Notwithstanding the red alerts sounded by the Punjab government regarding Kashmiri militants having been “sighted”in Punjab, Dal Khalsa in a statement to the media chided the Indian army chief Bipin Rawat for taking on a political role and making sinister attempts to create a bogus hype and instill fear among the elected government of Punjab to start another round of harassment to Sikh activists in particular and Sikhs in general.

Joining issue with Indian army chief Bipin Rawat regarding his statement on “attempts” to revive insurgency in Punjab through “external linkages”, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh refuted his threatening call and  and asked him to look into the internal linkages that surfaced in the Maur Bomb blast case, which lead to the Dera Sauda in Sirsa. He said, “the footprints of the Maur blast are likely to reach Delhi via Sirsa.”

It is not the army chief’s business to say that “it would be too late” if India does not act soon to stop the attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab.”

Even the blind will tell you that there is no terrorism in the Punjab. The pro-freedom group leader categorically stated that “there’s no terrorism in Punjab. New Delhi must accept that the case of Punjab is a political issue and not a law and order problem.” No police or army action is needed. “It is a political conflict and can be resolved through peaceful political means.”

“The only attempts that are being made in Punjab is to secure and protect basic fundamental rights of the peoples including the right to self determination as per the UN charter to which India is a signatory.”

Which law of India allows the army chief to issue threats to the peace-loving people of Punjab? Why should the people of Punjab be made scapegoats of India’s war mongering with Pakistan?

Exposing the double standards of the Indian government, he said when the Pakistan army chief speaks on political and foreign policy matters, India cries foul, but on the other hand, the present dispensation under Narendra Modi is allowing its own army chief to issue political statements whether it relates to Punjab, Kashmir or Assam.

In violation of the law of the land, Punjab has detained activists upholding the cause of referendum in Punjab, which perhaps is the thorn which is pricking the Indian army chief. Talking about this, Kanwarpal Singh told the World Sikh News that, “Dal Khalsa does not hold any brief for Sikhs for Justice as we disagree with their methodology and utterances.” “However, I strongly condemn the illegal arrest of SFJ activists who were peacefully putting up posters for referendum.

It may be noted that the Supreme Court of India permits peaceful propagation of any political movement upholds the right to speak and put up posters for self determination and even for a separate Sikh state.

Nevertheless, the Dal Khalsa spokesperson reiterated his party stand that SFJ’s referendum is a mere survey to know the will of the people of Punjab.

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The Dal Khalsa statement clearly stated that, “talking about referendum in a democratic manner is not an anti-India move but a pro-people and pro-rights movement.”

Amritsar, 16 November 2018, WSN News Bureau