Place India on the Black List was the unequivocal message of Dal Khalsa to the United Nations on the eve of 75th World Human Rights Day. Monitoring and prosecuting the heads of India’s secret services who planned and executed the strategy of transnational killings was another key declaration by the pro-Sikh freedom party. In a surcharged atmosphere, the streets of Bhatinda bore witness to a bold statement of defiance as Dal Khalsa led an impressive protest march on the eve of 75th International Human Rights Day. The rally, a high-energy, determined gathering of nearly 600 activists and leaders, saw India being placed in the dock for its systemic violation of rights, further exacerbated by the uncalled-for attempts by the Punjab police to foil the march through preventive detentions and blockades. The event brought to centre stage the grievances against India’s treatment of Sikhs and other minorities. Capturing the essence of this electrifying event, this WSN report dives into the intricate layers of demands, confrontations, and unwavering resolve that defined this monumental day.

Despite the Bhatinda Senior Superintendent of Police’s threats and actions, including the detention of senior Dal Khalsa leaders Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj and Gurwinder Singh Bhatinda, the spirit of the protesters remained unbroken through the week culminating in today’s march. Skirmishes with police, particularly by units from Barnala and Mansa, exemplified the day’s resilient mood. The Mansa unit’s successful penetration into the city and the Moga unit’s strategic highway blockade underscored the intensity of the protests.

The Mansa unit’s breakthrough in reaching the Gurdwara Sahib, the rally’s starting point, was a significant victory against the authorities’ attempts to quell their voices. Similarly, the Moga unit’s blockade of the Amritsar-Bhatinda Highway underscored the protesters’ resolve.

Dal Khalsa managed to hold a prayer at the Gurdwara Sahib Singh Sabha Bhatinda and lead the march to the designated Fire Brigade Square, marching through the heart of Bhatinda city.

At the heart of the rally was a fiery demand from Dal Khalsa, calling for the United Nations to place India on its Black List. This bold move, sparked by long-standing grievances and heightened by recent revelations of transnational killings by India, targeted India’s treatment of minorities and its role as a consistent perpetrator of gross injustices.

Paramjit Singh Mand, the fiery spokesperson for Dal Khalsa, didn’t mince words. In a direct and scathing critique, Paramjit Singh Mand, Dal Khalsa’s spokesperson, brought to light explosive allegations. He accused the then RAW chief Samanth Goel of orchestrating the killings of Paramjit Singh Panjwar and Hardeep Singh Nijjar and plotting against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These allegations, tying back to the former RAW chief’s tenure which was to end in June this year, added a layer of political intrigue and urgency to the rally’s demands.

The rally’s agenda extended beyond the call to blacklist India. It brought to the forefront the plight of political prisoners like Balwant Singh Rajoana, languishing on death row for 17 years. Dal Khalsa’s strong stance against the death penalty and their demand for the release of Sikh prisoners and other civil rights prisoners highlighted the broader human rights issues at play. The fact that they touched on the issue of Gaza through solidarity with Palestine is praiseworthy.

The rally, poignantly held on the eve of World Human Rights Day, was not just a protest but a resounding demand to make the victims of state repression visible and their voices heard. The event was a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and the need to hold accountable those responsible for violations.

The Dal Khalsa rally in Bhatinda was more than a protest; it was a dynamic, compelling narrative of defiance and demand for justice. Each slogan, and each placard, echoed a community’s relentless pursuit of justice and equality by Dal Khalsa It was a day where every chant, every placard, and every defiant step taken by the activists painted a vivid picture of a community’s relentless pursuit of justice and equality.

This Dal Khalsa rally, undeniably, marked a significant chapter in the ongoing narrative of human rights violations against Sikhs in India.