotations and both flow out of the Right to self-determination, he said India has gone back from honouring its commitment made to the Sikh community at the time of the partition of the sub-continent.
To another question, he said, no doubt we are at down-fall but it also took 90 years to get freedom of India in 1947 which started in 1957. He said, right to the determination is peaceful, violent free movement and there is no need for human migration as every citizen of Punjab will have right to vote as Yes or No.
Most of the people see us from different angle but it will be people of Punjab who will get the right and not only the Sikh and it will be actual democracy irrespective of any particular community.
On asking as to what would be model of a constitution if you get the right to a determination, he said, our intellectuals will decide and it will definitely be better than the existing one.
