Marching through the streets of Amritsar, traversing the distance from their head office Freedom House to the precincts of Darbar Sahib, carrying torches and placards, leaders, activists and members of the Dal Khalsa observed 1 November Punjab Day as a day of protest against the current and past deeds of the Indian state towards Sikhs and Punjab.  Adding a new dimension to the fight of the farmers of the state, Dal Khalsa demanded the visa-free opening of the Indo-Pak borders to facilitate trade activity and people-to-people interaction to reduce tension in the sub-continent and carve the path of peace and progress.

COMMEMORATING THE 55TH PUNJAB DAY, DAL KHALSA HELD A SPIRIT-AWAKENING RALLY TO highlight various contentious issues relating to denial of rights of the people of Punjab, the political destiny of the people of Punjab and the currently volatile issue of farmers’ distress arising out of the new farm laws framed by the Narendra Modi government against which farmers all across the state are up in arms.

The march was also used as an occasion to reminisce about those killed in the anti-Sikh pogrom in Delhi and other parts of India during the first week of November 1984. Former Dal Khalsa President Harcharanjit Singh Dhami said, “Today marks 36 years of the genocidal week and we reiterate that this will continue to be observed for centuries to come to remind the world community and Indians in particular, how India failed the Sikhs during that black week.”

The marchers -young and old, holding huge banners and placards and shouting slogans, blamed the Indian Union government for looting river waters and other natural resources of the state of Punjab. In a direct attack on capitalists, the gathering gave a call for a boycott of Reliance and Adani goods and services.

“India has an evil eye towards Punjab.”

Dal Khalsa Policy Statement issued on Punjab Day

The Dal Khalsa policy statement, released at the rally, reads, “India has an evil eye towards Punjab. Who can explain the disturbing state of affairs that Punjab is without its capital city and without its own High Court? How can one forget the injustice done by the provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, which usurped powers of Punjab and gave them to the Union government and Punjab’s neighbouring states?”

Dal Khalsa policy statement further states that “there is a vast difference between the needs of India and the interests of Punjab. It is time for the farmer of Punjab to be less bothered about the euphemistic tag of being the bread-provider for India and start worrying about his own needs, those of his children and that of his state. This is not parochialism, but a pragmatic approach to counter the anti-Punjab policies of the Union of India.”

Making a scathing attack on India, the Dal Khalsa document says that India has colonized Punjab and is subjecting the state and its people differently. Symbolic recognition of Punjab’s martyrs and contribution in the armed forces is nothing but a ploy to fool the Sikhs. Party spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh affirmed, “Dal Khalsa stands for the sovereignty of Punjab -we have the right to self-rule, which we shall gain through the right to self-determination.”

Speaking to the rallyists, Dal Khalsa president Harpal Singh Cheema said, “We demand visa-free access and free trade across the Wagah border so that Punjab farmers, manufacturers and traders can market their produce in the markets of Central and Western Asia.”

“The arrogant and dictatorial Narendra Modi government is promoting crony capitalism and is sounding the death-knell of the poor farmers, not only of Punjab but the rest of India too. Unquestionably, Punjab, as is its legacy, will fight back,” he added.

“Dal Khalsa stands for the sovereignty of Punjab -we have the right to self-rule, which we shall gain through the right to self-determination.”

Kanwar Pal Singh, Spokesperson, Dal Khalsa

Narendra Modi’s government is working towards centralisation of powers and policy. Dal Khalsa will fight this out, said party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh.

“Our rights are non-negotiable. India’s fascist and imperialist approach will not deter the people of Punjab from fighting for the protection of their legitimate rights,”