In a symbolic yet powerful protest, activists of the Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa and its allies staged street protests in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Zira seeking the right to self-determination while the general population was absorbed in enjoying India’s Republic Day.

Carrying the Sikh flag, hundreds of party activists shouted slogans in favour of the right to self-determination and denounced the day as black day for the Sikhs. The rebellious demonstrators carried Sikh flags, banners and placards, chanting slogans of ‘Free Punjab from India’ and called Indian democracy fake and bogus.

Addressing the gathering, party head Harpal Singh Cheema in Hoshiarpur said, “It has been 70 long years since the adoption of Constitution, but nothing has changed. The original promises and commitments including right to self determination and right to secede are long forgotten by the Indian leadership.”

Although the right to self determination has been adopted by the United Nations and carries its sanction, most countries including India subvert this right in the name of territorial integrity and unity of the country and even go to the extent of dubbing the proponents of this right as extremists, said Cheema and exhorted the people of Punjab to be more aware about the ramifications of this Act.

We will continue our struggle will continue till we have the opportunity to exercise this democratic right, said another leader Harcharanjit Singh Dhami.

Sikh Youth of Punjab leader Paramjit Singh Mand said impunity to security forces leads to gross abuse of human rights.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, speaking at the Ludhiana rally touched the cause of the Kashmiris and Dalits and said that Sikhs were not alone in this identity crisis.At Zira town, the March was led by Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj and Lakha Sidana. They demanded the arrest of tainted cops responsibile for the Behbal Kalan firing.