Alarmed at the emerging tense situation, Dal Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar)  and other Panthic bodies said India’s unilateral action to strip Kashmir of its special status and Pakistan’s natural reaction against it has triggered the possibility of war between the nuclear-ready neighbours. The fresh strains in Indo-Pak relations after India’s retrograde step revoking Article 370, is likely to cast a shadow on Kartarpur corridor and Gurpurab celebrations.

FROM DAY ONE, we were suspicious of India’s intentions. New Delhi had reluctantly accepted the Sikh demand for a passage to the historic Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after Pakistan’s nod, said Dal Khalsa Spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, at a press meet.

Accompanied by Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda and Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala, he said the Gurpurab celebrations have begun, the Nagar Kirtan from Nankana Sahib is on its route and the second one from Delhi to Nankana Sahib is on the anvil. On such a sacred occasion India has taken this drastic step against the Kashmiri people by trampling their rights, seizing the Kashmir by detaining the leadership and virtually imprisoning people in their homes.

It is not too far-fetched to surmise that India perhaps wants to kill two birds with one stone. On the pretext of the Kashmir situation, India perhaps at heart desires to wriggle out of its commitment to build the Kartarpur corridor.

He said the Indian government has pushed the Sikh community into a state of uncertainty.

The leaders announced protest rallies on August 15 at as many as 15 districts of the state against gross abuse of human rights and political subjugation of the peoples. What Kashmir is facing today is reminiscent of the days Punjab has lived by for decades, while the oppressor is the same Indian state headquartered in New Delhi.

Referring to the picture of National Security Advisor chief Ajit Doval published in the Indian media wherein he is shown having a meal with three Muslims in Shopian area, the Sikh leaders ridiculed the forced photo-op so easily accepted by the mainstream media.  Who are the people in the photo, they asked? They could be cops, renegades, random Muslims from Delhi or worse -Kashmiris told to pose under duress.

The picture in which Doval is seen wearing a bulletproof jacket and standing before closed shops itself conveys the real ground message which Modi Govt wants to hide from the world media and hoodwink the world.