Panthic parties -Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) have decided to observe the 72nd International Human Rights Day on 10 December in Srinagar to focus world attention on the deteriorating status of the rights of the people of Kashmir and the repressive and anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi government since August 5. It would be interesting to see whether the Sikh leaders will make it to Srinagar in the wake of the iron curtain between Kashmir and the rest of the world. 

TO EXPRESS UNEQUIVOCAL SOLIDARITY WITH THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF KASHMIR, to urge  more effective measures by the international community and to focus on the lack of interest by the government of India and the Indian peoples to the plight of Kashmiris who have been blocked from the rest of civilisation through an online embargo, no vehicular traffic, virtually no schooling and education, with the Kashmiri leadership in prison since 5 August 2019, Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and other Panthic allies have decided to observe the World Human Rights Day on the soil of Kashmir, where the worst human rights violations have occurred during 2019.

Giving a call to human rights defenders to join the peaceful sit-in at Lal Chowk on December 10, party spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said that activists of both the parties led by Simranjit Singh Mann and Harpal Singh Cheema will proceed towards Kashmir from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur on December 9 and reach Srinagar the next morning. He said United Akali Dal president Gurdeep Singh Bhatinda and Akal Federation head Narien Singh will also join the march.

In replay to a question by the media, Kanwarpal Singh said that “we are ready to face the music in case the government stops them from holding a legitimate protest even on World Human Rights Day.”

Being geographical neighbours of Kashmir, it is the duty of Sikhs of Punjab to rise to the occasion and continue to protest the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir, said Dal Khalsa leaders at a press conference held at the party office in Amritsar.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, flanked by party general secretary Paramjit Singh Tanda and Sikh Youth of Punjab president Paramjeet Singh Mand said their groups would observe the rights day with the people of Kashmir who have suffered the gravest abuses of human rights. “The fundamental rights of the people of Kashmir are our primary concern and it will be our endeavour to highlight the plight of Kashmiris”.

Dal Khalsa appealed to all human rights bodies and civil rights groups worldwide to spare a thought for the people of Kashmir when they observe the World Human Rights Day in their respective states and countries.

“The suppressed people of Kashmir need succour, support and an international voice to uphold their rights.”

Deriding international bodies for only paying lip service to the cause of Kashmir, Dal Khalsa observed that  “The silence or even the lacklustre approach of those who are aware of the situation is even more disturbing. The UN intervention on Kashmir should impact the decision-making leaders of New Delhi and not just remain confined to record books.”

Deriding international bodies for paying only lip service to the cause of Kashmir, the Dal Khalsa leader said, “The suppressed people of Kashmir need succour, support and an international voice to uphold their rights.”

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, Dal Khalsa will also voice concern about systematic denial of justice in Punjab in the Maur Bomb blast case, the Behbal Kalan firing case and Bargarhi sacrilege cases.

Coming down harshly on the BJP government for its alleged U-turn in announcement of commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment for Balwant Singh Rajoana, Kanwarpal Singh said, “the Modi dispensation has played fraud on Sikhs that too in the name of giving special remission to Sikh prisoners on the sacred occasion of 550th Parkash Purab Of Guru Nanak.” 

The Dal Khalsa will also take the cause of custodial torture, illegal detention and harassment of undertrials, the prevalence of archaic laws, like 124-A, UAPA, denial of reprieve to political prisoners and special concessions to police personnel responsible for human rights abuses.

Coming down harshly on the BJP government for its alleged U-turn in announcement of commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment for Balwant Singh Rajoana, Kanwarpal Singh said, “the Modi dispensation has played fraud on Sikhs that too in the name of giving special remission to Sikh prisoners on the sacred occasion of 550th Parkash Purab Of Guru Nanak.”

“The Indian leadership is habitual of ditching the Sikhs since 1947 and the traditional Akali leadership is immune in facing such betrayals and embarrassments,” he lamented.

Dal Khalsa also expressed full solidarity with the scores of activists and human rights defenders languishing in prisons across India.