ISLAMABAD – The Dal Khalsa, an Amritsar-based Sikh organization, has calledfor boycott of Indian Republic Day (January 26) celebrations as a mark ofprotest against the negative stance of the Indian state towards the Sikhcommunity’s aspirations and rights including the right toself-determination.
Dal Khalsa announced its plans to hold public marches in three cities ofPunjab including Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Zira on January 26 to giveimpetus to their campaign for the right to self-determination. Itreiterated its strong resolve to invoke the international community, the UNforums and associate with other nationalities across South Asia to seek andensure enforceability of the UN recognized right.
Addressing a press conference in Ferozepur city of India’s Punjab state onTuesday, said there was no other peaceful route to resolve the issues ofPunjab and Kashmir, whose people aspire for freedom from India.
“The attempt to take over the management of Gurdwara Hazoor Sahib by theBJP government of Maharashtra is the latest live example of state meddlingin the religious affairs of the Sikhs. It is for these reasons that we seekrelief from the domination of India,” he said.
To a question, he said plebiscite and referendum have same connotations andboth flow out of the right to self-determination. He said India has backedaway from honouring its commitment made to the Sikh community at the timeof the partition of the Indian sub-continent.
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Asking the people of Punjab to stay away from the republic daycelebrations, he said that there were no reasons to commemorate the day asNew Delhi was not only denying but crushing the rights and aspirations ofthe Sikh community. Sadly, the UN is mute on the issue, he said, andlamented that in Modi’s India space for dissent had shrunk and freedom ofexpression was allowed selectively.
Another party leader, Paramjit Singh Tanda said the India claims to be abig democratic country in the world and celebrates 26 January as itsRepublic Day but its democratic claims are being badly exposed as itcontinuous to rob Punjab of its river waters, adding that New Delhi deniesdemocratic rights and distinct identity to Sikhs, imposes Hindu laws onSikhs and suppresses their legitimate struggle with military and policebatons and bullets.
